Fox 5 San Diego – by Misha DiBono
OCEANSIDE, Calif. – An Oceanside store that sells various gun parts to build a rifle from scratch warded off a federal raid Wednesday.
Dimitrios Karras, owner of Ares Armor, said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents were investigating their business, not for what they sell, but for the people who purchase their products.
Karras said the ATF threatened to shutter their business if they didn’t hand over the names of 5,000 customers who have purchased an 80 percent lower receiver (the base) for building an AR-15.
It is legal to build a rifle from scratch without serial numbers only if the base is manufactured to ATF specifications. The base is not considered a firearm if it’s sold separately.
A manufacturer made an 80 percent receiver in plastic with a different material and colors which show exactly where the customer can drill making it easier and cheaper to build. The ATF said it is illegal.
The ATF sent stores, including Ares Armor, letters demanding they turn over the products and names of customers who purchased them.
“They said either give us these 5000 names or we are coming in and taking pretty much anything – which is a huge privacy concern and something we are not willing to do,” said Karras.
Karras’s attorney informed the ATF to pick up the receivers Wednesday morning at their Oceanside location, but the inventory was not the issue. The store owner said he will not comply with turning over their private client list.
“They were going to search all of our facilities and confiscate our computer and pretty much shut our business down,” said Karras. “The government invades our privacy on a daily basis and everyone thinks its ok. This is one of those situations where hopefully the governmental institutions will come in say this is protected and no you’re not taking it from them.”
In anticipation of a raid, they filed a temporary restraining order against the ATF, stopping them from confiscating their property, Karras said. The ATF has a certain amount of time to respond. If the two parties do not reach a compromise, they will be in court for a preliminary hearing March 20.
Read more: http://fox5sandiego.com/2014/03/12/gun-store-owner-halts-federal-raid/#ixzz2vqvobFsl
Was wondering when they came for the 80%’s,hopefully any who wanted to has gone that route or already has all the parts needed,see a executive order ending the 80%’s coming soon though would be glad to be wrong.
The ATF, keeping people safe since Waco.
In Russia where there is strict guncontrol there are shooting murders every day in Moscow. Hmmm. Why is that? It is because their gun sales just went underground. That’s all. You can get anything you want in Russia if you have the money.
Now Ep armory in above article,soon a executive order on 80%’s in the works?
If you build it(80%). they(atf) will come.
From my cold dead hands coppers.
…eff’ the ATF….I hope their Director is one of the fist convicted for treason… that they fink on their bosses…and are given one last chance to apologize to the American People…right before we hang him….
RJ O’Guillory
Author-
Webster Groves – The Life of an Insane Family
I knew they were after the list, glad to see they threw a speed bump in their way.
If they want mine …they’ll have to earn it !
Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms . Sounds like a good name for a convience store !
Maybe we should open one next to the masonic lodge 🙂
Hahahahaha! If that’s the case, can I come and work for ya, Bulldog?
I think I could park that old Petercar ,& we have could have the 2nd best growing buissness , next to the Leviathon known as Government !!!
Let me know when you are ready brother.
hey Bulldog I’ll come work for ya too. hell i’ll clean the sh@tters if i half to. 🙂
The ATF was not created by an Act Of Congress. It was created through executive order by Tricky Dick. It’s Jurisdiction in the ” STATES ” is limited. The ATF cannot issue it’s own laws or expand a law beyond statute. If the ATF come knocking are any Federal Executive created agency , call your local County Sheriff who is the Chief Law Enforcement Agent or Cleo. It seem what the ATF is doing is void for vagueness for the rules being ambiguous and the ATF trying write their own laws. See Prinz, Mack v U.S.
Another intelligent Californian.