Whistleblower: Biden’s ‘Crackdown on Ghost Guns’ Based on ATF Hoax

ATF Agents IMG ATFHQ-IG Public Domain
ATF Agents IMG ATFHQ-IG Public Domain

U.S.A.-(AmmoLand.com)- Joe Biden repeated some of his most discredited lies about the Second Amendment Monday during a press conference held in the Rose Garden – deer in Kevlar vests, fictitious prohibitions on the right to keep and bear arms, including cannons – but it is the actions he’s taking that are the most worrisome because they’re all based upon a hoax by the ATF.

Without any congressional action and based solely on the flimsy authority of an executive order, Joe Biden is disarming Americans. He is taking away our right to build guns in our homes, even though Americans have been making guns in their homes since before there was a United States of America. Biden based his decision on “ghost gun” data he was given by the ATF – data even the ATF itself cannot verify, which a whistleblower claims the U.S. Justice Department admitted is inaccurate.

“Last year alone, law enforcement reported approximately 20,000 suspected ghost guns to be – to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. That’s a tenfold increase in these ghost guns from 2016. Tenfold in five years,” Biden said Monday. “These guns are weapons of choice for many criminals. We’re going to do everything we can to deprive them of that choice and, when we find them, put them in jail for a long, long time. Law enforcement is sounding the alarms. Our communities are paying the price. And we’re acting.”

The entire “ghost gun” drama was started by Carlos A. Canino, the former Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the ATF’s Los Angeles Field Division. In 2020, anti-gun activists asked Canino about the prevalence of homemade firearms in California. An earlier study said 30% of the guns recovered by ATF in California were unserialized “ghost guns,” but Canino said the real numbers were actually much higher. “Forty-one percent, so almost half our cases we’re coming across are these ‘ghost guns,’” Canino said. That was all it took.

A story by the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project published last week showed that the ATF cannot verify Canino’s comments.

“I contacted the Los Angeles Field Division earlier today after your initial email, and their Public Information Officer was unable to verify any figures provided in 2019 by former SAC Canino without knowing the time-period(s) he used for his comments,” an ATF spokesman said in the email.

After the story was published, a staff member for a U.S. Congressman came forward. This whistleblower, who asked that their name be withheld from publication, revealed even more problems about the ATF’s “ghost gun” statistics.

The staff member asked the U.S. Justice Department for “ghost gun” data since both the ATF and the Bureau of Justice Statistics fall under the DOJ’s purview.

“Because it is not currently a federal crime to own either a homemade firearm or a braced pistol, DOJ claims they do not have accurate/comprehensive databases to track their use in crimes. They compile information from state and local police units – but that information is only as good as what is reported,” the whistleblower said in an email.

To be clear, the United States Department of Justice told a U.S. Congressman’s staff member that their “ghost gun” data is neither accurate nor comprehensive, and then just days later, the President of the United States issued an executive order stripping Americans of the Second Amendment rights based upon this inaccurate data.

“Despite that,” the staff member said in an email, “the DOJ sent a document stating: ‘Privately made firearms (PMFs), known as ghost guns, are a rapidly growing contributor to violent crime. From January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2020, there were approximately 23,906 suspected PMFs reported to ATF as having been recovered by law enforcement, including in connection with 325 homicides or attempted homicides. The trendline is troubling: in 2016, local law enforcement reported to ATF 1,750 suspected PMFs; by 2020, that number had grown to 8,712, an increase of over 400 percent.’”

This is the same data Biden cited Monday in the Rose Garden, although he had 2021 numbers too.

There are a lot of problems and concerns with the Biden-Harris administration’s “crackdown on ghost guns.” Most involve potential civil rights violations and the anti-gun candidate Biden picked to fill ATF’s vacant directorship. However, these problems pale when compared with the statistics ATF is citing as the reason for the crackdown – statistics the USDOJ itself admitted are false. This is nothing but a hoax by the ATF, and the President of the United States is either a victim or a willing participant of the hoax. That is a question history will decide.

All of the senior law enforcement officials I’ve spoken to – from Florida to Washington State – say “ghost guns” aren’t a concern. Most haven’t seen any – not one. Several had their staff check their property rooms for homemade firearms recovered from crime scenes. None were found. Several top cops accused the ATF of conflating homemade firearms with factory-made guns that have had their serial numbers illegally altered or removed, which could account for ATF’s high numbers.

