Leak Shows ATF Preparing Operation Targeting Smith & Wesson and Others

ATF Agent NRA-ILA
Leak Shows ATF Preparing Operation Targeting Smith & Wesson and Others

BOSTON, MA-(Ammoland.com)- A leaked email shows that The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is seeking volunteer Industry Operations Inspectors (IOIs) to serve on temporary detail to the Boston field office in Mid-October of this year.

The email was sent out across the ATF to get volunteers for the operation. The purpose of the detail is to carry out several large-scale inspections of gun manufactures and sub-contractors in the New England area. The action isn’t limited to any single firearms manufacture. It seems like the ATF is targeting the gun industry in New England as a whole. The ATF is not acting on any actionable information but will be looking for record-keeping and other compliance violations.

The detail would last 30 days, and the IOIs would target several major firearms manufacturers across the Northeast region. New England is the home of some of the most historically significant firearms manufacturers in the country, including Colt and Smith & Wesson. No specific company was named in the initial request for volunteers itself, but it did show that the targets would be major players in the firearms field and all sub-contractors for major companies.

In a follow-up ATF email leaked to AmmoLand News, Smith & Wesson was specifically named for the inspections. It seems like the 165-year-old company has been in the crosshairs of anti-gun groups and anti-gun politicians for some time. A liberal California judge ruled that the victims of an attack on a synagogue could sue the gun manufacture even though the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, or PLCAA indemnifies them from being sued over the misuse of their products.

The ATF might ask some IOIs to stay on the detail for an additional pay period depending on what the inspections turn up at the gun companies. The request asks for IOIs with at least three years of experience and experience with manufacturer compliance inspections. To some employees in the ATF, this sounds like a fishing expedition targeting the legal sale of firearms. The operation seems to be run by ATF Director of Industry Operations Nicholas O’Leary himself.

President Joe Biden has put the gun industry in his crosshairs before even taking office.

He and Vice President Kamala Harris has lobbied to remove federal protections against civil suits targeting firearms companies. The current administration wants to allow people to sue gun companies for crimes using their products. Gun rights advocates say removing this protection would be akin to allowing people to sue car companies for drunk driving accidents.

During Biden’s term in the US Senate, he voted against the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act that protected manufacturers from anti-gun groups, such as the Brady Organization, from funding lawsuits to make it economically unfeasible for anyone to run a gun company. Especially with the prevalence of anti-gun judicial advocacy in the country, running a firearms company would be financially impossible. Even if the company does win in court, it will still cost it hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. The goal of the suits would be to bankrupt gun manufacturers and dealers to cut down on the supply of firearms available to the American public.

Biden’s pick to head the ATF, David Chipman, has also advocated targeting gun manufacturers to prevent people from exercising their God-given right to bear arms. Chipman is an anti-gun zealot that preaches the use of the ATF rulemaking ability to ban magazines because, in his opinion, they could be considered machine guns because they speed up the rate of fire.

Chipman has also worked for several anti-gun organizations, including Everytown for Gun Safety’s predecessor, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and Giffords. If Chipman is confirmed, we can expect operations like this to become commonplace.

Gun Owners America (GOA) sees this action as a blatant attempt to harass gun manufacturers. GOA has a large presence in the New England area and has called for defunding the ATF because the group sees the ATF as an out-of-control unconstitutional agency. They believe the ATF is trying to implement backdoor gun control by targeting gun companies.

“This sounds like a blatant attempt to harass legitimate businesses,” said Alan Rice, New Hampshire State Director for Gun Owners of America. “The Biden Administration is working overtime to make things difficult and inconvenient so that fewer people will want to engage in the business of manufacturing and selling firearms to law-abiding people. These burdensome inspections will surely result in increased costs to be passed along to gun buyers.”

Rice further stated that if he were running a gun or ammunition manufacturer he would respectfully decline to supply arms and ammunition to any federal law enforcement agencies as long as the Biden Administration is weaponizing law enforcement against a Constitutionally protected industry.

AmmoLand News will continue to monitor the situation and report if the operations expand.


About John Crump

John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.

John Crump

John Crump
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Deplorable Bill

This is the kind of thing we would expect to see in N. Korea, China, Russia, Cuba, Salvador, any nation that is run by a “religion” of peace not in a free country. Anyone who has even moderately studied history knows where this is going. There will be a flash point and it’s a miracle it has not happened yet. Get prepared.

Arm up and carry on.

Boris Badenov

Todays hint, use secure communication. VERY SECURE Ok, a second hint, zero from google, yahoo is secure. We’ve seen what the spooks have done to Tucker Carlson.

Roland T. Gunner

I don’t trust any form of communication the average citizen has access to, to be secure from government intrusion. What service was it, Threema? that Oathkeepers were using, that the FBI spent a half hour accessing.

Bill

The National Security Agency: The only part of the federal government that actually listens to the people!

Smith

Maybe these gun makers should stop selling guns to the government which is trying desperately to destroy their business. Just saying the companies that try to curry favor by fulfilling contracts (colt) will eventually be completely taken over by the government once the civilian market is gone.

Monkey Mouse

I have been saying this for a while – manufacturers should stop selling all firearms, ammo, and gun parts to states that want to either sue them or regulate them out of business – CA and NY are the prime examples. So if the police can’t get any guns and the politicians are less protected, maybe they will pull back on their crusade.

Boris Badenov

Kommieforniastan would be a great example, it’s on the verge of collapse anyway. This would put a lot of pressure on Gov. Nuisance, especially with the recall happening.

