Look, I agree with the spirit of Bowmen and others.
Unlike many federal agencies out there that wouldn't exist without an industry to persecute... er, um regulate (OSHA comes to mind), the BATFE knows full and well it could go after illegal arms all day and be just fine (look at the DEA), so they are the tax payer funded gun control agency.
The BATFE wants to demonize not so much the casual shooter, or the occasional range goer, but the folks who but their ammo atleast 300 rounds at a time. Those folks take advantage of no NICS check legislation more than anyone else, so the ATF feels a need to goat screw those folks.
But, the idea earlier posted of giving out assault rifles to "militia members" on a state level, don't be surprised if it happens and a major conflict goes down. With the illegal immigrants, and various other things that would have sounded like conspiracy theories just a little bit ago, don't be surprised.