Up to 600 firearms were seized from an Amish dairy farmer by the Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) earlier this month, but authorities have not determined if any laws have been broken.
Over a dozen agents from the ATF raided the home of farmer Reuben King. King denies any wrongdoing and no charges have been filed yet, though the ATF says it is still investigating the matter.
ATF might actually have a very difficult time with the case if they decide to prosecute Mr. King, according to an Attorney who focuses on firearms law.
Reuben King said on Tuesday that the guns taken were part of his personal collection and that the farm had nothing to do with gun sales, calling himself a farmer by trade:
“This is my business: I’m a dairyman.”
King devotes most of his time to his farm like most of the Amish community. He told local media that he owns about 50 dairy cows.
The GOP Times reported:
King predominantly sold long guns to his fellow Amish, though he says he sold a few to local non-Amish as well. He adamantly denied selling any handguns and is likely telling the truth given that the ATF hasn’t accused him of doing so.
The Amish are strict pacifists and are devoted to simple living, so buying and selling handguns even for self-defense would be taboo in the generally tight-knit community.
Hunting has historically been important of their lifestyle. Even now that it isn’t necessary for survival, many Amish enjoy hunting for recreation.
King is among them and he says that he accumulated his large collection over the years primarily through his interest in hunting.
King added that he did not advertise the sale of his guns online and was not aware of how the ATF became aware of the activity. He said he primarily sold long guns to the Amish for hunting but acknowledged that he sold some to non-Amish, as well.
King claimed the government hasn’t been able to tell him how many guns a person can sell or over what timeframe before a federal firearms license is required.
Bearing Arms writer Cam Edwards pointed out that the raid was part of Biden’s promise to crack down on illegal gun sales. Edwards wrote that targeting an Amish farmer may not have had the effect the President was looking for:
“The Biden administration has warned that it’s going after ‘rogue gun dealers,’ and while I don’t think busting an Amish farmer would be the public relations coup that Biden’s looking for, the ATF and DOJ could very well decide to make an example out of King if they have evidence he was selling a large number of firearms without obtaining an FFL.
“I’m sympathetic to the fact that the Amish can’t purchase a firearm from their local gun store because they generally don’t have a photo ID, which in essence requires them to purchase from a private seller.
“It wouldn’t shock me if there are some Amish gun owners out there who are in that grey zone of making more than a few incidental sales while not engaging in the same volume that you’d typically see from someone making a living as a gun dealer, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see the Biden administration claim they’re ‘doing something’ to address violent crime by cracking down on them.. even if most of those sales are to other friends and family living in an Amish paradise.”
Sources: TheGOPTimes, Bearingarms
