The Dark Side of the ATF

Dive into the stark reasons why many believe the ATF should be abolished. From controversial operations to excessive force, explore the critical viewpoints that question the necessity and effectiveness of this three-letter agency. Get ready for an eye-opening perspective on government oversight and accountability.

[francispressly]

Let's do a reality check here. A "collection" is comprised of "onesy" ownership of a variety of calibers and makes and models. They are usually kept for a period of time until either someone figures out they are qrap and no longer wants them (who wants a firearm that jams or has some other chronic problem - or the caliber or function of the gun is too extreme to be handled by the collector - for example owning a .45 or .50 caliber handgun you don't have the hand strength to control and that is painful to fire) and the collector tries to get rid of it without taking a bath. The intention of making a "profit" is a pipe dream. If you sell a firearm through an auction or consignment agreement, the fees are going to take 20-30% of the sale price. Lets factor in if a firearm is "used" and condition becomes an issue (a fairly subjective issue at that) the firearm is further devalued from what the collector paid for it. If you are an average consumer and make all your purchases at full retail YOU CAN NEVER EXPECT TO PROFIT FROM THAT POINT FORWARD. The glut of everyday modern firearms and their availability through so many sources, make profitability literally impossible. The exception here are "antique" firearms. Firearms manufactured before 1898 are not subject to any of the modern gun law regulations and rules promulgated by the ATF and DOJ.

The way a "collector" of these class of firearm make a profit is they find someone who doesn't know what they have and buy it "on the cheap" and then turn around and sell it to a knowledgeable collector for its real value. Collector to collector sales are governed by perceptions of condition and desirability. All very subjective and a matter of opinion. Dealers who are skilled in the market and are in the loop about other collectors looking for certain things and have the ability to find those "in the wild", can make a profit. But again none of that is regulated by laws and usually this class of firearms by a collector is to look at and not shoot. So they pose no threat to public safety (which is the underlying theory/excuse of all regulatory efforts)

With modern firearms, the ONLY way I can see a profitability motive is you have the ability to make bulk purchases of new firearms at wholesale and then turn around and sell them at retail without having to resort to selling through an auction or dealer who will take fees. The margins on wholesale-retail sales are very thin and are quickly eaten up by middleman fees. Making a profitability motive a non starter.

Bottom line is COLLECTING MODERN FIREARMS COMES AT A COST - NOT A PROFIT!

It appears the ATF is attempting to word slice, obfuscate and wordsmith the 2nd Amendment in order to gain control and make an end run on the Constitution. Cause it doesn't bear out in reality.

[drumnut]

I met Randy Weaver and talked to him for a long while it's horrible what they did to him and his family.

[PizzaCatyhwh]

The real US government make the Enclave (US government from Fallout)look good.

[chumdog]

I'm not exactly a fan of any 3 letter agency

[williamkowalchik]

ATF should be a store. Not a government agency.

[brandondunnegan]

Don't forget the newest one where they killed that airport dude

[RFIdigitaProductions]

ATF should be the name of a party store not a federal agency.

[spaggettiisonlygoodhotandt]

They killed a 14 year old and his mom over a circumcised shotgun