Andrew Travers nominated as next head of BATFE

[Tom Servo]

This could be a real lightning-rod for the freshman class.

Sorry if I looked as if I were venturing into pure politics, but I think the forces at work are relevant here. I spoke with both of my senators about this, and both plan to oppose his confirmation if it comes to that. One expects a hold on the nomination very soon.

Perception on both sides of the aisle seems to be that the appointment is a bit of back-scratching for a rather uninspiring candidate that just happens to be part of "the club." This is exactly the sort of thing the freshman class of conservative congressmen promised to stamp out, and I expect it to be an early and highly-visible cause for them.

I spoke with an agent from the Atlanta field division about him this afternoon, and she sighed and said, "we'll wait and see." The ATF mission the last few years has been more about punishing street traffickers and felons in possession than it has been about hassling dealers or enacting new restrictions. Furthermore, they are understaffed and overworked, and apparently, any new director will have his hands too full solving internal disputes and logistical issues to do much in terms of changing the agency's direction.

Let's not forget that the contours of the 2nd Amendment have changed completely since Truscott stepped down four years ago. Any new restriction the ATF tries to enact will likely lead to a legal challenge, and they know that. And, of course, S. 941 is still floating around in the judiciary.

Some think that this is a cynical, half-hearted attempt by a lame-duck administration to pass some sort of gun control (compare the current situation to 1968), but I wonder if it's even that.

[Skans]

Some think that this is a cynical, half-hearted attempt by a lame-duck administration to pass some sort of gun control (compare the current situation to 1968), but I wonder if it's even that.

So, does that mean I don't have to run out and buy that Para DSA FAL, PTR-91 and Sig 556 pistol I've been wanting???

[Tom Servo]

So, does that mean I don't have to run out and buy that Para DSA FAL, PTR-91 and Sig 556 pistol I've been wanting???

Oh, by all means! Especially since the first two ain't getting any cheaper.

[ADB]

This is exactly the sort of thing the freshman class of conservative congressmen promised to stamp out

Ha!

lame-duck administration

Clinton, Reagan, and Eisenhower all got their asses kicked hard in their first mid-term elections. It didn't stop them from going on to win a second term in large landslides and continue to govern.

[Tomaz45]

ATF is not alone in it's use of the rules, nor dependant upon who the current appointee is in charge. I voice this as an OPINION. As the bureaucracies on all levels find their funding decreased, they move to a survival mindset...increasing fee and fines. Every agency that I know of, local, state, and federal is reviewing and adjusting, and the end consumer will pay the tab. We recently went through an FFL review and audit and passed without a hitch. The agent returned 2 days later to do it again, quite frankly looking for a way to pay for the audit. "interpretation of the rules" will find a way. Anyone dealing with "government" inspectors at any level, I believe will agree. The errosion of our rights via this use of " what does this rule mean", will continue and quite frankly, I am at a loss as to how to stop it. It has taken us 4 generations (think Woodrow Wilson then FDR), to get here and it won't be stopped in a 2 year cycle. Stay the course, use your vote and your voice, and let's begin to take our county back.

[stevelyn]

Isn't Olofson that idiot from WI who put an A2 burst kit in his Oly and tried to claim it fired full auto because of a malfunction???

Do you really take at face value the word of an agency that is known for lying under oath, manufacturing evidence and have no techincal standards for testing and evaluation of so-called evidence?

I sure as hell don't and until they get their collective chain yanked and reform their rogue agency I won't.

[Skans]

Every agency that I know of, local, state, and federal is reviewing and adjusting, and the end consumer will pay the tab.

If BATFE wants more revenue then I can solve that problem for them with one word: AMNESTY

All BATFE has to do is grant a 2 year amnesty for anyone to register or convert and register any full auto firearms. They could charge $1,000 for every Form 1 they receive. No one would complain. BATFE not only gets lots of revenue from Form 1's but prices of machine guns in general would drop back down to a level where those, other than super rich, can afford to buy them......i.e. more $200 transfer fees for BATFE.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Do you really take at face value the word of an agency that is known for lying under oath, manufacturing evidence and have no techincal standards for testing and evaluation of so-called evidence?

In this case, you don't have to rely on the ATFs word since all the parties to the dispute agreed the Olympic had M16 fire control parts in it. There was never any dispute on that matter - the main argument was over the definition of a machinegun. In any case, Olofson is probably not the guy I would use if I wanted to make a case that the ATF abuses its authority.

[brickeyee]

Pichon, while the ATF cannot enact new laws, they can (and have) change how those laws are interpreted and enforced.

They also have the power to create new regulations, and after being adopted (published, comment period allowed, etc.) these have the same effective power as laws passed by incongruous assembled.

[MTT TL]

Figure best case scenario he starts running his mouth, saying all the same things he said in Chicago and coming up with more BATFEisms. This will get people energized enough to get rid of him.