It feels like ATF is hitting a bunch of the low threat, low hanging fruit this year. Much safer and easier to check on suburban dad's possible straw purchase in Delaware rather than the 20 Glock auto sears that shipped to Compton.
I don't know how ATF investigations work, but I'm guessing they get a list given to them and just told, "go make these contacts". I'd be surprised if they just get to fish for "anything" they want, in some FED LE version of a local street cop who needs to pull over X number of drivers each month.
What would be interesting to me is if the "7 firearms purchased since January" were all in separate transactions
more than five business days apart.
- ATF Form 3310.4 Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers Instruction #1:
Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) must use this form to report all transactions in which an unlicensed person (i.e., non-FFL holder) acquired any combination of two or more pistols or revolvers totaling two or more at one time or during five consecutive business days.
There is also the
Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Certain Rifles - ATF Form 3310.12 as well. For any rifles over .22LR that take a detachable magazine.
Because if none of the guy's purchases triggered a form 3310.4 or 3310.12, then they got him from NICS, Or by riffling through the paper 4473's of local dealers. As far as I'm aware, Delaware has no state background system for gun purchases, only the Federal NICS. And Delaware has no purchase permits.
My best guess is that either way, the agents knew this was probably a lousy call for them to be making. Based on the purchaser's record and the types of firearms purchased alone. They probably had no discretion if they were allowed to make the visit or not.
I think they are probably trying to track down a particular individual or set of straw buyers/second-hand dealers, but have little to nothing to go on, so are being forced to cast a ridiculously wide net.
I'm kind of doubtful that the ATF is so slow that they're getting sent out to do stop-n-knocks on everyone who "Purchased X firearms in Y months." etc.