IRS Raids Montana Gun Store

[mudwhistle]

This is illegal as it gets.

 

[Woodznutz]

The government already has duplicates of those forms, don't they?

 

[jackflash]

The government already has duplicates of those forms, don't they?

Unless the original duplicates got trashed/lost???

 

[Woodznutz]

The NICS background check is part of the process, so the government already has information regarding the purchaser. I'm confused why the IRS got involved as FFL gun purchases come under the authority of the ATF and FBI. Hopefully more information about this 'raid' is forthcoming.

 

[ThunderKiss1965]

Test run maybe, to see what they can get away with ?

 

[mudwhistle]

The government already has duplicates of those forms, don't they?

Last I heard those ATF 4473 forms were classified as a privacy issue that the government has no right to.
It's against the law for them to have access to them.
That form is to be maintained by the FFL dealer.
The only purpose they have for the forms is when tracing a firearm used during a crime.

 

[Synthaholic]

Awesome! Raid them all, get their sales info, turn over lists of AR15 owners to FBI and ATF.

 

[mudwhistle]

Awesome! Raid them all, get their sales info, turn over lists of AR15 owners to FBI and ATF.

It's against the law.

 

[mudwhistle]

It Begins: 20 Heavily Armed IRS and ATF Agents Raid Great Falls Gun Store, Seize Firearm Purchase Records | The Gateway Pundit | by Jim Hᴏft

In an unprecedented move, twenty armed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents carried out a raid on a gun store in Great Falls, Montana, seizing all Form 4473 – documents that record buyer’s information during firearms transactions.

www.thegatewaypundit.com

In an unprecedented move, twenty armed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents carried out a raid on a gun store in Great Falls, Montana, seizing all Form 4473s – documents that record buyer’s information during firearms transactions.


Tom Van Hoose, owner of Highwood Creek Outfitters, alleges that he has been under constant surveillance by state and federal agencies for over two years, KRTV reported.


On Wednesday, the gun shop owner reported an unexpected visit from 20 heavily armed IRS agents at his store.



The agents reportedly arrived at the shop early in the morning, as Van Hoose was opening for the day.


“We have now confirmed that both the IRS and the ATF were at Highwood Creek Outfitters in Great Falls around 7 am this morning. Both the IRS and ATF would not say why they were there,” KMON Radio reported.




“A spokeswoman for the IRS would only say they were there on official IRS business. The ATF says it was providing assistance to the IRS. We attempted to enter the store today and were stopped by agents at the door who would only say that the gun store is closed and will reopen tomorrow,” the news outlet added.


According to Hoose, the federal scrutiny began two years ago and has involved various agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and now, the Internal Revenue Service.


“They must think we’re making a fortune in the gun business to investigate us like this, assuming we’re hiding thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars. However, anyone familiar with gun business profit margins would know that’s not the case,” Van Hoose told MTN News.


Van Hoose claims that he was simply told his business had been reported, although he remains in the dark about who reported it or why. He conjectures that the whole episode is politically motivated, part of a nationwide pattern.


“I can only assume that it’s because of the style of weapons that we have and the press that’s so against them,” said Van Hoose. “The current administration seems to be hell bent on getting those guns out of the hands of average Americans.”


While he admitted that the agents were professional in their conduct, Van Hoose couldn’t help but feel violated. The day’s operations were disrupted, leading to a significant loss of revenue.


“I had about 30 minutes to operate, making just a single $16 sale,” Hoose said.


Highwood Creek Outfitters is America’s largest online firearms and accessories mall, according to its website. The store is known for selling what Van Hoose calls “fun guns,” including AR-15’s and AK-47s. He believes that the type of weapons they offer results in greater scrutiny due to the licensing requirements associated with such firearms.


Despite this, Van Hoose emphasizes his good relationship with the ATF, which was also present during the IRS visit. “We are known for meticulous adherence to laws and regulations. It’s not worth getting into trouble,” he added.

​

The Great Falls Police Department confirmed it was informed about the investigation and provided security.


Although the Montana Department of Justice claimed no involvement in the incident, an IRS spokesperson confirmed their presence at Highwood Creek Outfitters but refrained from providing further details.


The recent incident has attracted political attention, with Congressman Matt Rosendale expressing his concern over the IRS and ATF’s actions, interpreting them as another example of the Biden regime’s weaponization of federal agencies against hardworking Americans.


