Video of an ATF inspector snapping pictures of sales records at an Arizona gun shop went viral recently.
The footage, which was recorded by Dave Nagel, the owner of Black Metal Firearms in Mesa, back in December/January of 2022, depicts ATF Industry Operations Inspector (IOI) Pamela Scott taking photos of the store’s Acquisitions and Dispensations (A&D) books on her personal cellular device, allegedly.
“No registry? Here’s our ATF auditor copying every single page of our A&D books with her cell phone camera using an app that reads text,” said Black Metal Firearms on Instagram.
“This data includes make, model, serial number, buyer’s name and address, and even the seller. We have well over 20 minutes of footage of this happening in our shop in public view. Yes, this is illegal,” the store continued.
While ATF agents are allowed to take pictures of specific errors on relevant forms during an audit for documentation purposes, they are not allowed to take whole-hog copies of an FLL’s A&D books.
“Previously speaking, when they find errors, they will take a picture of the error for evidence purposes or whatnot,” Nagel told The Reload in an interview. “But we realized that her and, at another point in time, her assistant, they actually were going page by page by page through all of our A&D books, copying all of the whole pages.”
Nagel added that the inspector gathered over 4,000 records — containing names, addresses, payment info, type of firearm, etc., — that were not related to any clerical mistakes or infractions.
Derek Debus, the attorney representing Black Metal Firearms, is calling for an investigation.
“We would like to see an investigation into not only why she was taking these photographs on her personal phone in my client’s case, but how many other times she has done this before,” Debus told The Reload.
“Why is she doing this? What end is she trying to fulfill? And is it something that she was directed to do from higher up in ATF or something she’s doing on her own?” he continued.
The ATF punted on inquiries concerning this inspection, telling The Reload it doesn’t “comment on any specific investigation or inspection” but noted that all claims by FFLs are “investigated.”
This story is still developing. Stay tuned for updates.
I realize that I’m a little late commenting, I read this when it first happened. But the last paragraph has always made me laugh, and not in a ha ha way. All claims by a FFL are “investigated”. Yet the ATF, like the rest of our Government cannot, or will not even enforce those laws we have.
So this is what Pats been doing since leaving SNL, I don’t know if the kids will get that reference , but I know you old timers will. Lol
Why did the shop owner fail to arrest this criminal while in the act. The sheriff should have been called to confirm the arrest and incarcerate the perp during the investigation.
The logical question is: Why didn’t the owner at the store ask the IOI what she was doing, and if she knew that it was illegal to photograph the whole book. Maybe get it on cellphone video, too.
Asking a question here…after observing the agent for several minutes would it not be OK to confront them and ask which infractions they were photographing? All this on camera of course. If they could not produce an infraction on the spot a question about the photos would be pretty damning evidence.
BATFE and FBI: The American equivalents to the Gestapo and the SS.
What we have here is a seriously corrupted MF’ing Govt. now. We need to fix this sh!t quick!
i wonder. is she taking pictures for ATF or is she using her personal phone so she can give those names, etc. to some other people? like those who would doxx gun owners?
IT’S TIME TO FEED THE TREE OF LIBERTY! These people should be put up against a FIRING SQUAD let them see what “weapons of war”are made for. Abolish ATF FBI CIA ECT. They need to leave all hard working AMERICANS alone, our taxes are paying their salaries and gives them the luxuries. FAR MORE THAN THE COMMON MAN WILL BENEFIT FROM.
More trolling from bluedouche it/clown , you ad zero value to this site, go away already.
Any 4473 is supposed to be destroyed within 14 days of being filled out. Yes the store must keep all records but the NICS system is only supposed to know that someone is “possibly” buying a firearm. If you actually read what the form says you’ll see it asks type of firearm the purchaser is looking to buy. Just because you get approved doesn’t necessarily mean that you even bought anything. Someone could change their mind and buy nothing. This woman copying personal information on American citizens is beyond illegal. Specific paperwork for specific cases only! After seeing the owner of this place allowing this to continue and doing absolutely nothing to attempt to stop it makes me know that I would never in a million years by a firearm from that location knowing that they knew what she was doing was wrong but still allowed it to happen with no resistance. The big problem here is that FFL owners are so worried about losing their ability to sell firearms that they let the ATF bully them into letting them do whatever they want. If you want to open a gun store and sell firearms legally at least know the laws and no when to say no. Shame on the ATF but also shame on the man video taping it instead of stopping it. I would have at least had an employee taping what she was doing while I was telling her what she was doing was wrong and let her walk herself right into a lie and she tries to defend her actions. But I guess that’s just me I’m not a pushover.
All that respond to Blue Dog are just wasting time. You do realize he/she[looking at his writing, I assume a male] could be controlled by GunsAmerica, but, alas it isn’t, Just remember that even bad news is good news.. Use Bluedog for what it’s worth and think out the speculation he makes and respond succinctly.. Stop being emotional, he wins then..He is an energy Vampire :^)
Looks more like an “It”.
You see this is a big argument I’ve had with a lot of people in the gun store business!
