The Gun Owners of America (GOA) just dropped a bombshell: thanks to a recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, it’s now confirmed that the ATF has been spying on gun forums, social media, and online communities for over a decade.
Instead of focusing on actual criminals, the ATF has been monitoring and harassing law-abiding gun owners.
ATF’s Widespread Online Surveillance
The 35-page FOIA document GOA obtained reveals that since at least 2015, the ATF has been tracking legal and illegal firearm sales, keeping tabs on popular online gun forums, and even monitoring Reddit and Facebook groups.
According to the ATF’s own intelligence assessment, they continue to track gun owners even after they determine there is no criminal activity.
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ATF Surveillance Targets Law-Abiding Citizens
The ATF’s report is full of misstatements of federal law and outright hostility toward private gun ownership. Some of the biggest takeaways from GOA’s findings:
- The ATF considers Craigslist, AR15.com, and even Facebook gun groups as “unregulated marketplaces” that need more government oversight.
- They claim that gun owners who value privacy are more likely to be engaged in illegal activity—a ridiculous and dangerous assumption.
- They openly criticize Congress for allowing private firearm sales and suggest the government should have more control over these legal transactions.
- Even when no crime is found, the ATF continues monitoring gun owners.
The ATF’s Zero-Tolerance Harassment
One of the most disturbing parts of GOA’s investigation is the connection to an ATF inspector, Nicholas Speranza Jr., who was previously caught illegally seizing records and harassing gun store customers.
He was a key player in the ATF’s zero-tolerance policy. Which has been used to shut down FFLs over minor clerical errors.
GOA previously stopped the ATF from shutting down Kiloton Tactical, a Florida-based gun store, after Speranza illegally seized their records.
The fact that he’s also tied to the ATF’s online surveillance program shows just how deep this anti-gun agenda runs.
What Happens Next?
With President Trump back in office and Kash Patel now leading the ATF, there’s a real opportunity to shut down these abuses. GOA is calling for:
- An immediate investigation into the ATF’s surveillance of law-abiding citizens
- Rolling back ATF overreach and eliminating unconstitutional tracking programs
- Holding anti-gun bureaucrats accountable for years of abuse
The fight isn’t over, but one thing is clear—the ATF’s war on gun owners is finally being exposed.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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Another weaponized government agency going after innocent civilians? No surprise.
Larry Z, can you share your source or provide supporting documentation?
Did you not watch the video?
Good call my friend
If true, the leadership of the ATF during this time need to be tried in a court of law, and if guilty, punished to the fullest extent if the law. Thus includes the bosses who may have directed these activities i.e. Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Another three letter agency that has overstepped its authority to the murderous detriment of too many people and it needs to be abolished!
We do not need any more federal policing agencies!
But the first thing that needs to happen is to get rid of the NFA in the GCA… TODAY!
This comes out to us at a time when citizens have little trust in their government. ATF showcases an arrogant disrespect for Americans and ATF rogue surveillance programs show little if any regard for our Constitutional rights. The Courts are the avenger to make right the Constitutional precepts and rights many of us have sworn to protect and defend and now it is time for acting director Kash Patel to reign in this rogue bureaucratic mess or call to dissolve and abolish the ATF who no longer shows itself to be trustworthy. Reign in or Abolish!
Fuck the ATF
The atf is just another useless department that needs to be on the chopping block. I’m a firm believer and defender of our Constitution. Most of these federal agencies have become nothing more than weaponized organizations to undermine law abiding citizens and allow the libturds to do as they please. This is going to stop one way or another.
About time the ATF BE brought down ,they are americas worst enemies, and tyrannical operations need to stop ! Go get the president, trump ,I hope kash finds those jerks and put them in jail and takes the rights away for doing what they have done decades of wasted tax dollars of people they are trying to make criminals,it absolutely insane it gotten to this point ! Go to show you just what tge democrats and liberals want ! Power control and all the money
And what of the Brian Malinowski case???
oh crap!!!!!!!
the person that was using my computer fell off his boat and got lost in the lake………really it wasn’t me.