Armed IRS Agents Rounding Up Gun Purchase Records

[montana]

The gun shop owner hasn't been charged with anything.

From the ATF...

ATF Inspections and Outcomes

Applicable Laws and Regulations: 18 U.S.C. § 923; 27 CFR § 478.23, 479.22

ATF may enter the premises and places of storage of any licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector during business hours for the purposes of inspecting or examining the records, documents, ammunition and firearms and to ensure compliance with GCA recordkeeping requirements. Compliance inspections are conducted by ATF’s industry operations investigators (IOIs). Inspections are generally unannounced, occur during the licensee’s business hours, and may also include an inspection of off-site storage locations, if any. ATF is generally limited to the inspection of a licensee not more than once during any 12-month period. ATF, however, may contact a licensee at any time with respect to records maintained by the licensee that relate to a firearm involved in a criminal investigation. If a licensee refuses to comply by not letting the IOI enter the business premises or inspect their inventory and records, this conduct is considered a willful violation of the GCA and ATF will pursue revocation of the license. While the GCA does not define “willful,” Federal courts have held that a willful violation of the GCA’s regulations occurs when the FFL commits the violation with an intentional disregard of a known legal duty or with plain indifference to their legal obligations.

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Except for limited permit holders, any ATF officer may, without a warrant, enter during business hours the premises, including places of storage, of any licensee or permittee for the purpose of inspecting or examining any records or documents required to be kept by the law and regulations and any explosive materials kept or stored at the premises. For inspection purposes, "business hours" includes hours during which business is actually conducted, not just those hours stated on license or permit applications.

Any licensee or permittee who refuses to permit the inspection or examination is subject to having his or her license or permit revoked, as well as to denial of an application to renew the license or permit.

For limited permit holders, an ATF officer may inspect the places of storage for explosive materials of either an applicant for a limited permit or at the time of renewal of such permit, but in no event shall such inspection occur more than once every three years.

[18 U.S.C. 843(b)(4), 18 U.S.C. 843(f)]

It takes 20 armed agents to do an inspection?? Like I stated before, banana republic..