Active ATF

On Wednesday, agents of the ATF swooped in on Sabre Defence Industries’ headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, clearing employees out of the building, then searching them and their vehicles before clearing them to leave the premises.

The facility cleared, agents then proceeded to systematically search the company’s 35,000 square foot facility where the company manufacturers a variety of parts and mounts for the Browning .50-caliber machinegun, miniguns and other government weaponry, in addition to its line of consumer products, including their XR15 rifles in A4, M4, and M5 configurations.

News of the ATF’s actions rattled an already jumpy industry.

BATFE, as expected, has no comment regarding their ongoing investigation. Other than confirming the fact that agents were on the scene at Sabre beginning Wednesday, there was no other information offered.

Fortunately, a single phone call to Sabre yesterday morning cleared up most of the lingering questions.

According to company owner Guy Savage, the AFT shutdown was not of Sabre per se. In fact, Sabre was already working with the ATF in an “ongoing investigation into potential criminal misuse of certain non-salable firearms produced by Sabre and purchased by some of its employees.”

The company also says that it “is and has been cooperating with federal agents in the investigation.”

Sabre was essentially shut down yesterday, but officials say the company will be “open as usual” today. Sabre’s largest customer is the United States military, and describes itself as the only privately-owned company in the world to hold a military contract for a mil-spec M-16 rifle.

Sabre was also rumored to be one of the possible suitors for at least a portion of the firearms business of Cavalry Arms. Earlier this week, Cavalry announced it was surrendering its FFL and leaving the firearms manufacturing part of their business, choosing to concentrate on firearms accessories and medical products.

Good news last night from New Hampshire…that state’s Knife Law Preemption Bill has taken the critical last step before a full vote in that state’s senate. The bill is tentatively scheduled for a final floor vote in the New Hampshire Senate next week.

It’s safe to say that the National Park Service has been reluctant, but the Service has announced that effective February 22, the rules for firearms possession in national wildlife refuges will change to reflect an individual’s right to lawfully possess a firearm within the boundaries of a National Wildlife Refuge in accordance with federal, state and local firearms laws.

The NPS is following a directive that says the laws of the state and locality, not NPS regulations, will govern the lawful possession of firearms on a NPS refuge. That new law applies to all 551 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, as well as the National Monuments and 392 units of the National Park System.

However…the NPS is quick to remind firearms owners that while firearms possession may “generally be allowed” they will still be prohibited in federal facilities. Those include visitor centers, refuge administrative office buildings, refuge maintenance offices and workshops, field and backcountry offices, ranger stations and fee collection stations.

Finally, the National Rifle Association has released their ballot for that organization’s Board of Directors. We are told that the majority of voting-qualified NRA members will cast their ballots in the next 96 hours.

If you’re a voting member of the NRA, I’d encourage you to consider one of the younger leaders of the shooting industry, Pete Brownell.

When Pete told me he was considering running for a position on the NRA board, I asked him a simple and direct question: why?

It wasn’t the fact that I know, like and trust Pete that convinced me he was one of those people we need to help lead the industry going forward, it was his reasons for running for the board.

First, he felt it essential that the industry- and the NRA – maintain a proper balance of individuals and experience.

Directors who work in leadership positions inside the industry, Brownell says, ensures focus on the positive mission of the NRA. As a third-generation president of Brownells, he’s spent his adult life around the everyday affairs of the firearms industry as well as the big-picture challenges the industry face everyday.

And, he reminded me, his are also a younger set of eyes already familiar with the myriad of new ways to communicate with the new generation. And that’s a good point.

The firearms industry is generally characterized as extremely conservative – to the point of being out-of-touch with modern society. Brownells has successfully tapped into the “new media” to reach a new generation of shooters.

It’s a good thing to know how to reach the next generation especially with positive messages about firearms and firearms ownership.

Leaders like Pete Brownell who can succinctly -and non-confrontationally – present the positive message of the NRA and firearms owners are something we need.

So, I’d encourage you to give him your vote.

–Jim Shepherd
www.shootingwire.com