-
Targeting based on Past Errors: The ATF used procedural errors from 16 years ago, which they had previously cleared Harris of, as a basis for targeting his Federal Firearms License (FFL). Despite having letters clearing him.
-
ATF Tactics and Home-based Dealers: Harris and other home-based gun dealers claim the ATF is specifically intimidating them into voluntarily surrendering their FFLs, exploiting their limited financial resources.
-
Questionable Due Process: The ATF’s Director of Industry Operations for its Dallas Field Office, Krissy Y. Carlson, signed Harris’s notice of revocation. However, she also oversees his appeal, raising concerns about potential conflicts.
If the Biden-Harris administration continues its unconstitutional war on gun dealers, the local gun shop will become just a memory, and only big-box sporting goods stores will be able to sell firearms, says Tom Harris, who’s been selling guns from his Lewisville, Texas home for the past 30 years.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives recently targeted Harris’ Federal Firearms License for revocation.
His Crime?
ATF dug up procedural errors from as far back as 2007 to make their current “case,” but the ATF had already told Harris he was cleared of these 16-year-old clerical errors, as well as newer ones. He has letters attesting to this. Unfortunately, none of this mattered to the ATF inspectors, who began persecuting the 61-year-old disabled father of five to satisfy their supervisors’ push for FFL revocations.
“They threw the kitchen sink at me after they cleared me because their bosses weren’t happy with it,” Harris told the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project last month. “They are trying to intimidate me into surrendering my FFL.”
A story published last month revealed that Harris was the latest home-based gun dealer to be targeted by the ATF. Harris and others say the ATF chose to harass and intimidate home-based dealers into voluntarily surrendering their FFLs because they know most lack the financial resources to mount a legal defense and fight back.
“The ATF didn’t follow their own protocols,” Harris said. “Now, they’re making up allegations.”
One of Harris’ longtime customers created a GiveSendGo account, which has raised nearly $20,000, although Harris will likely need much more.
“I’m selling everything at cost to raise funds. I’ve received a very positive reaction from my customers, but the average citizen does not understand what the ATF is doing,” Harris said. “There are thousands of FFLs who have already given up – scared to continue. There will soon be a day when the local gun shop is just a memory, and you’ll have to go to big-box stores to buy a gun – stores who donate to political campaigns, have expensive lawyers, and are owned by holding groups or hedge funds that are not even located in the United States.”
Due Process?
Harris will appeal his notice of revocation at an ATF hearing next month. His notice of revocation was signed by Krissy Y. Carlson, ATF’s Director of Industry Operations (DIO) for its Dallas Field Office. Carlson will also oversee Harris’ appeal hearing.
“Her name is on the revocation notice, and she gets to be the judge,” Harris said. “My FFL is up for renewal in April, so even if I win my appeal, they could still deny my application for renewal.”
Harris was told ATF is “freaking out” over the exposure his case has drawn.
“They’re used to ramrodding and rolling right over people,” he said. “ATF’s Dallas office is only 1.4 miles from my house. There are probably some decent people who work there, who have no choice but to drink the Kool-Aid or quit. They’re not quitting.”
Read Related:
-
New Leak Shows The ATF’s Plan To Revoke FFLs
-
ATF: Gun Shop License Revocations Up a Staggering 500%!?
About Lee Williams
Lee Williams, who is also known as “The Gun Writer,” is the chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project. Until recently, he was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming an editor, Lee was an investigative reporter at newspapers in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. He’s earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. Lee is an avid tactical shooter.
