Polymer80 Raided By ATF In An Apparent Move Against “Ghost Guns”

[MechAg94]

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/12/11/polymer80-raided-ghost-guns/
BREAKING: Polymer80 Raided By ATF In An Apparent Move Against “Ghost Guns”

The raid target, Nevada-based Polymer80, is suspected of illegally manufacturing and distributing firearms, failing to pay taxes, shipping guns across state lines and failing to conduct background investigations, according to an application for a search warrant unsealed Thursday after the raid took place.

The probe focuses on Polymer80’s “Buy Build Shoot Kit,” which includes the parts to build a “ghost” handgun. The kit, which Polymer80 sells online, meets the definition of a firearm, ATF investigators determined according to the warrant application. That means it would have to be stamped with a serial number and couldn’t be sold to consumers who haven’t first passed a background check.

I assume they have seized their customer records as well.  Stay safe and know your rights.  

https://www.ammoland.com/2020/12/atf-raids-polymer80s-office-claiming-company-is-illegally-selling-guns/#axzz6gKrTlgCm
Ammoland article. 

Read more: https://www.ammoland.com/2020/12/atf-raids-polymer80s-office-claiming-company-is-illegally-selling-guns/#ixzz6gKtD81S8
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Follow us: @Ammoland on Twitter | Ammoland on Facebook

It is unclear what this means for people that purchased the kits from Polymer80. The ATF has yet to indicate if they believe those buyers own illegal firearms. Right now, the case is just involving the “Buy Build Shoot Kit” line of products because it comes with everything needed to complete the gun. Polymer80 does have a determination letter that their frame is NOT a firearm. It is unclear whether the ATF would consider one of their 80% frames a gun if the customer added everything they needed to complete it to their cart separately.

[MechAg94]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaZNaaJlpEg
Hank Strange is live now talking about it.  They mentioned the goal may have been to seize customer records to run against the FBI database. 

[Perd Hapley]

This rule by fiat has to stop.

[brimic]

Sounds like they are just seizing stuff and making up rules afterward, IIRC, they did something like to cavalry arms- shutting them down on some ticky-tacky area of the law.

[AZRedhawk44]

Sounds like they are just seizing stuff and making up rules afterward, IIRC, they did something like to cavalry arms- shutting them down on some ticky-tacky area of the law.

Bullscat about left and right halves of the uppers, IIRC.  They were more than 80% but not yet serialed/labeled or something like that (since they could be taped together rather than vibro-seamed or whatever they did as final assembly).

From the Cavalry Arms raid:

[brimic]

It’s good to remember names and agencies who aren’t our friends, as more interesting times approach.

[Angel Eyes]

It’s good to remember names and agencies who aren’t our friends, as more interesting times approach.

That's easy to remember:  all of them.

[WLJ]

It’s good to remember names and agencies who aren’t our friends, as more interesting times approach.

This one was on the list a long long time ago.

[Andiron]

I think of it more as an accountability roster rather than a list..

[dogmush]

Every time I see a thin blue line sticker/flag, or one of my gun groups talks about "supporting the badge", I think of stuff like this.


Law Enforcement in the US is pretty hard to support these days.

[Andiron]

Every time I see a thin blue line sticker/flag, or one of my gun groups talks about "supporting the badge", I think of stuff like this.


Law Enforcement in the US is pretty hard to support these days.

The cognitive dissonance of having a Gadsden flag and "back the blue"/ thin blue line sticker on the same pickup is terrifying.

[Boomhauer]

ATF is on an emboldened push. This, the pistol braces, and I heard today they are going after the “solvent traps” and “portable key hanger” type stuff plus cross referencing buyers of such with auto parts and so on. We had a relatively lax era from them but now we are returning to the “shoestring machine gun” type nonsense from them.

[TommyGunn]

ATF is on an emboldened push. This, the pistol braces, and I heard today they are going after the “solvent traps” and “portable key hanger” type stuff plus cross referencing buyers of such with auto parts and so on. We had a relatively lax era from them but now we are returning to the “shoestring machine gun” type nonsense from them.

Huh?  What are those things?   

[bedlamite]

Huh?  What are those things?   

Solvent trap: muzzle device adapter to thread an oil filter onto. Mediocre supressor.
Portable key hanger: drop in auto sear disguised as a wall hook.

