The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued a warning to multiple Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) and gun dealers on Friday over potential civil unrest.
Though the alert apparently was not dispersed to every dealer in the nation, many report receiving the caution. The agency appears to have targeted metropolitan gun stores and FFLs with the dire warning.
It read: “Possible civil unrest in our area may result in looting of businesses. The ATF reminds you to remain vigilant and to take appropriate steps to secure both your firearms inventory and your required records.”
The agency added encouragement to report suspicious activity to authorities and the ATF if necessary.
He died three days later, though his mother told reporters that he was kept on life support for those three days.
Five former Memphis police officers were fired and subsequently charged with murder in the case. All five were bailed out of jail.
Cities as far north as Minneapolis were making preparations for disturbances spawned by events in Memphis. Local officials reported that the municipality “is poised to implement the Emergency Operations Plan in coordination with the Office of Community Safety and its multi-jurisdictional partners.”
The city said it is acting out of an abundance of caution after 2020’s riots. The violence that followed the murder of George Floyd resulted in the first full mobilization of the Minnesota National Guard since World War II.
The caution concerning the possibility of civil unrest in the days ahead should not only be for gun dealers and FFLs. It is important that citizens remain vigilant and ready to protect themselves and their property in the unlikely but possible event that this is necessary.
Law-abiding citizens clearly recognize the abuse of authority and show of force that was apparently carried out in Memphis. They should also realize that, also out of an abundance of caution, there are downtown areas and places of protest that may best be avoided.
The video clearly shows an abuse of power and will be viewed and reviewed many times over. There is already a public outcry for swift justice to be dispensed, and with emotions running high the chances for some kind of disturbances to follow are greatly increased.
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis did not pull punches when describing the actions of the five police officers. She described the fatal attack as “acts that defy humanity” and noted that it was just as disturbing as the infamous 1991 assault on Rodney King.
Davis told CNN that the images “were about the same if not worse” than that incident over three decades ago that sparked some of the worst rioting the nation has ever experienced. Dozens died and billions of dollars of property damage was done — much of it to some of the nation’s poorest neighborhoods.
Referring to the Nichols video, Davis said she was “outraged” and called the actions of the officers “incomprehensible.”
She added the footage “was unconscionable. I don’t think I’ve witnessed anything of that nature in my entire career…you’re going to see acts that defy humanity. You’re going to see a disregard for life.”
With any luck, previous lessons such as those taught in 2020 were learned. Outraged civilians will make their voices heard without loss of life and widespread destruction. And law enforcement will exercise restraint in dealing with what could be energetic crowds filled with angry and frustrated protesters.
