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Gun store owner halts federal raid
#1
ATF is looking for everyone that picked up an 80%....
These guys said go jump in a lake.

http://fox5sandiego.com/2014/03/12/gun-store-owner-halts-federal-raid/#axzz2vrpn81e7



OCEANSIDE, Calif. – An Oceanside store that sells various gun parts to build a rifle from scratch warded off a federal raid Wednesday.

Dimitrios Karras, owner of Ares Armor, said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents were investigating their business, not for what they sell, but for the people who purchase their products.

Karras said the ATF threatened to shutter their business if they didn’t hand over the names of 5,000 customers who have purchased an 80 percent lower receiver (the base) for building an AR-15.

It is legal to build a rifle from scratch without serial numbers only if the base is manufactured to ATF specifications. The base is not considered a firearm if it’s sold separately.

A manufacturer made an 80 percent receiver in plastic with a different material and colors which show exactly where the customer can drill making it easier and cheaper to build. The ATF said it is illegal.

The ATF sent stores, including Ares Armor, letters demanding they turn over the products and names of customers who purchased them.

“They said either give us these 5000 names or we are coming in and taking pretty much anything – which is a huge privacy concern and something we are not willing to do,” said Karras.

Karras’s attorney informed the ATF to pick up the receivers Wednesday morning at their Oceanside location, but the inventory was not the issue. The store owner said he will not comply with turning over their private client list.

“They were going to search all of our facilities and confiscate our computer and pretty much shut our business down,” said Karras. “The government invades our privacy on a daily basis and everyone thinks its ok. This is one of those situations where hopefully the governmental institutions will come in say this is protected and no you’re not taking it from them.”

In anticipation of a raid, they filed a temporary restraining order against the ATF, stopping them from confiscating their property, Karras said. The ATF has a certain amount of time to respond. If the two parties do not reach a compromise, they will be in court for a preliminary hearing March 20.
#2
unreal...

I really need to finish mine..
#3
ATF got the temporary restraining order lifted, then raided Ares Armor... they took everything they wanted by force!

The issue is not whether or not an 80% lower (metal or polymer) was a firearm or not... it's that Ares Armor, just like another company called LCG AR Part and Custom Accessories may have "assisted" the buyers of the 80% lowers in "completing" by doing some of the machining work for the customers. In doing so, Ares Armor is engaging in the business of manufacturing a firearm without a license. In addition, by being a firearms MFG, they are required to serial number the lowers and report serial number to BATFE.

Recap: Ares Armor is not a licensed FFL or SOT. They made and sold 80% lowers and accessories that do not require a federal license. This is why they got raided.

So, for those customers who ordered a lower via the internet and had it shipped out of state, they may not be in jeopardy. Best case, they can keep it and won't even be contacted. Most likely, BATFE will ask them to surrender the lower to avoid going to court. Worst case, they will be charged and will have to pay to defend themselves.

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2014/03/17/despite-restraining-order-atf-raids-ares-armory-over-plastic-parts-n1810321