Jaque

The recent leaks coming out of ATF are encouraging. You can be sure the leaker(s) are a hunted species by the Communist Biden regime.

chiefton

All internal government agencies have been weaponized to attack the Constitution, conservatives, and to push through the Socialist agenda. FBI is telling folks to turn in relatives, DOJ used to create investigations on conservatives, NSA spying on citizens, and now the ATF is pushing their attack on 2A. Remember always, 2A defends all of the unalienable rights you have.

Deplorable Bill

Yup, just like the stazi in E. Berlin before the wall came down. It was evil then and it is evil now.

Arm up and carry on

Ansel Hazen

A few thousand well armed customers showing up for a tour of the facilities might give pause to any harassment actions.

incorrigible

Better not try that at S&W, in The People’s Republic of Taxachusetts! Unless you are ready for the Third American Revolution.

Gdubb

Defund ATF NOW!

Last edited 2 years ago by Gdubb
Bill

Neva Hacvhi! (Never happen)!

swmft

the criminals are all in government, saw this coming. look at the play book get rid of patriate s in military put in nuts and fruit cakes ,attack manufactures in lefftist states s&w should have moved when they saw what was happening to remington barrett needs to start pushing sales to public

KDad

The Biden/Harris administration will never lift a finger to protect our 2nd Amendment rights! If anything, they will try to eliminate them! The DOJ is corrupt! The FBI is corrupt! The ATFE is corrupt! The CIA is corrupt! The NSA is corrupt! The EPA is corrupt! And on and on! Our entire Government is corrupt! We’re on our own in this battle to save America!

Roland T. Gunner

“Respectfully” decline? EVERY gun and smmunition manufacturer in the US needs to tell every federal agency to fuck off, and refuse to sell them ANYTHING. Its time to make government in general, The Fed in particular, and ATF specifically, hurt. Emotionslly, financially, physically. Its time to make them fear; too fearful to participate any longer.

Tionico

If we ever get a true and fair election again, we need to put some bigger teeth in the PLCAA such that any actioin at law, criminal or civil, that does not result in a finding of guilt on the part of the organisationi targetted (respondent) in the action WILL have all their costs reimbursed by the petitioning party. George sues Remington because his rebel son stole his Remington rifle, George loses, George pays ALL costs associated wiht the actioin at law. Of course, when da gummit does the soooiee-ing THEY don;t bear any consequences, WE do by the waste… Read more »

Big George

“IF”?!

Pa John

The ATF is not acting on any actionable information but will be looking for record-keeping and other compliance violations.

Yep, and combined with their new ZERO TOLERANCE policies for any possible error in record keeping, no matter how teeny tiny and insignificant, will mean total death doom destruction and despair for anyone with an FFL or manufacturing license that can be suspended or taken away.

jackalope

How many firearms manufacturers are left in the North East? Troy just left Mass for Tennessee. Colt is now owned by CZ. Ruger has diversified out of New Hampshire. S&W should leave Springfield. SIG should leave. Charter Arms should leave. Remington should leave Ilion. Kahr/Auto-Ordnance should leave. One of the reasons the South lost the Civil War was lack of manufacturing capacity. The shoe will be on the other foot the next time.

nod

I would think Smith & Wesson and Colt would have all their ducks in a row. They have been in the firearms industry a very long time. It would almost be a waste of time shaking these companies down.

Link

Ask colt about how they lost a good part of there museum to pay off eugene stoner .
So much for running a business because colt management sucks

Knute

Not to mention the number of times Colt has declared bankruptcy. What are they up to, like 7 times now? That doesn’t suggest good management to my mind. And S&W isn’t too far behind.

Orion

lol….you should keep up with the news, colt is now owned by cz.
cz management is full control.

Monkey Mouse

I have a way to fix this problem – any company that comes under scrutiny from a government agency that is trying to “start trouble” gets them an automatic ban from ever buying firearms, ammo, and replacement parts from that manufacturer in perpetuity.

Wild Bill

Any company that comes under the scrutiny from a government agency, where the agency is proved wrong … the agency chain of command gets fired.

Finnky

Sounds a bit broad to me. Government must scrutinize (look at) companies to confirm compliance with regulations. While regulations are excessive, surely you don’t favor a world with zero regulation. Just think what insurance, banks and unscrupulous doctors (et. al.) would do. However scrutiny beyond routine should require solid justification, and be conducted discreetly and minimally intrusive. Releasing public info that a company in under suspicion can cause permanent harm whether or not suspicion is justified. Those cases justify personal cost to those perpetrating the wrong – individual governmental agents AND their supervisors, possibly up to and including appointed department… Read more »

Wild Bill

Just where the agency’s bureaucrats are wrong. That is not too broad. Agencies are using their authority wrongly based upon ulterior motives. That must be stopped.
As it is, the agencies have nothing to lose when misusing their power.

JimmyS

We have more to worry about from ammo manufacturers who are on board with agenda to destroy America than we do feckless bureaucrat desk jockeys who couldn’t find their thumbs in a pair of mittens.

Orion

how so? Remington “s plant in Arkansas is running full throttle 24/7. most other mfgs are doing similar and only now are prices leveling out. yes, demand is that high!

Bill

I have watched several republican administrations do nothing about the overreach of the BATFE. Reagan, Bush #1, Bush #2, Trump; none of them did anything to rein-in the BATF. Even the poster-man for the Republican party, Ronald Reagan said he would rein-in or maybe do away with this organization did zero about it! The republicans establishment is complacent in the destruction of the Second Amendment!