David Codrea tells us that Red’s Trading Post is back in business again, after a federal judge issued an injunction against the BATFE:
Judge Lodge noted in making his decision that “the ATF speaks of violations found during the inspections of 2000 and 2005, but fails to reveal that additional investigations in 2001 and 2007 revealed no violations or problems.†He also notes Red’s statement that ATF is exaggerating Red’s conduct by “double counting†certain violations. Also noted was the balance of the ATF’s hardship compared to Red’s hardship. The judge found “that granting the preliminary injunction would not place the public safety in jeopardy†and “that that the relative hardships tip sharply in favor of Red’s.â€
Hopefully Red’s will prevail in their case overall. These kinds of abuses by the ATF really need to stop. But hey, it’s Idaho. Lots of guns and not much crime. I guess the ATF agents have to make a name for themselves somehow, right?
One area I agree with the hard line, no compromise crowd is elimination of the ATF.  I’ve always believed in consolidating most federal law enforcement functions back down to the U.S. Marshall service. I’ve never understood the logic of having half a dozen separate federal law enforcement agencies.
Having separate agencies probably ensures that their jobs get done. A larger force may neglect certain duties in favor of high-profile assignments. The flip side of this is that smaller, specialized agencies will be pressed to produce results or face budget cuts.
It’s too late about BATFE. You should see that monstrous new headquarters they are building in DC. No way the bureaucracy would turn that over to the EPA or Education.
Yeah, it’ll never happen. That’s why I’m in favor of reforming it instead. I just wish we hadn’t allowed so much proliferation of federal law enforcement during the 20th century. The federal government was never meant to have a general police power.