In a recent news story, a second attempt was made on former President Trump’s life, [they so..want him dead] and it’s making headlines for more than just the attempted assassination.
The rifle used in the alleged crime had a partially or fully obliterated serial number. While the media is buzzing about how this affects law enforcement’s ability to trace the gun, Mark Smith from Four Boxes Diner connects a crucial dot that no one else seems to be talking about: how this event might be used by the ATF to push for more gun control.
The Bigger Picture: Serial Numbers & the Vanderstok Case
Mark Smith points out that this situation is likely to impact the Supreme Court case Garland v. Vanderstok, set for oral argument on October 8th, 2024. In this case, the ATF argues for more stringent regulations requiring serialization of more firearm parts.
Their faulty reasoning? It’s supposedly for public safety and solving crimes. But Smith calls this out as nonsense, saying the real reason is to build a national gun registry—an effort that’s been in the works for years.
Smith explains that tracing guns through serial numbers isn’t nearly as effective in solving crimes as the government claims. In fact, most criminals either obliterate the serial numbers themselves or buy guns with already scratched-off numbers. So, how is more serialization going to stop criminals? It won’t. Instead, it just forces more law-abiding gun owners to jump through hoops, filling out paperwork that doesn’t actually prevent crime.
Why This Matters
According to Smith, the real purpose of tracing isn’t about solving crimes; it’s about creating an excuse for more government control over firearms and gun owners. He argues that tracing rarely solves crimes. So why the push for serialization? It’s part of the anti-gun agenda. The more paperwork and regulations they create, the more complicated it is to buy guns or gun parts, and the more the government knows about who owns what guns—moving closer to a national gun registry.
This is something gun owners have been wary of for a long time.
The Serial Number “Argument” & What It Proves
The media is breathlessly running their mouths with the narrative that the scratched-off serial number on the Trump shooter’s gun made it harder for law enforcement to trace. But here’s the catch: they didn’t need the serial number to catch him. Eyewitnesses and other forms of identification led to his capture. Smith points out that this proves the argument against mandatory serialization. Even if a gun has a serial number, a determined criminal will find a way around it—like obliterating the number.
And for Liberals, err, I mean criminals, willing to commit heinous crimes, such as attempted assassination, scratching off a serial number is hardly a deterrent. Smith makes it clear that serial numbers aren’t stopping bad actors. They’re just being used to create a false sense of security and to justify more regulation on gun owners who aren’t the problem.
What’s Really at Stake?
In this upcoming Supreme Court case, the ATF will likely argue that they need more serialization to protect the public. But as Smith states, that’s just a cover. The real endgame is building a gun registry. The anti-gun movement has long used public safety as a pretext to chip away at Second Amendment rights. This is just the latest example.
As gun owners, it’s essential to see through this narrative and understand the broader agenda. The Trump attack may become another tool for anti-gun activists to push their cause, but it’s crucial to remember that more regulation doesn’t equal more safety. It just means more control over law-abiding Americans exercising their right to bear arms.
Stay informed and be ready to push back when these talking points inevitably make their way into the news cycle.
Make sure to follow Four Boxes Diner on YT for more insights on how the anti-gun agenda continues to evolve.

Infringers looking for more ways to infringe. BECAUSE, if we have guns it keeps the Commies from doing to us what they want to do to us. F the Commie infringers.
I like Mark W. Smith. The guy has his head on straight and is very helpful in his interpretation of the laws they are trying to shove down our throats and with this one the BS that they are trying to extend the efficiency and depth of their gun registry.
I am willing to bet he is right about what the left is going to push.
What kind of gun control could they have left? Mandatory insurance? Polygraph inquisitions? Cash bonds?
I think articles and reasonings like this, the push for registration, are bs. Every background check form already has the buyers name, address, make model and serial number in it. The form is processed by the FBI.
The store has to keep it for 20 years and if they go out of business all those records have to go to the ATF.
Hi! There’s no gun registry…there’s no FORMAL gun registry.
In fact, most criminals either obliterate the serial numbers themselves or buy guns with already scratched-off numbers.”quoe: ” I will strongly disagree. Why bother trashing the number if there is no trace back to YOU? It does not matter. Guns get stolen then passed around on the “street market” for years. Per BATF the vast majority of cimre guns picked up by LE have numbers… they just cannot be linked to present owner. Serial numbers are not the “fix it” item BATF are claiming it is. Having a number on the article does no guarantee it can be traced. There… Read more »
IIRC (and I stated this on another forum dealing with this subject) the original reason for serial numbers on guns was for inventory control. Since the biggest manufacturers back in the day were providing arms to the military they needed some mechanism to track how many were made/delivered, gotta meet the numbers in the contract. Of course that also allowed .mil to track which gun went to which soldier – Pvt. Snuffy you were issued rifle (musket?) #ABC123 and it has now been found in the hands of hostiles, care to do some ‘splainin’? This might merit another well thought… Read more »
I’d like to know how a readable serial number would have prevented that SKS frm being used in an attack.
Politicians with laws never stop bad guys with guns, evil intent.
They only control the good guys, their true agenda.
“If you take all the guns off the streets you will still have a crime problem. However, If you take all the criminals off the street, you cannot have a gun problem.” – the late Col. Jeff Cooper
Can you imagine if some psycho shot a celebrity with a muzzleloader or compound bow? They would be screaming for ml and bow control.
ATF, go away pest!!! Yes, of course I much much stronger words for them and what they can do!!!