Story published at http://magicvalley.com on Thursday, June 14, 2007
Last modified on Thursday, June 14, 2007 12:10 AM MDT'The Gang' hits town
By Cassidy Friedman
Times-News writer
TWIN FALLS - If a federal judge rules the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overstepped its bounds by taking a local gun shop's license, it would not be the first time, according to "The Gang," an anti-ATF documentary that premiered Wednesday night at the Lamphouse Theatre in Twin Falls.
The movie, produced by Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, will show again at 7 p.m. today. Red's Trading Post's manager Ryan Horsley is facing off with the ATF in a battle to save his business.
A federal judge has staved off the ATF's removal of Red's license on the basis that the agency exaggerated some of its claims. It will eventually be up to the judge to decide if there is a legitimate basis for revoking Red's license.
"On behalf of the U.S. ... I apologize," a federal judge tells a disabled veteran charged with illegally carrying an M-14 in his shop, according to the documentary.
The documentary moves from example to example to buffer its case that the ATF "harasses, oppresses, intimidates and terrifies small businesses and decent citizens."
Parallels are drawn between the way the Gun Control Act of 1968 reads and Nazi gun laws. The ATF, which now has a budget close to the $1 billion mark, has grown too big for its britches, the movie's narrator claims.
Its goals in the courtroom, in investigations, audits and other enforcement actions are aimed at perpetuating the federal bureaucracy's existence rather than toward legitimate gun control purposes, the movie claims.
The documentary, however, does not seek to be two-sided. Each featured example of alleged ATF abuse is described by anti-ATF advocates. The ATF never gets to speak for itself.
Cassidy Friedman covers crime and courts for the Times-News. He can be reached at 735-3241 or by e-mail at cfriedman@magicvalley.com.