Gun store owner refuses to give feds customer list of 80% AR lowers

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – The owner of an Oceanside store that sells various gun parts to build a rifle from scratch refused to turn over his customer list to federal agents.


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.

 

ATF specs? What crap is that all about? I'd like to know if they spec my 10/22, too.

 

ATF has "Specs" in what constitutes an 80% Receiver... And in this case they Demanded that this fellow, not only turn over, "the Stock he has on Hand" but his Customer Lists, of who he sold the product to, as well. This fellow has a very GOOD LawDog, who went to the local Federal District Court, filed for, and RECEIVED a Restraining Order, that prohibits ATF from Raiding the Business, or collecting ANYTHING, PERIOD. The Judge gave ATF a couple of Days to Respond to the allegations made, in the Request for the RO, and prove to the Judge that these ITEMS, are indeed subject to The FireArms Act of 1968, as amended, or He will make the RO Permanent. If the two sides can't come to an Out of Court Agreement, then then they both will be "In Court" before him, on March 20, 2014, and HE will decide the Case, one way, or another. I like the Judge, and the LawDog..... No BS, just Straight Justice.

As an aside, on this story, ATF Raided the OEM that produced these 80% Lowers, and got their Customer Lists, and confiscated their Finished Parts, during a Raid that the OEM states was based on a Warrant, Obtained with False Evidence. That is also being adjudicated in another Federal District Court. If ATF loses the Above Case on the 20th of March, they will likely lose the this Case, as well, and be sued by the OEM, for the False Affidavit filing for the Warrant. In that Affidavit, they accused the OEM of Manufacturing the Lowers, complete, and then unManufacturing them to the 80% condition, so they could be sold, without Serial Numbers, and an FFL. The OEM says they can PROVE, that this allegation to be 100% FLASE, and that they will certainly sue ATF to the Maximum Extent, available, in Federal Law.

Interesting to see how this comes out.... Stay tuned....

 

Google Bob Stewart. He sits behind bars today for the same thing. His crime? He was making 80% kits for BMG .50 cals. He had a working prototype for a semi auto and was warned that the feds would not allow him to manufacture it. He was a relatively unknown and small operation until a certain loud mouth radio personality from Texas starting hyping his guns and ranting on air how every militia and patriot in the country should have them etc. Even after he was asked by the leaders in the patriot movement to please stop bringing attention to it.
A few months later they raided Stewart's home and business and seized his "illegal" stock and what they really came for, his customer list.
The powers that be will find a reason to get what they want. This guy better watch his six at all times.

Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page - 2nd Amendment Supporters

 

UpDate: DOJ Lawyers went to the Judge, in an ExPartie Communication, and got the Restraining Order changed to ALLOW a Raid for "Enforcement Purposes" on Friday. Then ATF went and DID Raid ALL the locations that this outfit had, in the area, and took a bunch of stuff. Now, the Owner, is totally ticked off, and His LawDog, is pursuing Sanctions, against the Judge, in Federal Appellate Court. This is going to get REALLY Messy.....