ATF
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Fact Sheet
Public Affairs Division - Washington, DC
Contact: Public Affairs Division www.atf.gov
FFL Compliance Inspections February 2013
(Note: This is what they're supposed to do...... Source Document - ATF Fact Sheet)
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), pursuant to the Gun Control
Act (GCA) and the Federal firearms regulations, is responsible for licensing persons engaging in a
firearms business. With certain exceptions, the GCA allows ATF to conduct one warrantless, annual
compliance inspection of a federal firearms licensee (FFL). The purpose of the inspection program is to
educate the licensee about regulatory responsibilities and to evaluate the level of compliance.
Compliance inspections also serve to protect the public in that they promote voluntary internal controls
to prevent and detect diversion of firearms from lawful commerce to the illegal market.
During inspections, ATF industry operations investigators (IOIs) review records, inventory, and
the licensee's conduct of business. To assist in meeting and maintaining compliance, investigators also
provide instructional and educational materials about the requirements of the law and regulations and
best business practices.
There were approximately 69,000 FFLs engaged in business in fiscal year 2012 (excluding
persons holding collector licenses). During that time, ATF conducted more than 13,100 firearms
compliance inspections. About 50 percent of the licensees inspected were determined to be in full
compliance with the law and regulations and no violations were cited. Approximately 67 federal firearms
licenses were revoked or were denied renewal due to willful violations of the GCA. This figure is
approximately 0.5 percent of the number of licensees inspected.
Compliance failures, which constitute violations of law and regulation, commonly disclosed
during the inspection process include failure to verify purchaser eligibility; inability to account for
firearms received and disposed; failure to ensure firearms traceability due to improper recordation of
firearms receipt and disposition; failure to properly document firearms transfers; and failure to report
multiple sales of handguns. These types of violations, among others, can hinder the FFL's ability to
support law enforcement criminal investigation efforts.
Proper and timely recordkeeping by FFLs is critical to the success of a crime gun trace and is
required for all firearms acquired and transferred by licensees. Failing to account for firearms is a
serious public safety concern because unaccounted firearms cannot be traced. During compliance
inspections conducted in fiscal year 2011, ATF investigators identified nearly 177,500 unaccounted for
firearms, which FFLs could not locate in inventory or account for by sale or other disposition. By
working with industry members, IOIs reduced this number to about 18,500 unaccounted for firearms.
As such, ATF investigators improved the success rate of potential firearms traces of previously
unaccounted firearms significantly. While this is a great improvement, with more than 18,500 firearms
still missing a significant threat is posed to public safety.
When violations of the law and regulations are disclosed during an inspection, a Report of
Violations is issued to the licensee that outlines the discrepancy and the requirements for corrective
action. ATF also works to gain cooperation and compliance from FFLs by issuing warning letters and
holding warning conferences. Despite these remedial actions, on rare occasions ATF encounters a
licensee who fails to comply with the law and regulations and demonstrates a lack of commitment to
improving his or her business practices. In such cases where willfulness is demonstrated, ATF's
obligation to protect public safety may require revocation of the federal firearms license.
ATF investigators assist licensees in developing corrective actions when violations are identified
and encourage licensees to constructively engage in the remediation process. In this way, ATF attempts
to bring licensees into compliance before it becomes necessary to take administrative action against
the licensee. When an ATF inspection results in a warning conference or potential revocation, the
licensee is provided an opportunity to develop a written plan that details the steps taken to correct the
problems identified and measures implemented to ensure future compliance.
ATF's focus is to help licensees avoid violations of the law and its implementing regulations.
The Bureau prides itself on partnering with the firearms industry, especially regarding voluntary internal
controls, to better protect the public. To that end, ATF continues to work closely with the firearms
industry at all levels to ensure compliance, understand concerns, and help resolve perceived obstacles
to compliance. ATF strives to educate licensees concerning their obligations under the law through open
letters mailed to FFLs, information posted on ATF's Web site, quarterly FFL newsletters, industry
seminars, attendance at trade shows, and partnerships with industry associations. Licensees are
provided the "Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide," which includes laws, regulations, and
other information about conducting a firearms business under federal law, and other publications such
as the "Safety and Security Information for Federal Firearms Licensees.
