Posted on 09/10/2023 9:09:56 AM PDT by Twotone
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) accused the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives of retaliating against a whistleblower who testified to Congress.
In a letter to ATF Director Steve Dettelbach, Gaetz claimed that "ATF agents once again aggressively targeted and harassed one of my constituent federal firearms licensees, Chris Smith of Gulf Coast Gun." Smith had testified in front of Congress alleging ATF mistreatment in June, and it is for this reason he has been harassed by ATF agents, Gaetz alleged.
"After Chris’ testimony at my Field Hearing on the Weaponization of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, ATF agents showed up at his business unprompted to inspect a manufacturer’s license he has held for only six months: Given Chris has not yet used the license, the agents had nothing to inspect and had no choice but to leave," Gaetz wrote.
"The ATF had previously audited Chris’ retail license within the last year, and it follows that given the ATF is forbidden from auditing the same business twice in one year, the only excuse the ATF had to harass Chris further was to audit a new, unused manufacturer’s license."
"The local ATF agent admitted that he had no records Chris was using the license, but nevertheless received a direct order to audit Chris’ new license," he added, going on to cite the Firearm Owners' Protection Act of 1986, which holds that the ATF can inspect a licensed carrier with reasonable cause or a warrant no more than once a year.
Gaetz also accused the ATF agents of "stalking" Smith and his business.
"In addition to this violation of federal law, the ATF showed up uninvited to the home of Christian O’Brien, Chris’ store manager, without making an appointment, as he does not have business hours," he wrote. "Christian does not sell any firearms or perform any business on behalf of Gulf Coast Gun. Christian was not home at the time, so the agents called him and told him: 'Don’t worry, we know where you work.' This kind of stalking is unwarranted and creepy."
The Florida Republican concluded by demanding the director answer a list of questions aimed at uncovering the reasoning behind the agents' behavior.
These fascist government agencies need to be shuttered.
This is actually the only available answer. They cannot be fixed from within, because they will weed out anyone who doesn't think like them. Power and zealotry is a very bad mix.
There’s a yes and no to your comment.
Yes...they can be fixed from within, but that would require a 100% revamp of the hiring, vetting and training process. To include the formation(as if we need another one) a committee/review board, similar to the ones that many police departments have. Made up of folks that have nothing to do with the agency, to review these situations. And if the agent is found to be wrong, then he/she is dealt with.
No...they can’t be fixed from within because of the institutional protections, unions, etc that allow these agencies to do what they want without fear of any accountability.
And while they’re at it, they can took a good hard look at Giglio and decide if agents that have been accused of it, have the ability to keep their jobs.
IMO, It is President Trump that woke (a good woke, this time) the sheeple out of sleep and united the people under a true vision of what America should be, was and was now disappearing.
THAT is why we MUST pray that God's hand will be on him and in the way of the Satanic attacks.
biden is the figure head of the dictatorship and the democrat party are the useful idiots.
Consider; The squad, pelosi, schumer, hillary, ALL clintons, obozo and clan . . . ALL RELATIVELY QUIET.
Indicting President Trump was the worst thing that could ever happen to the democrat party.
The very first hint of a real trial will allow discovery and a modicum of subpoena and arrest powers.
That's why they're trying to resurrect fauci . . . HE is the only recognizable figurehead that MIGHT be able to produce another mail in ballot scam.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥.
Republicans had the chance from Jan 2017 - Jan 2019. They didn’t do it. They currently have the House, but they decided to go along and raise the debt ceiling a couple of months ago. They’re cool with sending billions to Ukraine. They’re going to screw us again on the budget because their bullshit excuse will be avoiding a government shutdown.
Zero’s Cabana Boy Ryan was the Speaker then. His job was to stymie President Trump’s agenda. Mission accomplished. But, hey, he did get his in-law Black Stalinazi moonbat on SCOTUS, so there’s that.
Trump will have to order a complete shutdown of offensive activities by federal law enforcement agencies and that seems complicated compared to the simple order to shut down and stop all activities.
More jack-booted thug tactics from law enforcement.
and... ?
nothing but mean tweets. that’s all congress is.
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