The Gun Counter

Well this was interesting....

I worked a booth for GeorgiaCarry.org at the local gun show on the south side of Atlanta on Saturday (the Eastman gun show at the Farmers Market). The ATF out of the Atlanta office was there in force, but not in a way you'd think. They actually rented a booth, had a number of reps wearing blue 'ATF' polo shirts, had stacks and stacks of handouts and books on firearms laws, C&R eligibility lists and even had stacks of application forms for FFL licenses. They were neat, personable, chatty and actually helpful!

One of our GeorgaCarry.org booth workers went over to talk to them and introduce GeorgiaCarry.org. They were very interested and took a small stack of our cards. They commented that they often get calls about Georgia gun laws and that's not their area of expertise or responsibility. They seemed happy to have a website they could point people to regarding state and local laws for Georgia.

This is the first gun show I've attended with this kind of ATF presence (we all knew they showed up in 'mufti' to keep an eye on the dealers). I was actually favorably impressed! Perhaps a new, kinder, gentler ATF?

(BTW, I asked the gal what the processing time was for a C&R FFL. She commented that the ATF division that processed FFLs is moving from Atlanta to West Virginia and that move is causing delays in processing requests. That may explain why some have noted the increase in wait times for FFL applications. Earlier in the year, when I applied, it took a little less than 30 days. Now reports are that the wait time is up over 60 days.)

That is what they are suppose to be, HELPFUL. After all the goverment works for the people. Of course alot of them don't know that.

good thing! last show i was at, there were people in civvy clothes lined up along the railing outside taking pictures of the crowd

That's when I'd wear some tacticool wrap over my face and a t-shirt that says, "ATF? Hey, I use all your fine products!"

And I'd break out a camera and start taking pictures of them with really exaggerated movements. Out here, the ATF has been rumored to actually set up a table with illegal parts, waiting to see who will buy them, and then arrest them in the parking lot.

You guys should be posting fliers of Wintemute, and handing them out to people there at the show.

They are supposed to be helpful not so much because:

After all the goverment works for the people.

but rather because the government IS the people. I am in the goverment, I do not work for you, I work for us.

Nice to hear tough that at least one office of ATF is more user friendly.

All the best,
GB