This concludes what ATF is supposed to do during a compliance inspection.
What YOU should do:
When The BATF Pays A Visit (https://gunowners.com/batf.htm)
by James Henry Jeffries III, 78, who died on December 18, 2012 at his home in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The author was a retired U.S. Department of Justice lawyer and a retired colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve
who practiced firearms law in Greensboro, NC. He was a 1959 graduate of the University of Kentucky and
a 1962 graduate of the UK College of Law, where he was Note Editor of the Kentucky Law Journal.
Mr. Jeffries wrote this article prior to 2002, and consequently is somewhat out of date. The article has
been modified with [comments] in an effort to bring it up to date. BATF has been changed to ATF in accordance
with current practice. ATF was transferred from Department of the Treasury to DOJ in 2003, and Industry
Inspectors became "Investigatore". The Bureau also added "Explosives" to it's name.
"There is no wholly satisfactory substitute for brains, but silence does pretty well." --Anonymous
PROBABLY one of the least favorite events for any Federal Firearms Licensee (hereafter "FFL") is a visit
from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms [and Explosives] (hereafter "ATF"). This can occur in one
of at least six very different ways and your legal rights and recommended responses vary accordingly.
For purposes of the following discussion I will assume that you are a law-abiding licensed dealer or collector
who tries to comply honestly with the federal firearms laws. If some of the discussion below seems
excessively cautious, or even hostile to ATF, it is based on real world experience with an agency which
has been found by Congress, by various federal judges and juries, by other federal and local law
enforcement agencies, and even by some Presidents to be inept, indifferent to citizens' rights, and
capable of the most outrageous abuses of the law.
ATF operates under the rationale of requiring you to comply with the law. I operate under the rationale
of requiring ATF to comply with the law. I required this of ATF as a federal prosecutor for almost 30 years,
and I require it as a private citizen and as a lawyer. You should require it as an FFL.
A non-licensee has no legal duty whatsoever to talk to or otherwise cooperate with a ATF agent (or any
other governmental official). It is a sad commentary on our times and the state of our federal government
(and especially ATF) that the appropriate legal advice from a defense lawyer to a non-licensee confronted
by a federal or state law enforcement officer can be capsulized in a single sentence called RULE ONE:
Silence is golden; or what part of "no" don't you understand? If you are an FFL, however, additional
considerations come into play.
The Tracing Center Inquiry.
Most active dealers have had a telephone call from ATF's Tracing Center at some time or other inquiring
about the disposition of a firearm whose serial number traces to the dealer. This is usually an inquiry
concerning a third party and does not implicate the dealer. It should normally occur during your listed
business hours, although emergency traces in high-profile matters could occur at any time of the day
or night. These inquiries are authorized by law in official criminal investigations and as a licensee you
have a statutory duty to cooperate by furnishing the requested information.
Be aware, however, that the Tracing Center is a part of ATF's criminal enforcement apparatus whose
function (and principal interest) is to put people (including firearms dealers) in jail. You should always
obtain the full name and telephone number of the caller and note it in writing. An entry in your bound
book alongside the entry for the firearm involved would not be inappropriate. If in doubt about the caller's
identity, you should terminate the call and call back before giving any information. Cooperation would
include supplying copies of any related documents. Never surrender an original document or legally-
possessed firearm (or other property for that matter) except in response to a summons, subpoena,
or court order, and then only after obtaining legal advice.
When faced with the prospect of providing information to the government, keep in mind that there are
only two legal options: silence or complete truthfulness. Lying (even by partial truths or literal but
misleading true answers) is never an option. A false statement to a federal officer in his official
capacity is a felony akin to perjury, and usually much easier to prosecute and prove than the matter
being investigated. If you cannot speak truthfully without incriminating yourself or injuring your
legal interests, then remember RULE ONE.
