Did the ATF violate a restraining order?

[gejohnston]

That could be very well be the case. Or might now, too early to tell at this point if the order was rescinded. Of course the gun blogs and conservative to right wing blogs are claiming that.
The issue seems to be that the ATF views Ares Armor's 80 percent polymer receivers as "firearms" even though the Gun Control Act does not. The ATF seems, from what I can find, The 30 employee business also pissed off the city of Oceanside, CA with their sign. The city council tried to claim that the sign violated city ordnance because it depicted a firearm. Only problem is that the sign was put up before the law and is grandfathered, making it a legal sign.

Here is a copy of the restraining order.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/212508154/Order-Clarifying-TRO-Ares-Armor

My questions:
I doubt these guys are the only ones making 80 percent lowers, why were they targeted by the ATF?
Is the ATF violating the law and did they lie to the judge to get the warrants?
As liberals, we should all be appalled with the ATF violating the law as much we would be if it were the DEA or FBI.

On Edit: Here is the story that explains the issue with the ATF
http://fox40.com/2014/03/13/calif-gun-store-owner-stops-federal-raid/

[geckosfeet]

1. Seems they want customer names. Ares refused. ATF gets rough.

Several issues here including privacy invasions. But even if everything Ares did was within the law it seems like the ATF has the green light do whatever the heck they want. Including violations of the law.

Storm trooper shit.

[Duckhunter935]

2. this issue was hidden by jury earlier.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172139924

Seems to me the judge may have backed off on the earlier order and basically voided it?

I hate the over reach and am curious how this works out. I would think a legal 80% receiver is the same depending on material it is constructed in. Seems like ATF does not think so.

[Keefer]

3. That thread

was hidden in part because there were "too many exclamation points" in the headline.

[Duckhunter935]

4. Really?

[Keefer]

5. Yep

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: I don't come here for a RW slant on things.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: This story needs reliable information, not propaganda.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Right wing links aren't credible sources. There are five (5) exclamation points in the article's title, which just illustrates even more that it is more propaganda than anything credible. Hide.

[NYC_SKP]

10. Sadly, it takes a bit of effort to find non-RW sources for stories like these, but we have to try...

I Googled "Ares Armor" and all the returns but one was a RW site.

examiner.com was the exception, the rest were infowars, AR15, and the like.

Thus, we're kind of screwed if we want to report something factual, unless we take the time to find an infallible source then a jury might hide a post because they "don't want to hear it".

A reply from the locked thread:

"Take your NRA thread to a RW board, I don't want to hear it!"

[Lizzie Poppet]

11. I noticed that reply, too.

Another dolt who associates any pro-gun position with the right wing... /rolleyes

[clffrdjk]

6. From what I have been hearing

Last edited Sun Mar 16, 2014, 12:53 PM - Edit history (1)

These guys are the second or third shop to be raided in the last few weeks. They are just the first to file for a restraining order, that restraining order is what forced the ATF to get the Warrant rather than just barge in and take what they want.
The ATF is claiming that the companies are making the plastic firearms and then filling them in with a different color to make it easier for the customer to finish. If so that is illegal, the companies are claiming that they make the different colored cut away sections first and then mold the plastic over them thus staying well within the law and never making a firearm. The ATF has been side stepping the law for a while now and changing the rules as they see fit I see no reason to trust them.

[gejohnston]

7. update

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/03/foghorn/ares-armor-update-skinny-polymer-80-lower-receivers/
an interesting read. According to some other sources I found, it seems that the ATF is interested in the customer list because there is there is at least one customer who is suspected of finishing the lowers, then selling them without a manufacture's license or FFL (the one mentioned in the affidavit given to the judge, it happens to be a convicted felon). If you buy an 80 percent, you must do the machine work yourself with your own equipment.
It seems that this company is probably compliant with the law, just not a few of the customers.

[Token Republican]

8. From what I've read

It looks like the ATF was in the right.

Here's what I've pieced together.

ATF got a warrant for the partials and the customer list. The FFL got a restraining order on the customer list. The partials were handed over but not the customer list, and it was claimed the ATF took the list anyway.

Latest word is the restraining order on the customer list was itself restrained, which if true, meant ATF could legally get the customer list.

This is just what I've read, and it should not be relied upon as a valid source.

[HALO141]

9. Slight correction

Ares Armor does not sell firearms and is not an FFL. 80% lowers are not firearms and to not require a FFL to buy or sell.