“Oh the government doesn’t get those forms and the government doesn’t know that you bought a gun”
Bull Fµ¢king $hit! Here is the proof right here… you fill out those forms and the government knows you bought a gun!
This is why I do not like buying guns from gun stores or any FFL!!
ALL GUN LAWS and RESTRICTIONS and LICENSING SCAMS put on NON criminal citizens are ALL UNCONSTITUTIONAL…. PERIOD!!
NO CRIMINAL RECORD… NONE of ANY GOVERNMENTS BUSINESS that YOU are buying, possessing, or carrying a FIREARM… for whatever REASON!
ANOTHER SELF-RIGHTEOUS KNOW IT ALL IDIOT SPOUTING OFF LIKE THE REST OF THEM – NO IT IS NOT “UNCONSTITUTIONAL” AS YOU STATE.
Its become so commonplace due to the incessant Trump lies, and falsehoods, and half-truths, also regurgitated by the fools on FOX, to make statements as dictum by ignorant people who have little or no knowledge of the subject, yet they holler and make fool statements as to what is law, or legal, or constitutional….most of them barely with a high school education.
Thats EXACTLY WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE AFRAID OF (take this as lesson1) FOLKS WITH LITTLE OR NO KNOWLEDGE, MINIMAL EDUCATION, YET OPINIONATED TO A FAULT. Ignorant statements, not under the color of Opinion, just plain STUPID and UNINFORMED !
Unbelievable, his is legacy we are getting from POPULISM (Masses), MAGA imbeciles, etc. etc. – that so many folks in America are still so uneducated and ignorant!!
How can our Democracy survive with the arrogance, self-absorbed, opinionated, illogical and unaccepting and unwillingness to examine for oneself truth from the absurd arguments of the lunatic far-right fringe (i.e. the demo’s are eating children in a pizza parlor – not even science fiction or horror comes up with crap like this…and has people BELIEVE IT! THERE ARE TRULY A HUGE GROUP OF JUST PLAIN STUPID PEOPLE OUT THERE!
Meds. You forgot to take them this morning.
F-troop’s been doing this for decades.
My local gunstore once told agents they couldn’t use his copier for 4473’s so they brought a small generator, extension cords and copier and did it anyway.
When the beltway snipers were active in 2003 ATF demanded all 4473’s for AR-15 and .223 caliber rifles from local FFL’s in MD. All very illegal.
Black Metal’s mistake was in allowing the ATF unfettered access to their books. I have been in the trade when we were visited by the ATF seeking firearm records related to a criminal case. You DO NOT allow them access to peruse the entire cache of kept records! They need to give you specific info as to what they’re looking for, and then Your people search for it. If such info is located, then you allow them to copy it, and ONLY it.
We have turned the corner and now find ourselves in a dark alley. The Progressive-Socialists are moving rapidly to advance their totalitarian control of our society. Better wake-up and act before it’s too late!
You don’t want to mess with the ATF when they come in your store, they can take away your FFL for almost any reason they can come up with. It’s best to get a lawyer on the case.
Yep, when I Managed a large Gun store, the owner (and FFL holder) flat out told me to NOT interfere with any of the Agents, ALL issues went through his attorney, period.
There are laws on the books about interfering with Federal Agents, and it’s a world of trouble for any poor slob they decide to ‘investigate’.
We need to get rid of ATF. and FBI and replace them with Border Patrol and ICE.
“We need to replace them” says it all. It will be different next time right?
Whatunhampered ignorant statements one finds here. First the imbecile republican ultra-right wingnuts accused the demo’s of wanting to defund the pol,ice (which in FACT most did Not – more BS from the liars at Fox and MAGA Neandrathals).
Now these same folks who made the aburd statements talk about defund the FBI, etc. WHY – because they raided a criminal, psychopath, sick-narcIssistic ex-president for possibly withholding documents? BUT WHAT WE FIND SO ABSURD ABOUT THESE HOWLING FOOLS IN THEIR TEMPER TANTRUMS IS THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT WHETHER THERE IS MERIT IN THE RAID. The idiots at FOX, the fascist sick Republicans (like Jim Jordan) just start screaming – Would not it be MORE INTELLIGENT to first determine what the FBI was after and what they might find? How can anyone appear to be so stupid as to accuse and make the absolutely beyond believe comments about the actions of the FBI? HOW CAN ANYONE ASSUME THEIR ACTIONS WERE UN-AMERICAN. It is far easier to assume they HAD MERIT based on the out of control wanna-be distator Trump.
WE gotta see what IDIOTS people like this are – they are so slanted in their own beliefs, they have brain-washed their small minds so that any discussion of what might infact bne TRUE does not stand a chance in their small minds. They are so biased in their opinions then TRUTH is immaterial to them – they want their way and only their way. They will DICTATE whats good and righjt for you and me! GOD HELP US ALL!!!
It’s clear that you are in over your head in this conversation, with that being said why don’t you run along and let the adults speak. In other words , why don’t you sit down and STFU you liberal bedwetter.
