BATFE goes postal in Richmond VA

The latest from VCDL. I copied the whole thing.


1. ACTION ITEM: Time to contact Congress about BATFE incident / new
allegations
*************************************************************************

In the NRA's Cam Edward's interview of the CNSnews.com reporter, a
new allegation came out: the BATFE had planted hidden cameras at the
last few Richmond gun shows and lied to the building owners saying
that the BATFE had permission to do so from the gun shown owner,
Annette Gelles!

Smile, you're on candid camera. :-(

Trouble is that it was illegal since things like filming are
controlled by gun show management.

Annette learned by accident, when a similar attempt in NoVA was
brought to her attention by building management. In that case BATFE
was sent packing.

I am getting tired of shaking my head at the shameful actions of BATFE.

Roy B. Scherer has been going after information from Richmond and the
VA State Police.

Richmond Police officer Major McCoy acknowledged Richmond having 8
officers at the show, but didn't mention the patrol officers who were
dispatched to people's houses.

VASP representative Corrine Geller acknowledged the task force, but
said that the State Police did not go knocking on doors.

We still haven't heard from Henrico, who also had their hands in this
mess.

Member Hank Moody asked that I share information to those who might
like to help Annette cover her legal fees in the fight against BATFE.
If you are so inclined, here is her contact info:

Annette Gelles
Showmasters
P.O. Box 10277,
Blacksburg VA 24062

Many of you have already contacted Senators Allen and Warner and your
local representative. Member Mike Wright said that Virgil Goode's
office is investigating.

---IT'S NOW TIME FOR US TO ACT---

We need to contact Senator Allen, Senator Warner, and your local
Congressman.

Simply go to the VCDL web page:

http://www.vcdl.org

And at the bottom of the right-most column and in the section labeled
'Write to Congress,' type in your ZIP code and click "GO"

You will then be at the NRA email system for the Federal Government
with contact info for Senators Allen and Warner and your
Representative.

Suggested email/message:

--

Dear [Senator/Representative],

At a Richmond gun show in on August 13th and 14th the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) stepped way over
the line by actually sharing National Instant Check System (NICS)
information with local police, who then dispatched officers to the
houses of people who were in the act of purchasing guns at the show!
Family members were asked questions like, "Did you know your husband
was buying a gun today?" "How many guns does your husband have?"

Worse, if no one was at home, neighbors were contacted about the
purchase!

Other law-abiding citizens who attended the show were harassed by the
BATFE and then let go since those citizens had done nothing wrong.

The police presence at the show was so overwhelming as to be
intimidating to both lawful customers and dealers.

More information on these BATFE abuses can be found in the
CNSnews.org article that first broke the story:
http://tinyurl.com/7f9cv

I urge you to demand an explanation from BATFE about this operation
and have a Congressional hearing on the matter since it appears that
Federal privacy and gun laws were broken.

We are a nation of laws in which the ends does not necessarily
justify the means. The rights and freedoms of the good people of
this Country are sacred. Perhaps the time has come to ask if the 'F'
in 'BATFE" should be removed.

Please let me know what you are going to do about this abuse of power
by the BATFE.

Sincerely,

--
 
I can't see how residency checks could serve much of a useful purpose, and it's true that they are, at least as described in the article, somewhat intrusive, but come on now. Cretins? The worst form of LEO? How about those who take bribes, those who assault people, steal their property, rape, and even kill people? That kind of thing goes on around the world every day.
Click to expand...

Somewhat intrusive? Is that all they were, somewhat intrusive? Interrogating wives and neighbors about the actions of a citizen pursuing a lawful activity? You don't see that as a critical violation of the right to privacy? What was supposed to happen if a wife said, "why no officer, I didn't know he was at a gun show" - did you think that they then had grounds to arrest him?

Cretins, yes absolutely. If they didn't have the ability to see what they were doing as extremely wrong, or the moral courage to refuse to do it if they did see it was wrong, then they are cretins. Those that take bribes and assault people, steal their property, rape and even kill people as you put it are no better, and no worse.
 
Last edited:
I can't see how residency checks could serve much of a useful purpose, and it's true that they are, at least as described in the article, somewhat intrusive, but come on now. Cretins? The worst form of LEO? How about those who take bribes, those who assault people, steal their property, rape, and even kill people? That kind of thing goes on around the world every day.
Click to expand...

With that logic and statement, you might as well buddy up the the gun grabbers. A line must be drawn.
 
Not sure even the NRA can take the rouge BATFE on, head on. The only persons that hold its leash is the Congress who controls the money
Click to expand...
Actually it is not Congress - although they could and should ultimately take action if needed. It is the President of the United States, the highest ranking person of the Executive Branch, that should have a firm hand on the leash of the BATFE.
------------------------

http://www.ussliberty.org/
http://ssunitedstates.org
 
Yes, organizationally the President should have control. "Iron triangles," however, are often resistent to Presidential influence. Iron triangles are formed by the agency, the congressional committee that oversees the agency, and the special interest groups who are affected by the agency's regulations. Unfortunately for shooters, right now the special interest groups the BATFE is listening to are the gun-control groups.
 
:D I'm not sure I actually believe this. If true it does show that dubya isn't reeling in these renegades very well.

In any event simply refuse to answer questions without legal counsel present and then shut up and smile.

:D :D :D
 
jrklaus
Yes, organizationally the President should have control. "Iron triangles," however, are often resistent to Presidential influence. Iron triangles are formed by the agency, the congressional committee that oversees the agency, and the special interest groups who are affected by the agency's regulations. Unfortunately for shooters, right now the special interest groups the BATFE is listening to are the gun-control groups.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is how it is playing.

But the President has the power to issue clear and decisive directives to the head of any Federal agency and require compliance via Executive Order.

For that matter the BATFE could be dissolved with an EO altogether. Transferring all BATmen to collecting alcohol and tobacco taxes - call it BAT. And leaving crimes committed within the jurisdiction of the Federal government (whether with explosives or not) to the FBI, who historically have more experience than anyone else anyway.
----------------------------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org
 
I just recieved this from VCDL:




One of VCDL's members did a Freedom of Information Act request to the Virginia State Police on the BATFE 'residency check' scheme that was being run on purchasers at the last Richmond gun show.

The resulting document, which gives important insight into the scheme, is now on VCDL's site for you to view:

http://www.vcdl.org/pdf/gunshow.pdf

The first three pages talk about the last gun show. The fourth page was created sometime before March of this year.

Notice on page four that 'residency checks' have been going on for at least a year! I'm surprised that we didn't learn about it earlier. I would guess that many people either didn't know who to notify or, more likely, were too intimidated.

Page three discusses the language one BATFE agent had on his t-shirt. That language wasn't necessary for a **police officer** to wear at a gun show, which is really a family event. A t-shirt saying something like 'Guns Save Lives' wouldn't have been so inappropriately offensive. ;-)

BTW, I learned that after complaints about the t-shirt, the officer was force to turn the shirt inside out.

Also it is noted on the third page that "Twenty-one individuals were deterred from making purchases due to questioning by Task Force members." It doesn't say that those were all criminals buying guns. It is very likely that it spooked off mostly legitimate gun purchasers who didn't want to purchase a gun in an oppressive environment where the police were hanging around and appeared to be chomping at the bit to bust someone.

Finally, it is noted on page three that the BATFE is only suspending the 'residency check' scheme, not terminating it. Thus, it could rear its ugly head in a more covert manner in the future. Any bets?

Let's keep our eyes and ears open, VCDL!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top