Are BATFE career staffers "Gun People"

[bushmaster1313]

Without getting into a politcal rant, it is well known that some people truly believe that anyone who thinks it okay for a civilian to own a shotgun should immediately report to the Reeducation Center. Others, I call them "Gun People," consider a collection of 4 or 5 riot guns a good start on a worthwhile and constitutionally protected hobby.

In general, are the career people at the BATFE "Gun People" or do they think it their mission to keep as many people as possible from possessing guns?

Note, I am not looking for comments about whether BATFE should be shut down or whether all guns laws are unconstitutional.

 

[rjrivero]

The BATFE folks I have talked to are just strait up Government. They collect a paycheck by doing their job. They don't have a "political" agenda at the boots on the street level, they're doing their job period.

Being representative of society in general, you'll find that they all have the same biases that the rest of us do. Some are gun people, some are strictly ANTI-GUN. It's kind of luck of the draw that way.

I do believe that the "Suits," as all "suits" have their own agenda. They owe their careers to the folks who "anointed" them.

 

[mortablunt]

They are law enforcement people. The ATF's mission is to controls weapons and such, not make sure that every household as a Mini 14 in the hall and an M1911 in the cutlery drawer.

 

[Romeo 33 Delta]

My one and only contact with BATFE was the day I got a letter with a scary return address on it. I was at work and on opening it I was informed that Agent "X" wanted/instructed" me to call his office about a firearm which I had recently purchased.

Nearly wet myself ... but called and was informed that he was not currently available, but I left my contact information and was told he would get back to me.

Lunch that day was certainly quiet and I was not at all hungry, but I did dig out my information on this rifle. I was/am not an FFL dealer, but always kept records of my purchases ... just because.

Mid afternoon, Agent "X" called back and asked me a couple of questions about this purchase. It happened to be a M1903 Springfield sporter, the ones done in the 1950's ... a really nice fit into my other military and non-military M1903s. Did I now own serial number XXXXXXX?, Did I purchase this on line from XXXXXX? My answer was yes to both questions. Out of curiosity, I asked what this was all about, that is if he could or cared to talk to me about it.

The gist was that the on line seller had already been previously warned by BATFE that he was to cease and desist from selling non-antique firearms over the internet without a license. He just plain blew them off. At this point I was concerned that I'd lose my rifle ... the agent said not at all. They did not need to have the physical rifle for their case ... I had made a legal purchase from my end, having it shipped to my FFL dealer, where I had gone through the background check and did the 4473 thing.

I told him I was glad of this ... it hadn't cost me all that much, but it fit nicely into my collection. He was in agreement and we had a nice chat about how back in the day, nearly every town of reasonable size had at least one gunsmith and these guys often turned out some really sweet sporters, especially if you hung a nice Lyman scope or #48 aperture sight on them.

My guy was apparently a "gun guy" ... we must have talked guns for 15-20 minutes. I didn't feel bad because, paying my taxes helped pay his salary ... so I was kinda' just wasting some of my own money.

My FFL dealer's agent is also a decent sort, according to what he tells me. Certainly all business, but reasonable and fair. That's better than being a jerk, I suppose.

 

[Tom488]

They are antigun law enforcement people. The ATF's mission is to controls weapons and such, not make sure that every household as a Mini 14 in the hall and an M1911 in the cutlery drawer

So, by that logic, people at the DMV are anti-vehicle?

 

[bushmaster1313]

Many in the various Environmental Protection Agencies are anti-business pro-nature types.

 

[jay21]

Some are gunnies others could not care less about guns or personal ownership, others oppose ALL private ownership. Same as most LEO agencies and American society in general, while the numbers might shift a little i would bet it is fairly close to a cross section of the general population

 

[whalerman]

As someone who has spent a few decades as an employee in one of these agencies, I have to tell you my opinion is that most people don't come in with any preconceived ideas of what people should be able to do or not do, own or not own. But they rapidly become sensitive to the philosophy of the agency. Whatever it takes to be promoted is what belief they adopt. There is also a train of thought that their position in life is superior to those of mere citizens. And for the most part, they are correct. The benefits of a government employee go far beyond pay and earlier retirement.

 

[stickhauler]

No, the people at the DMV are just anti-social. And lack the humor gene.

 

[Art Eatman]

Okay, we're not really talking about legal issues here.

Flip side, I know of one now-retired BATFE guy whose collection of firearms is far beyond my own, and he does a lot more shooting.