[RoadKingLarry]

ATF is on an emboldened push. This, the pistol braces, and I heard today they are going after the “solvent traps” and “portable key hanger” type stuff plus cross referencing buyers of such with auto parts and so on. We had a relatively lax era from them but now we are returning to the “shoestring machine gun” type nonsense from them.

Easy to find youtube videos of guys being contacted by ATF after buying automotive filters.

It's a good idea to keep in mind that most police officers/LEOs are not highly paid individuals and many of them live paycheck to paycheck.
If it comes down to enforcing unconstitutional orders or being unemployed it is my opinion that 95%+ will default to their paycheck.

[Hawkmoon]

It's a good idea to keep in mind that most police officers/LEOs are not highly paid individuals and many of them live paycheck to paycheck.
If it comes down to enforcing unconstitutional orders or being unemployed it is my opinion that 95%+ will default to their paycheck.

Agreed. We should also all spend a little time lurking on one or more of the "cop" discussion forums. If you spend more than ten minutes on any of those sites, you will see that most of them not only subscribe to but are heavily invested in an "us vs. them" mentality. They do NOT see themselves as citizens serving other citizens. They (most of them) see themselves as being members of an elite group, totally different than and separate from, the rest of the population. You will also see constant reminders that the foremost rule for most of them is that the only thing that matters is that they go home at the end of their shift. If they have to violate a few constitutional rights or break a few heads in order to do that -- well. that's just collateral damage.

[WLJ]

Knock Knock

GHOSTED: ATF Visiting End Users; Requesting Forfeiture Of Polymer80 Kits
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/12/11/polymer80-kits/?fbclid=IwAR17r0czoC92bCInej9b3hgp91fTdOnsX4oLS4dDVY2SiMl2upvZ5yPe6wg

Midway and Brownells got visits too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_F9cvI9RMg

ATF Internal Leaks Shows An Even Greater Crack Down On 80% Frames ~ VIDEO
https://www.ammoland.com/2020/12/atf-internal-leaks-shows-even-greater-crack-down-80-frames/#axzz6gN1yGexZ

[Ben]

[tinfoil on]

I have to wonder about the timing of this. Were there similar episodes between 2016 and say, mid-2020? I have a little bit of "deep state" tickling the back of my brain on this. Higher level (SES level) ATF people who hate guns, but couldn't do anything under Trump. Now maybe getting a head start engaging in stuff they can get away with under a 46 administration (Hi Beto!).

[tinfoil off]

[WLJ]

Devil's Advocate Mode On

Bump stocks, arm braces, and 80% Kits could be viewed as walking a thin line between legal definitions and could be seen as an act, from the ATF's POV, of poking the bear. Well the bear got tired of being poked.
Not taking the ATF's side here just stating what may be their viewpoint on this for discussion purposes so don't flame me.

Devil's Advocate Mode Off

Now that said. It's legal or it's not. Don't go saying it's legal one day and then the next say you changed your mind so turn it over. The ATF has more mood swings than a feminist convention on the rag and that has to stop.

[WLJ]

I predict binary and similar triggers are next

[MechAg94]

Solvent trap: muzzle device adapter to thread an oil filter onto. Mediocre supressor.
Portable key hanger: drop in auto sear disguised as a wall hook.

The solvent trap is basically a suppressor with no holes drilled through it.  Theoretically, you buy one with the intention of doing a form 1 to build a suppressor.  From what I have seen, they don't perform well.  On the oil filters, I once saw a serial numbered muzzle device you could thread an oil filter onto.  I don't think they allow you to do that anymore.

Mrgunsngear did these videos recently.
Solvent Trap Silencers: Do They Actually Work?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKRjaT9PVGo

Oil Filter As A Silencer: Does It Really Work?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EExnpnXW7Wc

On the key hanger, there was a guy on some forum who was selling plastic wall hangers that were 3D printed.  Part of the hanger was the plastic piece needed to make a Glock pistol full auto.  He was arrested as I heard it.

[MechAg94]

I predict binary and similar triggers are next

That may be, but they going after 80% stuff and braces will likely keep them busy a while.

[WLJ]

Just got a Classic Firearms E-mail advertising the Polymer80 Glock kits  

[bedlamite]

Just got a Classic Firearms E-mail advertising the Polymer80 Glock kits  

Gotta sell 'em before they're confiscated ya know.

[brimic]

I wonder how long until 3D printers become restricted?