Why Is The ATF At My Door?

Covering the top three reasons the ATF is at your door. It’s an uncomfortable question: why is the ATF at my door? The ATF acting as a law enforcement agency, often come into contact with law-abiding gun owners, and many folks find them at their door. Whether it is part of a lost or stolen gun investigation, a private sale of a firearm gone wrong, or suspicious activity—no one wants the ATF to visit them at their home. The Armed Attorneys Richard Hayes and Emily Taylor cover the top three scenarios where they see the ATF is at the door.

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The material presented is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed to be formal legal advice or the formation of a lawyer-client relationship. You should not rely on this information or its applicability to any specific circumstances without speaking with an attorney.

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[BiggestD]

Hmmmm, where did they get this info? Gun registry? That's illegal, get yourself an ffl that calls in and does papers, best way

[Razor-gxdq]

Its because your buddies online aren't your buddies online.

[whitepunch]

When they came to my door and I wasn’t home . I called him and I asked if I was under arrest and the agent said no he just wanted to ask me some questions . I then said I will speak with a attorney first . I contacted them and they contacted him . That pretty much ended his fishing expedition . Always keep your mouth shut and let a attorney do the talking .

[liamgio]

Don’t talk to people about your property,

[twistedleft]

So the ATF has an actual defacto gun registry....

[MichaelLindsey]

If they are knocking then it is obvious they do not have a warrant, dont answer or open the door.

[timbow]

Don't answer the door. No conversation

[johnroper]

I've never heard a case where the ATF knocked on the door of a felon illegally in the U.S. with multiple convictions and multiple firearms of the same type. And this is an everyday thing. Especially today.

[justme_gb]

"...and maybe for the safety of dogs in your household..."

Sweet poke at the AFT Richard!

[dalepres]

Great video, folks. I really appreciate giving us food for thought ahead of what might happen. Reminds me of studying martial arts where the value isn't in all the kata that you learn; it's the muscle memory so you don't have to think, "How do I respond to that roundhouse punch that is coming my way right now?" You've thought about it ahead, you've rehearsed and planned it, practiced it until you don't have to think about it. It seems to me that how to answer the police in a law enforcement is also something to think about ahead of time, to talk about with family members. You can't exactly rehearse because you don't know what the LEOs are doing or will say but you can speak out loud, many times in conversation with your family, no one gives permission for law enforcement to enter the house.

In my house, this is what we've discussed: no one agrees to a search for any reason. It's OK if the LEOs choose to destroy the safe and/or the door or if they forcibly confiscate anything. We do not give permission, even abstractly, but we understand that they have the force to do it and we do not agree to it even when it is obvious they are going to do it anyway or obvious that they have, or believe they have, legal justification.. We still object to any search and will state that we object, and that we disagree with the cause and finding in any warrant and do not give permission, even with a warrant, to search but we also will not stand in the way of the search.

If it seems imminent that they're going to come in anyway, do not stand in any way or place that can be conceived as blocking them; they definitely have the physical power and force to get in. Attempt to, with as much respect as we can muster, express our objection. We might be ordered to shut up and sit down or lay down or kneel down. In those cases, we follow the commands of the LEOs.

I am that little old man, we're that little old couple, my wife and I are very near 70 and we're both disabled, that Richard hypothetically mentioned in another video on this topic. If the ATF asks to see a gun, like Richard suggested in our scenario in another video, if I can show it to them on the porch, I'll do it, and make the thing, hopefully, go away. I say that with caution, though, because I am in the process of finding an experienced gun rights attorney in my area that would be willing to take a reasonable retainer so that I have them to call if there are any questions, and I can also, ahead of any such interaction, get advice from an attorney in my area to go along with the advice you've given.

[JasonCarmichael]

Mr. Inbetween says it best, "I don't answer questions."

[Dachamp]

That happened to a buddy if mine he traded a firearm to his FFL that he bought New. 24yrs later. The ATF knocked on his door asking about it. He told him he traded it at his FFL for another firearm 24yrs ago.

[piecetrain]

This is interesting. As an attorney I understanding the desire to document. As a gun owner, I have no interest in documenting. I have sold several guns in TX and never documented. I had no reason to believe the person was prohibited from purchase or possession. I think the DOJ or any civil claimant would have a very difficult time establishing even probable cause, even if the gun had been used in a crime, unless there were unusual facts like a recent purchase and local crime was committed with the gun. Of course we don’t want the gun used in a crime, but like the sale of many things I would not document. The advice to only talk to a lawyer is sound regardless of whether the person thinks they did anything wrong or not.

[PatriotAmerican]

I honestly would like to avoid this altogether. If I buy a few guns in a month will the ATF lose their crap?

[jcarne]

I can see how someone who buys multiple handguns multiple times gets on the ATF radar because of the requirement for FFLs to notify of more than one handgun purchase per week, but how is the ATF getting notified of an individual buying multiple ARs?

I had a significant number of guns stolen that I had just inherited about 10 years ago. The investigators screwed up the serial numbers I gave them so badly I never did get it all straight. Never got any of them back either, even the two that were traced to me. Crooked cops…

[armsdirectory]

I've seen Emily doing a great talk for TX Law Shield, and I can assure you, you WANT her on YOUR side!

[mtradz]

more great information that people should heed! thanks you two!

[parker]

The safety of your dogs lol I love how you throw that in there. Funny but sad but also true. Thanks for the good info, keep the videos coming

[hoosierplowboy]

Excellent advice. And... I hope I never need your services... 🙂

[bigtex]

I bought 7 of the same kind of gun. Made no attempt to conceal this so multiple purchase forms were generated. They showed up at my door wanting to ask questions. I zipped it and directed them to my attorney. They gave me a cease and desist order that contained a bunch of lies but they never charged me with nada.