Rog is right and has correctly exposed the hypocrisy of the far right and their self-described “patriotism”. We need more men and women like Rog who understand the framework of this representative republic and the need for factual statements to outweigh falsehoods and propaganda. The former occupant of the white house is a narcissistic self-serving demagogue that has harmed the long-term security of this great nation and should be locked up. His time will come either by the slow turning wheels of justice or the white throne judgement.
USAF Vet
Anybody stupid enough to let the ATF or any other communist organization to take pictures of their customers purchases without a warrant shouldn’t own a business let alone a gun store.
You don’t understand the rules. An FFL is required by law to allow ATF agents to audit them. Declining an audit results in losing your FFL. This has been the case for ev er.
If the auditor finds errors in your logs they are supposed to make copies (pictures) for evidence. What this should mean is that paper should be used as a shield for the entries above and below the erroneous log entry, while only that single log entry is photographed.
This auditor needs to be investigated and charged with crimes for doing this. They also need to be tried and sentenced for it. This is the only way to regain public trust, which is essential for doing this job. It seems that at every single step, the ATF makes itself more and more an enemy of the people.
ATF needs dealer cooperation when they are seeking info in a firearm-involved criminal case. Our shop was glad to help, BUT, we also knew where the line was drawn as far as access was concerned. We never had a problem with them back then, but we are living in different times right now.
They have been doing this for many years. I watched an ATF agent sit at one of my local gun stores sit there and type in the contents of the paper bound book. Took 2 days. The gun store owner said “it was normal” when I asked about it. All the other local stores already have electronic “bound books” so it’s much more efficient for the ATF to feed their illegal registery.
Yes, there are digital records in the computer files, but, the dealer is still required to keep the original 4473 forms in the Bound Book. I was called upon to help locate a certain record in the computer files when ATF was seeking a specific transaction. Key word here is “specific.” ATF was NOT allowed to rifle through our files at will.
Don’t know what was up with the gun store owner you cite in your post.
If they knew she was taking pictures that she wasn’t supposed to then why didn’t they stop her. Not to hard to grab the book and put it away
? is if it is illegal why did the owner allow it ?..He should of called local law enforcement…or at least denied it access to the records
Um…. why didn’t you call the police???
Ok first off it’s not the Police you need to call, but your local Sheriff! The local Sheriff is actually the last word in local Law Enforcement, for anyones Constitutional Rights! Especially when dealing with the feds.
Far past time to close all of the lettered illegal operation’s, starting with the ATF,FBI,CIA,NSA,ETC
I’ll say it again. You should have physically removed it.
Then you might be charged with obstruction. The thing to have done is Not to plop the entire book in front of her and gone to lunch. Big Mistake! Find out what they’re looking for, specifically, then find that one record and present it to them. Problem avoided, AND you’ve been cooperative.
In the present state of our federal agencies being corrupted by the Leftists, and calls by those in Congress for a national gun registry(currently illegal), due diligence must be exercised like never before.
any data breach concerns of your personal info (including payment info) on her personal unsecure cell phone?
I would put in a FOIA request with the ATF for her cell phone data. I work for a small local government and it’s well known you don’t do government business on a personal phone, unless you don’t mind your personal phone subjected to a FOIA request
The A&D books are pretty much property of the ATF anyways. The FFL is just the custodian of the records. When the FFL expires, the books are turned over to the ATF. The inspector is just cashing in early on their property. Legal gun owners have nothing to hide. To quote Ayn Rand, the government has no leverage over an honest man.
Once again you have no idea what you’re talking about.
It’s best not to inflate Blue Dog-Shit’s fragile ego by replying to his marxist drivel. He’s a bought & paid for communist lackey. There’s ultimately a special place for him and his fellow domestic enemies.
I see blue boy still has its Sieg Heil down pat…even after the massive government over-reach blatantly on display everywhere.
Were I an FFL that was closing, I would report a fire at my former place of business.
Its unfortunate that the ATF has become so anti-gun. They shouldn’t be. They should be pro-2nd Amendment, but also pro-law. Anti-gun bias should be a disqualifying factor in obtaining such positions.
The atf isn’t anti-gun. They are anti-constitution and anti-constitutional rights.
The Only correct statement you made is that the dealer’s kept records of firearm transactions are turned over to ATF if the dealer goes out of business, or their FFL is invalidated. You are a very confused and errant individual.
Blue Dog (insert pronoun so it knows what it is today) is a leftist troll and cuck. Quoting Ayn Rand? Only a commie/Marxist would do that. When the inevitable happens and SHTF Blue Dog and his ilk will be on the wrong side of American patriotism.
Quoting Ayn Rand says all we need to hear .
You , “ sir “ , are clearly a communist insurgent .
A “ tool “ of the leftists , a “ reach-around “ technician .
A disgrace to your citizenship , and a dishonor to Our
Nation . You should , but I expect you’re not , be
embarrassed by this “ educated “ behavior you appear
to display . Nauseating !
This is what they look. Innocuous looking fat little trolls doing the work of the Communists, and too stupid to realize it.