I sincerely hope that someone with the authority to issue subpoenas and compel testimony will investigate the ATF data Biden is using to infringe upon our right to build guns in our homes. Hoodwinking a sitting president – even a likely willing participant like Joe Biden – shouldn’t be career-enhancing, even at the ATF. In fact, some folks I’ve spoken to say it could constitute a crime.

This story is presented by the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project and wouldn’t be possible without you. Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support more pro-gun stories like this.



About Lee Williams

Lee Williams, who is also known as “The Gun Writer,” is the chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project. Until recently, he was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming an editor, Lee was an investigative reporter at newspapers in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. He’s earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. Lee is an avid tactical shooter.

Lee Williams

Lee Williams
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Gearmode

Hard to believe the USA is overrun with hobby firearms. I tried to buy a 9mm pistol kit, waited an entire year, the manufacturer never came through, I gave up, cancelled. This was a major producer. I doubt someone with criminal intentions would be willing to be more patient than I.

totbs

That’s exactly why “criminals using ghost guns” is such a canard. Unless the criminals are buying them from someone who’s making and selling them, which is illegal, what perp is going to order the milling jig, buy the router and drill, bench vise and armorer’s tools and the 80% lower and upper receiver, barrel and remaining parts? They’d also need the skills to use those tools. To my knowledge, skills the perp minded usually don’t possess.

PMinFl

but you saw the resident, on TV, you get a frame and a slide and you’re all set to kill millions. What a buffoon, leading a nation of once liberal sheep to the camps.

MP71

Building a gun is so “easy” that that idiot NBC reporter had to illegally transfer his partiality complete firearm to someone with some actual teportmechanical inclination. I bet that he would f*** it up if he tried to install a garbage disposer or change out brake pads.

swmft

it is a shame dc is a cesspool ,if it were a toilet we could flush them all to a recycle center

Montana454Casull

The only thing the ilegitiment clownshow Joe Biden has is lies. His 48 years in politics has been nothing but deception and lies . He can’t remember the bullshit he spews from one day to the next . The ATF is a corrupt alphabet soup agency that is as deceptive as the ilegitiment clownshow Joe Biden. DC has become a haven for lying deceptive scumbags !

Tank

This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector.
Plato

JR

Thank you, Mr. Williams. I’m a proud SAF and CCRKBA member, and appreciate y’all seeking out the facts and publishing them, so we-the-people can hold those we’ve given power to account.

GomeznSA

JR – I have a coupe of ‘issues’ with your comment (NOT with you) – WE didn’t give those critters power – they STOLE it. That is particularly true of the massive number of unelected bureaucrats – like oh say the director of the bats for one. The other thing is – exactly HOW are We The People able to hold those bureaucrats “to account” – we sure can’t vote them out. One quick example should suffice – slow joe keeps on (and keeps on) repeating the LIE about cannons. I suspect he knows it is a lie but doesn’t… Read more »

45crittergitter

It doesn’t matter in this case what the data is. Even if it were 100% complete and accurate and “supported” Biden’s position, his actions are still an unconstitutional infringement on civil rights. We shouldn’t waste time and resources arguing irrelevant data.

Roland T. Gunner

Requiring serial numbers on our firearms at all is an infringement.

john

The President of the United States stated the New World Order is coming and America should lead the way. As the democrats expand power to every alphabet agency this administration continues to remove our freedoms daily. This statement Biden made can not be ignored the author here is informing readers that we are being disarmed and he is correct. Merrick Garland will continue to advance the ATF mission to attack any and all things firearms. Joe Biden continues reading what is put in front of him and he does that poorly a puppet with many masters. “Joe Biden the corrupt… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by john
Henry Bowman

Except the New World Order was announced over 30 years ago and arrived just more than 20 years ago.

It is time for Americans to lock & load and get to work, smartly and professionally!

Unless you like being a slave…

Cruiser

The first time I heard of the New World Order it was mentioned by Bill Clinton, it didn’t sound good for the US.

Don

I heard of the New World Order in college in the ’60s.

