I confess to ignorance of the facts (the story was sent to me by a friend) but some points you bring out are interesting.....
After they were photographed and fingerprinted by U.S. Marshals, the couple were allowed to leave.
Cook said normally, those under felony indictment are barred from possession of firearms.
"We requested the court to waive that requirement so the could dispose of the inventory of fireman's and ammunition." Cook said.
Nevada prosecutors charged the Wilsons with eight counts of of firearm violations, most stemming from their attendance at the Big Reno gun Show in August 2003.
The Wilsons were indicted on four counts of unlawful dealing at an out-of-state gun show; three counts of unlawful selling of a firearms to an out-of-state resident, which carries a maximum five years each, and one count of possession of a machine gun.
The above lines show that the govt / ATF are getting more civilized about their tactics. NOT that I agree with the laws concerning what I have in my personal possession on my property (it is MY right!)
The govt does have some responsibility, through our representative republic and laws to regulate the interstate sales - in this case, an out-of-state dealer selling to in-state and out-of-state customers. The State of Nevada can prosecute the "no/improper liscence" for dealing during the trade show (none of the fed govt concern that particular charge). We just have to reign in the federal incursions into the states' lawful realm.