The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) launched a surprise inspection at one of the nation’s largest gun dealers with 16 out-of-state Industry Operations Inspectors (IOI).
Adventure Outdoors, one of the country’s largest federally licensed gun dealers located in Smyrna, Georgia, was surprised when 16 IOIs showed up to inspect their store on Monday. According to Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), most of the inspectors were from cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is not common for that amount of inspectors to show up at a location, and it is not common for the IOIs to come from out of state. Rep. Taylor Greene arrived at the store with several other members of Congress to investigate what was going on with the unprecedented inspection. The inspectors on the scene refused to answer any of the Congresswoman’s questions. They retreated to their cars, where they called a public relations officer who came to the store to answer the members of Congress’s questions.
The unidentified higher-up stated that the inspectors did not know who Rep. Taylor Greene or the other members of Congress were and that they were instructed not to talk to the media. Rep. Taylor Greene claimed that she did inform the inspectors that the party was members of Congress. The Congresswoman currently sits on the House Oversight Committee, which has oversight of the ATF. The public relations officer stated that the inspection was “just a routine inspection,” although he could not explain why it required 16 inspectors or inspectors from out of state.
BREAKING IN GA
ATF agents raid one of the largest gun dealers in the country. Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, GA was met with 16 agents from various states this morning. @rsbn will continue to monitor this story. pic.twitter.com/nKljHg68NR
— Brian Glenn (@brianglenntv) March 27, 2023
Today, the ATF showed up with 16 agents, most from out-of-state from cities like LA and San Francisco, to “inspect” Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, GA.
This visit was unprecedented. The sheer amount of agents from the bluest parts of the country is unusual and unnecessary to… pic.twitter.com/gz2JnOAe39
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
(@RepMTG) March 27, 2023
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted:
“Today, the ATF showed up with 16 agents, most from out-of-state from cities like LA and San Francisco, to “inspect” Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, GA,”
“This visit was unprecedented. The sheer amount of agents from the bluest parts of the country is unusual and unnecessary to conduct a routine audit.”
“This is a prime example of Joe Biden and the Democrats weaponizing federal agencies to silence and intimidate their political opponents. I fear this is just the beginning and they are directly targeting our Second Amendment and our right to protect and defend our families.”
“I’m proud to have joined my colleagues to do our job and conduct Congressional Oversight on this highly suspect ‘inspection.’”
Since President Joe Biden took office, federal firearms license (FFL) revocations have increased by an astounding 500%. The President called for a crackdown on “rogue gun dealers,” but FFLs have seen licenses get pulled for simple clerical errors. Many in Congress and the gun community think the President has been weaponizing the ATF against lawful businesses. In addition to shutting down FFLs, the ATF has also attempted to ban 80% frames and receivers through rulemaking.
The ATF also has tried to change the definition of a short-barreled rifle (SBR) to include pistols equipped with pistol stabilizing devices. The ATF’s attempts at changing the definition mean that millions of guns would have to be registered under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA). Members of Congress have begun pushing back against the ATF for its overreached, and the courts have largely sided with the gun community.
The sheer number of inspectors and the bringing in of inspectors from other states make this inspection being random almost impossible. The House Oversight Committee can investigate the inspections by requesting records leading up to the inspections. AmmoLand News has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get all documents from before and after the inspection.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
