The Obama administration is making it easier for bureaucrats to take away guns without offering the accused any realistic due process. In a final rule published last week, the Justice Department granted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) authority to “seize and administratively forfeit property involved in controlled-substance abuses.” That means government can grab firearms and other property from someone who has never been convicted or even charged with any crime.
It’s a dangerous extension of the civil-forfeiture doctrine, a surreal legal fiction in which the seized property — not a person — is put on trial. This allows prosecutors to dispense with pesky constitutional rights, which conveniently don’t apply to inanimate objects. In this looking-glass world, the owner is effectively guilty until proved innocent and has the burden of proving otherwise. Anyone falsely accused will never see his property again unless he succeeds in an expensive uphill legal battle.
Such seizures are common in drug cases, which sometimes can ensnare people who have done nothing wrong. James Lieto found out about civil forfeiture the hard way when the FBI seized $392,000 from his business because the money was being carried by an armored-car firm he had hired that had fallen under a federal investigation. As the Wall Street Journal reported, Mr. Lieto was never accused of any crime, yet he spent thousands in legal fees to get his money back.
Read More at The Washington Times.
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Well Folks, I know many Vets that will shoot first and ask questions later. One close friend told me that if they try to get to him, he hopes they bring plenty of Body Bags, because he is going to try to fill all of them.
The Second Civil War is about to start. I have been telling people for years now that it was coming. Well, it’s here now, what you gonna do?
Still prepping the stores, but will do what I can before I go!
I know but the libbers are calling us fear mongers and my mother even said it was coming and she has been gone since 1999 but she said the blacks and the mexicans would be trying any thing to destroy our country and if not them the commies….And she didn’t mention the Muslims but I think obama has promised some thing to every one and I think he hasn’t a clue that it isn’t the Chicago Thugs that he is messing with but the radical Muslims but I think soros has supported and financially backed him for years and I wonder who will get to obma first when the find out how he has used them??? I think the Mexicans will wish they didn’t come here to take this country back as they are almost better off in Mexico….Thanks for every ones help and sad that is has come to it….Drugs, sex, money and power are evil makers…
F***ing Thieves, that is our so-called government!
I’m Glad you all can see it now, but I wish I couldd have gotten more people to believe me back 20 years ago when I was in my prime, talking about this very thing happening.
Support your local sheriff! He is the highest county authority, and can tell the feds to get lost. Get to know him, know where he stands, and talk to him about feds usurping our rights and liberties. If he is not on board with you, make it known, and VOTE HIM OUT! We have a great sheriff here where I live, and I have learned a lot about their role in law enforcement. Learn what to do! They cannot steamroll over our rights and get away with it if we don’t allow it to happen. EDUCATE YOURSELVES!!
I do support my Local Sheriff. I have been endoctrinating him to what is coming, and hopefuly he will do the right thing. Only problem, is his religion may be a hendrance to what happens in this county. But He knows what is going on. And if your Sheriff is a Pawn for the other side, if you don’t vote him out quickly, you won’t have the chance soon.
Thank you for posting this article. I have been telling many people that this has been happening, and unfortunately many simply think that I’m lying. However, I personally am living this hell that the article is talking about; with the exception that I was charged with a crime that was instigated by the ATF. The charge was as such where I had no alternative but plead guilty in order not to go to prison. I have never had so much as a parking ticket in my life, but now is another story…All I was doing was driving to work, and the undercover ATF officer tried to physically force me to drive into the back of a semitractor. After a few choice words and hand gestures I made my way to work where I was promptly swarmed with 3 different divisions of police officers (approximately 20 officers in all). Since I had a gun in my car I was immediately arrested. Needless to say I lost my job because of this (I can’t hold any animosity towards my former employer for this), and have absolutely no prospects of getting another job anytime soon. Eight years of college, and multiple degrees down the drain all because one ATF officer felt the need to abuse the power granted.
If you take anything away from my personal experience, this is no longer a free nation as it once was and I have no doubt of that. If this can happen to a disabled individual that suffers from a joint disease and cannot possibly physically harm another person or defend himself (such as I) then there is nothing stopping this from happening to you.
Sorry for your loss Bro. I know what you went through. I had a similar thing happen to me way back a long time ago before all this stuff started with Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama. The only thing I had going for me was a 33 Degree Mason for a father, who pulled a few strings for me. Who says it doesn’t Pay to know people in High places. NO, I’m Not now, nor have I ever been a Mason. My faith is much more important to me.
Again, Sorry for your loss. Keep your powder dry. By the way, Black powder stuff is still legal for you to own. But if you ever use it for self defence, then it becomes a Fire Arm.
Seizure Law was flawed to begin with. It inspires law enforcement to use them as modern day treasure hunts.Some rural areas are putting the amount they intend to seize into the next annual budget.
This causes police departments to pursue crimes that pay for them and ignore the ones that do not.
Look at how the, Inner City Gangs are being ignored. Millions of thugs, selling gun and drugs in open daylight with no police around. Huge chunks of the U S A are now controlled by, Gang Banger’s.D U I’s Seizures, Drug Raids produce returns for the Feds and that is what they go after. Its not about justice!
Very True. However, Now they have advanced powers of forfiture. They can steal anything from anyone they just suspect of using illegal drugs, and the Burdon of Proof is not on the shoulders of the Victim, not the “Law”
Burdon of Proof is NOW on the shoulders of the person getting seized
WCJ—
I don’t doubt this, however, there is so much garbage info out there, can you please start citing original soruces (NOT news sources). What bill #? What is the name? etc
Thanks!
@ Blesski: Take a look at the H.R. 4079 Act (originally dubbed the National Drug and Crime Emergency Act), I believe it passed in 2006, but nothing was ever done with it. The original draft of the bill was 90+ pages long in 1990, and if memory serves, the one that passed is a lot longer…it will shock the hell out of you. I’m guessing that this is probably originating from that.