It proves that bureaucrats are motivated by an anti-gun agenda rather than fighting violent crime.
One of the obvious targets of the ATF is the so-called “kitchen table” firearms dealers. These are sellers who do not have a brick-and-mortar presence but are required to obtain an FFL to pursue what for most is a hobby.
This requirement came through the federal push to register everyone who “engaged in the business.”
An apparent victim in the ATF’s mad rush to eliminate licensed firearms dealers is Russell Fincher, 52. He is a high school history teacher in tiny Tuskahoma, Oklahoma, a Baptist preacher and a Little League coach. He had also possessed a FFL for three years.
“Had” because he alleges the agency strong-armed him into giving it up.
Fincher recounted that he received a call from the bureau in April notifying him that they wanted to inspect his residence. He welcomed them and two agents showed up a few days later. They spent about three hours in his home and took pictures of his Form 4473s with their cell phones.
The dealer described the federal agents as pleasant. They noted that he had some weapons that had traces on them, which he said concerned him.
Two weeks after the initial visit, the agents returned. Apparently they had further “concerns” about Fincher’s handwriting and had trouble reading a couple of forms. He had also accidentally switched a gun’s model number with the serial number.
Fast forward to June 16, and the part-time dealer was preparing along with his son to leave his home for a gun show in Tulsa. When his phone rang, it was the ATF. The agent said they wanted to converse with him before he left for the event. Fincher was told they would come out to the house, so he waited.
That’s when everything hit the fan.
No less than seven vehicles carrying a dozen ATF agents in tactical gear and toting AR-15s raced into his driveway. The obviously startled homeowner was summoned onto his deck and placed in handcuffs in front of his 13-year-old son.
Fincher was bound and surrounded by agents on his porch for nearly an hour, and they proceeded to shout at him about his firearms business. He recalls thinking that if they were intent on dissecting every miniscule factor in his small business that he was finished.
He finally told the agents, “If you want my FFL, you can have it.”
That was all it took to satisfy the ATF.
One agent produced a paper — with three copies — and instructed Fincher to sign all three. Once the forms were signed in triplicate, the agents began loading his guns to haul off. When questioned, they simply said that they were “evidence.”
Fincher noted they took over 50 of his personal weapons with an estimated value of $50,000 to $60,000.
Once his weapons were in the hands of the ATF, the “visitors” summoned the agent in charge, Special Agent Theodore Mongell. He was told that it was now safe to go to the Fincher residence.
According to Fincher, Mongell had a special message for Fincher. “You’re done. We have to shut you down. You tell all your FFL buddies we are coming for them. We are shutting the gun shows down.”
