Hearings On Batfae Abuse Become Forum For New Gun Control

[fastpat]

Nixon, Reagan, and Bush I were Republican gun control advocates. Will Republicans further restrict Self Defense Rights again? Bush II has repeatedly stated that he'd sign new gun control legislation should it reach his desk.

<http://www.oregonfirearms.org>
OFF ALERT 02/19/06
HEARINGS ON BATFAE* ABUSE BECOME FORUM FOR NEW GUN CONTROL

If you missed the BATFAE hearings in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, held on the February 15th, we'd like to give you a brief wrap up.

Annette Gelles, a gun show promoter, testified about outrageous
harassment and abuse at the hands of BATFAE agents and other law
enforcement officers at gun shows in Virginia.

Stories were told of customers having agents show up at their homes to grill their family members about gun purchases, sometimes before they even returned home from the show. If no one was home, neighbors were questioned.

James Lalime, a private citizen who worked as a salesman for an FFL
dealer sometimes, was detained and questioned, all while law
enforcement agents, some with obscenities printed on their tee shirts,
made ridiculous and unsupported accusations against him.

But as is so often the case, the star of the show was a FFL dealer
whose comments were largely an attack on private collectors. John
White, a former police officer, seemed more concerned that collectors
were able to sell guns without the onerous background checks that are
required of dealers, than he was about the abuses being perpetrated by
the ATFE agents and other police officers.

The legislators present expressed more than a little skepticism at the
stories they were told. Congressman Delahunt, from (where else?)
Massachusetts, virtually accused the witnesses of lying about the good
men and women of BATFE. And he and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee used the hearing to promote even more gun control.

The Chairman,Howard Coble, missed no opportunity to repeat over and
over, that they were NOT there to criticize BATFAE.

No one from BATFAE testified, although the chair indicated that they
would be at a future hearing.

We believe that these hearings may easily turn into a new attempt to
impose Oregon style gun show restrictions (or worse) on a national
level.

The behavior of law enforcement at gun shows in Virginia was
inexcusable and frightening. BATFAE has a long history of abuses against
gun owners, and this was only one more example of that abuse. If
Congress members continue to bend over backwards to defend or deny the actions of BATFE, look forward to a new attack on your rights and
privacy, both by rogue law enforcement agents and members of Congress.

You can watch the entire hearing on line using his link:

<http://boss.streamos.com/real/hjudiciary/crime/crime021506.smi>

*Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Arson, and Explosives

[Rick Lee]

Pat, I got a legislative action alert from the NRA this weekend about this. VA is about as gun-friendly as it gets and there has been a lot of b!tching about this BATF nonsense at Richmond. I don't think they'll pull this stunt again. Their new director is in hot water over the skyrocketing costs of their new HQ and his recent $300k in upgrades in his own personal office.

[HardDrive]

I got the alert to. VERY irritating considering that they could have taken the 49 officers involved and we after some real criminals.

[Rick Lee]

This Richmond gun show thing has gotten a lot of attention in VA and folks are steamed about it. I really don't think BATF will do it again. I would love to have those goons try to harrass me. They'd get a call from Sen. Allen's office in a heartbeat.

[Joeaksa]

As well got the alert. Lots of people putting in emails on this one. If the ATF wants to keep this up they can do it, as long as its in a differnet country.