Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) accused the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives of retaliating against a whistleblower who testified to Congress.
In a letter to ATF Director Steve Dettelbach, Gaetz claimed that “ATF agents once again aggressively targeted and harassed one of my constituent federal firearms licensees, Chris Smith of Gulf Coast Gun.” Smith had testified in front of Congress alleging ATF mistreatment in June, and it is for this reason he has been harassed by ATF agents, Gaetz alleged.
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“After Chris’ testimony at my Field Hearing on the Weaponization of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, ATF agents showed up at his business unprompted to inspect a manufacturer’s license he has held for only six months: Given Chris has not yet used the license, the agents had nothing to inspect and had no choice but to leave,” Gaetz wrote.
“The ATF had previously audited Chris’ retail license within the last year, and it follows that given the ATF is forbidden from auditing the same business twice in one year, the only excuse the ATF had to harass Chris further was to audit a new, unused manufacturer’s license.”
“The local ATF agent admitted that he had no records Chris was using the license, but nevertheless received a direct order to audit Chris’ new license,” he added, going on to cite the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act of 1986, which holds that the ATF can inspect a licensed carrier with reasonable cause or a warrant no more than once a year.
Gaetz also accused the ATF agents of “stalking” Smith and his business.
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“In addition to this violation of federal law, the ATF showed up uninvited to the home of Christian O’Brien, Chris’ store manager, without making an appointment, as he does not have business hours,” he wrote. “Christian does not sell any firearms or perform any business on behalf of Gulf Coast Gun. Christian was not home at the time, so the agents called him and told him: ‘Don’t worry, we know where you work.’ This kind of stalking is unwarranted and creepy.”
The Florida Republican concluded by demanding the director answer a list of questions aimed at uncovering the reasoning behind the agents’ behavior.
