Badger Guns lost license over serious infractions

JS Online ^ | 2-11-12 | John Diedrich

[afraidfortherepublic]

Federal regulators found numerous serious violations at Badger Guns, prompting them to take the rare step of revoking the gun store's license last year, newly released documents show.

The West Milwaukee gun shop long has been under fire because of its high number of crime gun sales, including those used in shootings of Milwaukee police officers. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives revoked Badger Guns' federal license last year.

The store stopped selling guns Dec. 31. The ATF has refused to say why the store's license was revoked, citing a law passed by Congress that shields public release of information about gun stores.

The documents released to the Journal Sentinel through an open records request show the store had nine violations found during the ATF's 2009 inspection. Several were repeat infractions from an earlier inspection.

The violations included failing to complete federally required paperwork on gun sales and keep accurate inventory records - two areas considered crucial for tracking guns and allowing the agency to quickly trace guns used in crimes.

"That is the heart of why good records must be kept," said Michael Bouchard, former ATF assistant director for field operations.

~snip~

Badger Guns and its predecessor, Badger Outdoors, have been the top sellers of crime guns recovered by Milwaukee police for at least the past decade, according to Milwaukee police data obtained by the Journal Sentinel. In less than two years, six Milwaukee police officers were wounded with guns sold by Badger Guns or Badger Outdoors. Four of those officers have sued the owners.

Despite the revocation, the operation continues on S. 43rd St. in West Milwaukee.

[Dead Corpse]

Guilty of a crime that the FedGov has zero legit authority to be enforcing...

[Melas]

Who are you kidding? It happens all the time. There are shops that are directly related to organized crime, street gangs, and a host of unsavory elements. Gun shops are like everything else. There are good, honest shops, and there are corrupt shops that deal primarily in black market weapons.

[Ratman83]

You just keep on believing whatever, the government tells you like a good drone. The whole thing is unconstitutional anyways, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.