StLPro2A

Lies are the Libturd’s weapon of choice.

ashort

The funny thing is thing about all of this, is allot of these online gun shops and gun manufacturers, are using Fear tactics to sell 80% trying to tell everybody get them before they are outlawed/illegal. while at the same time raising prices of said product. so who is the bad guy Fear Mongers or Politician helping spread propaganda saying guns bad we are going to take them. which in turn pushes sales through the roof. I personally think it is a bunch of Hooey from politicians that have their hands in some kind of steel or aluminum manufacturing or… Read more »

Finnky

Some conspiracy pushing “rumors of some type of gun control”? #FATF published proposed regulations last year. They finalized their frames & receiver regulation and it takes effect in less than four months. They are rushing to finalize their pistol-brace regulation, and it is expected before first regulation takes effect. Perhaps you missed Biden’s gaff ridden speech? While these regulations may be illegal and are likely to be shredded when they get to SCOTUS in a few years — for now they have force of law. By force of law I mean that law-enforcement will enforce these “laws” using however much… Read more »

MP71

The sellers and manufacturers of 80%’s or guns or whatever are first and foremost in the business of selling their products. They will use just about any tactic to get us to part with our money. The way I understand O’Biden’s vague proclamation is that we’ll still be able to buy 80%’s but will have to do so through an FFL. A law with that wording goes into effect on July 1st in Kommiefornia. Unfortunately, I think this will lead to at least the manufacturers of 80%’s seeing their sales drop to the point it’s not feasible to continue. In… Read more »

American Cynic

How come all of a sudden this President is worried about ghost guns? How are they really different from every other gun used in a criminal act that has had its serial number filed off? Gun violence is NOT what concerns the Left, and ghost guns are a red herring to divert our attention from the real intent. The intent is to be rid of the 2nd Amendment, and disarm law abiding citizens so that the Left can push the envelop to the breaking point without us pushing back in the only manner that will be left to us. 300-400… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by American Cynic
JohnBored

That’s another of his lies. That so-called ghost guns are used in a lot of crimes. Of course, that idiot may well believe it. Since the man has never had an original thought or wrote an original word, he only knows what his handlers tell him.

Chuck

I say ot’s time we rise up and start shooting the treasonous Phucks in our government.

JohnBored

The Resident is an incompetent liar and moron, now suffering from dementia. A while back he was on the AR ban and war against standard magazines. Now he is obsessed with so-called “ghost guns.” He might think they are only used by white supremist klansmen, hence the ghost or spirits in white ghostly garb. When he’s not walking around lost, looking for a hand to grasp, or hair to sniff, he is getting angry. Mentally challenged people do that. When they are confused and/or irritated they strike out suddenly. Case in point is the character Lenny from Steinbecks “Of Mice… Read more »

Don

80% kits without serial numbers are a good thing as the government doesn’t know who or where a gun is. Good for honest people. I don’t know if the higher price one pays to avoid a serial number is worth it. I can buy two Glocks per year on the Blue Label program. I don’t mind having to do a 4473 to get the much lower price.

john

The New World Order was first brought to my attention when UN Agenda 21 was conceived in 1992. All the key words in the first draft have now become political tools and have gone global. Under the redrafted version 2016 Un Agenda 21-2030 changed the term global warming to climate change as that term allowed for a broader interpretation of issues that could be addressed. Today we now have the Great Rest which the communist government China has a bigger footprint than most people understand in fact most folks never heard of any of this I just mentioned. Journalist have… Read more »

JSNMGC

Many socialists, and people who advocate for socialist principles, are emotional beings. They form opinions and views largely based on their feelings. For example: They listen to people on TV indicating “the rich don’t pay their fair share.” That “feels” good to them because they are often angry about their situation and they want to see people who have more than they do, punished. They also want to pay less of the burden of government themselves. It’s classic class warfare designed to foment unrest and dissatisfaction with capitalism and current tax rates and position the government to increase their role in wealth redistribution (in its… Read more »

john

Thank you
That sums the the subject up nicely

JSNMGC

You’re welcome.

Have a nice day.

JohnBored

Yes, and the elite’s appointed “experts” will run the world. This crap has been around since the Trilateral Commission and the Council on Foreign Relations. David Rockefeller has been, or was, the prime mover of this and stated he achieved one world government in the early 1970’s. The Builderberg Group and Soros are the prime movers know. A sinister and evil plot to control everything. These atheists only believe in themselves; they view regular people, non-billionaires, as peasants and serfs. People like the Clintons, Bidens, and the educational class and entertainment naves will be pushed aside if they ever get… Read more »