If the inquiry is about a Title II firearm, you should attempt to determine if the trace was initiated by local
law enforcement. If it was, you should remind the caller that the information requested is privileged tax
information and that it is a federal felony for ATF to disclose the information outside the agency. Your
interest in this aspect is that you do not wish to aid and abet the commission of a felony -- even one
committed by a federal official.
Occasionally a tracing inquiry will be made in person by one or more special agents. They are, of course,
purely criminal investigators whose only function (and interest) is to put people (including firearms
dealers) in jail. Write down the names and badge numbers of all present. If anyone present is not a ATF
special agent, inquire why that person is present (and later note the response in writing). If there is more
than one agent, inquire why. If anyone refuses to display official identification direct them to immediately
leave the premises. If they refuse, call the local sheriff or police and make a trespassing complaint.
Do not allow anyone to search your records, premises or inventory for the information or items being
sought. You or your employee do the searching, retrieving and copying. The same rules apply with
respect to refusing to turn over original documents or items of personal property. If an agent should
physically insist on taking custody of an original record or legally-possessed firearm or other item of
property, resist verbally and vigorously, but not physically. Advise him calmly that your first call after he
leaves will be to your lawyer and his first call will be to the Inspector General of the Treasury Department.
Successive calls will then also be made to ATF's Office of Internal Affairs, the agent's SAC (Special
Agent in Charge), the United States Attorney, the FBI and the sheriff -- the latter three to report the theft
of your property by a federal agent. Then do it. In short, if an agent is stupid enough to violate your Fourth
Amendment right to be secure in your papers and effects in front of God and everybody, then he needs
to have his whole day ruined.
A tracing inquiry is usually directed at a third party recipient of a firearm which has passed through your
hands at some point and generally is not targeted at you. However, if you sense that the inquiry is, in fact,
targeted at you, you should immediately terminate the inquiry, ask the agents to leave the premises
(after which they are legally trespassers), request them to put their inquiry in writing, and seek legal
counsel. Remember RULE ONE.
Failure to cooperate in a tracing request can put your license at risk, but loss of a license (or the expense
of defending it) compares very favorably with a prison sentence (or the cost of defending a criminal
indictment). And your license is not realistically at risk if ATF is trying to further a criminal investigation
of you through a pretext tracing inquiry. The majority of all inmates talk their way into prison; you have
no legal obligation to help put yourself there. This type of confrontationis an IQ test. Don't flunk it;
remember RULE ONE.
Clients occasionally inquire about tape-recording their telephone or in-person conversations with ATF
employees (and others). This is legal under federal law so long as one party to the conversation (you)
knows of the interception. However, state laws vary on the issue and you should be certain that such
consensual recording is legal under the law of the state where the recording is taking place. You should
never record a conversation (telephone or otherwise) where no one present knows of the interception.
This is a felony violation of the federal wiretapping statute, and you are creating the very evidence
needed to prove it. You can, of course, legally tape-record any transaction in any jurisdiction when
all parties are aware of the taping. Any such tape should itself reflect that all present are aware of
the taping. You should never knowingly consent to your own interview or conversation being tape
recorded without making a tape of your own. More important, the taping of your interview is a strong
signal to invoke RULE ONE and immediately seek legal counsel.
The Third-Party Inquiry.
A third-party inquiry is broader than a simple tracing inquiry, but otherwise involves the same principles
and recommendedreactions. It could be a telephone call, but will ordinarily be a personal visit by one or
more special agents who are aftermore detailed information than just the acquisition and disposition of
one or more firearms which have passed into or through your inventory. All other factors remain the
same and your responses should be the same as for the in-person tracing inquiry.
Needless to say, if the inquiry is not about a third-party transaction but rather is directed solely at you,
invoke RULE ONE andseek legal counsel immediately.
Remember, refusing to talk to federal criminal investigators and seeking legal counsel are not admissions
of guilt or signs of a guilty conscience. They are manifestations that you are an American citizen aware
of your legal rights and an individual who will not be bullied, coerced or frightened into giving up those
rights. The agents already believe you are guilty; their job is to prove it. Your job is to avoid helping them
prove it.
