Conservatives who fear Biden gun-grab call for dismantling of ATF

FPI / December 22, 2020

Second Amendment advocates who have long warned of the anti-gun proclivities of the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) are calling for the agency to be dismantled before its agents can be deployed by a possible Biden administration to confiscate Americans' firearms.

Georgia Republican Rep.-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted on Dec. 14: "10 years ago today, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered in cold blood with a gun provided to Mexican drug cartels through Barack Obama and Eric Holder's ATF "Fast & Furious" program. The ATF is an oppressive government agency that should be DEFUNDED and ELIMINATED!"

The ATF provoked further alarm earlier this month when it raided a Nevada-based firearms manufacturer for allegedly producing so-called "ghost guns."

On Dec. 10, ATF agents raided Dayton, Nevada-based Polymer80. The company manufactures unfinished receivers and frames, often referred to as 80 percent. It was the first direct assault on unfinished frames and receivers since a November report of collusion between the ATF and Biden's transition team to target these items.

ATF agents also reportedly confronted Polymer80 customers and confiscated certain unfinished frame kits, the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action reported.

In a Nov. 10 report for Ammoland.com, gun rights activist John Crump detailed a leaked ATF conference call in which the agency's acting director and associate deputy director, Regina Lombardo and Marvin Richardson, "told those in attendance that the anti-gun Biden transition team has reached out to the ATF to get the agency’s 'top priorities.' " The report went on to note that “Lombardo told those on the call that her priorities would be pistol braces and 80 percent lower receivers.”

Gun Owners of America (GOA) Senior Vice President Erich Pratt blasted the ATF's recent move to consider outlawing some AR- and AK-style pistols with arm braces.

“This ATF is simply out of control,” Pratt said. “This agency — which shouldn’t exist in the first place — is not held accountable for its actions, and honest gun owners who are being turned into criminals are paying the price.”

The ATF has issued its “Objective Factors for Classifying Weapons with Stabilizing Braces” proposal, indicating that it fully intends to reclassify AR-platform pistols featuring stabilizing arm braces as NFA weapons subject to registration and taxation.

“If there were any lingering questions as to how far ATF has gone off into the deep end, this document settles it,” said Pratt. “The ATF is the embodiment of the word ‘infringement,’ and GOA is prepared to combat its actions at every turn. GOA will rally the grassroots to fight these regulations, and if they eventually go into effect, we will commence immediate legal action to protect gun owners.”

Free Press International