First, the back story:
Red’s Trading Post is currently under fire from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). On March 5th our license to aquire firearms was revoked and is pending appeal in federal court. In the meantime we are still able to continue selling as we always have.
A 2004 audit by the ATF claims to have uncovered several minor clerical errors. Out of nearly10,000 firearms transfered between 1996 and 2004, the alleged error rate found was not even a full percentage point. There were no missing firearms, and no willfull illegal acts.
This is not just happening to us though and is becoming a common trend throughout the United States; the problem is with the ATF’s liberal interpretation of the word “willful”. The word “willful” was added by Ronald Reagan and Congress to protect FFL (Federal Firearms License) dealers against the ATF. Why would we honestly put our license, reputation and over 70 years in business in Jeopardy? We would never condone of illegal activity, we have always gone above and beyond what is asked of us and will continue to do so. Our family takes pride in our business and community. We will continue to fight this and received a lot of phone calls and e-mails from other dealers that are battling the same situation. The number of FFL’s in this country are on a sharp decline. I thank our friends, supporters and customers for their continued support and assure everyone that we will continue to fight this.
US District Judge Edward Lodge has granted Red’s Trading Post an injunction to continue their full operation.
Judge Lodge noted in making his decision that “the ATF speaks of violations found during the inspections of 2000 and 2005, but fails to reveal that additional investigations in 2001 and 2007 revealed no violations or problems.” He also notes Red’s statement that ATF is exaggerating Red’s conduct by “double counting” certain violations. Also noted was the balance of the ATF’s hardship compared to Red’s hardship, and that that the relative hardships tip sharply in favor of Red’s.”
The ATF is systematically doing everything they can to run out of business all the legitimate gun sellers as they can, using both gestapo tactics and lying. What is happening to Red’s is simply a focal point for what is happening all across the country.
Red’s Trading Post, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, ATF, Federal Firearms License