“I’m incredibly disturbed by initial reports that the IRS and ATF closed Highwood Creek Outfitters without any warning today,” said Rep Rosendale in a statement.


“This is yet another example of the Biden Administration weaponizing federal agencies to target and harass hardworking Americans. We cannot allow Biden to continue expanding these agencies to infringe on our liberties,” he added.


On Friday afternoon, the congressman announced he sent a letter to ATF Director Steven Dettelbach and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, asking for answers.


“Under Director Dettelbach’s leadership of the ATF, a pattern of intimidation and harassment against hardworking Americans has emerged – Montanans will not tolerate these political witch hunts. I remind both Director Dettelbach and Commissioner Werfel that Congress has the power of the purse, and I will ensure that funding for these agencies is not weaponized against the American people,” Rosendale said in his letter.





Rep. Matt Rosendale joined Chris Salcedo to discuss the incident.


“Here’s what they took out. IRS – financial records, accounting, making sure what transactions were taking place. No, they took all of the 4473 forms. The 4473 forms are what everyone fills out when they go to purchase a firearm,” said Rosendale.


“And it’s just a big disclosure to make sure that you don’t have a criminal background or other reasons where you should not be purchasing a firearm. So the IRS took every single one of the 4473s that Tom Van Hoose had in his possession there at Highwood Creek Outfitters.

 

[Synthaholic]

It's against the law.

Republicans do shit that's against the law every day. Suck it up, buttercup!

 

[toobfreak]

I'm confused why the IRS got involved as FFL gun purchases come under the authority of the ATF and FBI.

Obviously, the answer to that was given to you by Joe Biden himself just yesterday when he said we needed to improve or tighten our gun laws! You have to understand: talking to a democrat is like sailing past an iceberg--- whatever the left shows you above the surface, there is 15 times more BELOW the surface they keep hidden. So, in this case, what Joe meant is that HE is cracking down on gun ownership! Or more accurately, his handlers have told him now is the time to attack gun ownership because in the distraction of keeping his name off the front page and having played Trump for all the attention they can muster out of his name for now, right now in all of the media confusion and social chaos of everyone trying to deal with the Bidenista form of USA post-covid and post BLM new world order, they might be able to get away with some fascist gun scheme!

He is doing an end-around the co-equal congressional GOP-controlled branch of government to combine the agencies and powers of the IRS WITH the FBI and ATF to unilaterally and selectively begin attacking gun owners for some as yet unrevealed plot, perhaps hoping again to start the imagined, paranoid rightwing terrorist MAGA war or whatever these sick freaks imagine so that maybe they can declare martial law or some such fascist crackdown on pro-Trump or GOP-supporters in general as their Chinese adjutants have ordered to disarm the citizenry.

Like Trump said, they want all of their political opponents rounded up so that you have no choice but to vote them into power over and over again and the only thin g that has been standing in their way is DJT.

 

[Leo123]

Gun taxes?

 

[westwall]

The government already has duplicates of those forms, don't they?

No.

 

[Captain Caveman]

It's against the law.

Which one?

 

[westwall]

Which one?

Illegal search and seizure, or an Illegal Taking.

You can choose.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Illegal search and seizure, or an Illegal Taking.

You can choose.

Was their a search warrant

 

[The Duke]

Awesome! Raid them all, get their sales info, turn over lists of AR15 owners to FBI and ATF.

And shitbags like you remain clueless about why anyone would think about putting you down to shut your stupid ass up.

 

[The Duke]

I think the IRS is testing their armed raid capabilities.

Obama bought every agent a gun and 1K rounds when he was president.

Other agencies, too.

When they say he "weaponized" the bureaus? That's exactly what he did.

Poisoned would be appropriate as well.

 

[westwall]

Was their a search warrant

Doesn't matter. NO government entity is allowed to take 4473s out of the possession of the gun store.

The gun store, when they stop doing business, can either store those records, or they may choose to surrender them to the ATF. ATF and other agencies may inspect the 4473s AT THE GUN STORE, but they may NOT remove them.

 

[toobfreak]

Illegal search and seizure, or an Illegal Taking.
You can choose.

Wouldn't the IRS have had to present a warrant to the gun store signed by a judge specifying the specific item(s) they were looking for, location and reason?