So no, you are not going to be able to really get much objective information on "if this guy is genuinely careless and lazy, or if he has a chip on his shoulder". That just won't promote their anti-gun stance like making this guy sound like a raving lunatic who gives away gunnnnz to every crook and gang member in town.
And notice where his shop is located. Baltimore County, MD. What are the odds of any gun sold by his store in the last 10 years being tracked to a crime, as opposed to guns sold from a store in Whitefish, Montana?? Geeez, I'm sure there'll be a bunch tracked back to him just 'cuz of his being in a socialist, gun-control area, high crime rate area. He could've had every paper for every gun he ever sold, in addition to copies of all background checks, and the guns would still have turned up in crimes. That's just how it is in high crime areas.
"In the process, he will add even more anti-NRA, anti-gun fuel to the fire. We don't need boneheaded jerks making things worse."
I can agree somewhat on the general sentiment, but again you have to consider the source of this piece of garbage. This guy could be one of the true Apostles, rescuing every stray dog and kitten, giving his earnings away to orphanages, and supporting his invalid mom and he'd be portrayed as a weirdo, off-his-meds psychopath by the Compost. I doubt he would have gotten to the position he has with the NRA if he was in fact as deranged as they try to make him out to be. After all, even the NRA is political and, as you say, doesn't "need boneheaded jerks making things worse". But the story sure tries to make it seem that way, doesn't it? Especially if NRA and pro-gun people like you are raising the question in so many words... 'nuff said.
So I doubt he neither was nor has been staging a "resistance movement" at his place of business. Just taking the source of this wild pro-gungrabber story into consideration, I'd say just the opposite and the JBT's are out to get him.
If you wonder why I say that, I just have a very vivid memory of some "news" video locally here that showed heavily armed, body armored, helmeted, - and yes, jack booted - thugs arresting a local doctor and confiscating his office records. Why? He was said to have been prescribing too large of dosages of vitamin B to his patients. I kid you NOT!
So I can surely just imagine what they would be doing to a guy who sells eeeeevil guns and who's not exactly a vocal cheerleader for the BATFE.
Call me paranoid or whatever...
Once again, you're right. I'm with you all the way. BUT, if a gun dealer wants to keep his license and stay out of prison, he has to obey the laws as they currently exist. If a gun dealer carelessly or willfully disobeys the gun laws that apply to him, he's going down. The obvious answer is to stay within the law and comply - until such time as a gun law or city ordinance can be changed. This is all Step One stuff, and this guy apparently didn't follow through. That's the only point I'm try to make - don't make yourself vulnerable by being stupid.
Keep in mind that Governor Erlich was elected in part for his stance on the 'ballistic fingerprinting' issue and general statements which indicated a sentiment toward repealing useless gun laws, and this has state/local implications as well.
In general, there seems to be an increase in eeeevil gun stories out there, (though it may just be my perception). I expect that the rhetoric will get worse as November approaches.
On the brighter side, it illustrates that the Dems plan to continue their anti-gun rhetoric, which has already cost them votes at the state and national levels.