SBR idiot arrested at Gun Show...

[evansvillethompsongunner]

Originally Posted by IndyGunworks

why was the atf at the gun show? me thinks they had been watching him for a while

You kidding?

ANY show's got at least one ATF; big shows have more.

Knob Creek has no fewer than five at the April shoot; no fewer than four at the October shoot.... overheard that comment from a Knob Creek RSO chatting with a shooter on the line in between matches. Then again, biggest military/Class III show in the country is bound to attract some Federal attention.

But I would lay a month's pay that even the smallest shows still have at least one plainclothes agent present. Hell, the only reason for their existence is revenue-enhancement through enforcement... without keeping an eye out on people with rifle barrels shorter than 16" or overall rifle lengths of 26", how are they going to justify their budget?

Nowadays, $200 for an NFA stamp and $5 for an AOW isn't much, but back in '34, you could buy a good rifle for $10 or $20.
So this was anathema to most people, and often not enforced except against the wealthy, whom the ATF knew could pay the tax... no point trying to collect what was at that time a princely sum from a moonshiner, say, who might only make $50 every couple of months... but with inflation, and the encroachment of mission creep, it's become a real, if less and less expensive, problem.

The bigger problem is the direct un-Constitutionality of the '34/'68/'86 regulations, IMO:

"...shall not be infringed."

However, I'm not about to try to overturn the laws, no matter how illegitimate they might be (and there's little doubt in my mind that they are in fact, un-Constitutional) or to be a hero. No, sirree, I'll leave the caselaw for someone who has the time, money, and patience to deal with that... it wasn't until 1916 that we "realized" that we all have to pay Income Tax (which is a direct capitation tax, which is also explicitly verboten by the Constitution, interestingly enough).

I do, however, recommend the book Unintended Consequences by John Ross, which hopefully is redundant advice, as everyone, particularly firearms owners, should have read by now.... it's historical fiction, but provides some of the best and most accurate history of the gun laws and their progression that I've ever come across. Had one history professor in college who had this as part of the course curriculum despite a few mumbles from the Board of Trustees....