The Undercover Solicitation.
This may be a contact by ATF which, if you are fortunate, you never learn was made. It is a sad fact
that a high percentage of non-violent federal gun crimes committed in the United States (perhaps even
a majority) are manufactured by ATF -- crimes that would never have occurred but for the fact of an
offer from or solicitation by a ATF informant or undercover agent to an unwitting citizen. Technically,
most of these ATF-sponsored offenses do not rise to legal entrapment.But they would never have
happened if ATF had not planted the idea and created the opportunity. This is done for the simplest
and ugliest of all bureaucratic reasons: agent and agency self-preservation and budget and case
statistics.
Sometimes you will know you are being shopped -- perhaps by recognizing the agent or perhaps
by the sheer stupidity of the approach. You are probably also being recorded, possibly even
videotaped. Your response should be precisely the same whether it ultimately turns out that you
were speaking to a government microphone or to the village idiot. You should firmly, but not politely,
advise the proponent that what he/she is proposing is illegal and that he/she is no longer welcome
on your premises or at your table. Then remember RULE ONE. Do not engage in a discussion of the
law or alternative solutions to the "customer's" proposal; terminate the conversation. Politeness is not
called for when someoneis either intentionally or ignorantly soliciting you to commit a federal felony.
And your politeness on a federal tape recording in a subsequent criminal prosecution can often be
construed as acquiescence in or lack of strong feeling about committing a crime.
Some of my bolder clients, who are truly tired of being harassed this way, are fully prepared to make
a citizen's arrest in such circumstances and then call the local sheriff to come collect the offender
(attempts and solicitations to commit an offense are also crimes under federal and state law). If this
appeals to you, make sure first that the law of your state permits a citizen'sarrest. Know the amount
of legal force you can use to effect such an arrest. Then cuff the son of a bitch and give him a taste
of what he's probably trying to do to you.
A criminal solicitation by someone you've known for years, and who you know cannot be an agent,
is especially dangerous. It probably means that your acquaintance has gotten his own tail in a crack
and is now making cases for ATF in an attempt to lighten his own load. Finally, bear in mind that an
undercover approach may be made by a female agent or by a mixed couple.
The Compliance Inspection.
Compliance inspections are conducted by [Investigator]s [previously Inspectors] of the regulatory
nforcement [Industry Operations] branch of ATF. These individuals have no criminal law enforcement
authority -- or training (although they have recently been issued badges, perhaps in an effort to bolster
morale or create an appearance of authority for low-paid personnel). Theoretically, [Investigator]s are
charged with the civil and regulatory aspects of firearms law. They do not have the power of arrest
or the authority to serve subpoenas or warrants. Nor may they make seizures of any kind. I say
"theoretically" because in some recent instances [Investigator]s have been observed accompanying
special agents on raids and even illegally carrying firearms. In short, there are some cop
wannabes among the [Investigator] force whose intrinsic suspicion of firearms dealers as criminals
must be guarded against.
The legally-authorized purpose of compliance inspections (and pre-licensing inspections) is to ensure
that the firearms statutes are generally being complied with by the firearms industry. The true job of
[Investigator]s is to spot and correct discrepancies in compliance with federal firearms statutes, to
establish the qualifications of license applicants, and to enforce [and collect the excise tax on the
manufacture and importation of firearms [no longer accurate]]. If an [Investigator] discovers
evidence of a criminal violation he is supposed to make a referral to the criminal enforcement branch
of ATF (the special agents).
As a licensee you are required to display your license on your licensed premises, to maintain certain
required books and records accurately, and to submit to a compliance inspection of your licensed
premises, your inventory and your required records as often as once annually.
The only firearms records which you are required by law to maintain, and to submit for inspection,
are an acquisition and disposition book (your bound book), original ATF Forms 4473, Firearms
Transaction Record for each firearm sold, original ATF Forms 5300.35Statement of Intent to Obtain a
Handgun(s) (the Brady Act form), and your retained copies (copy 4) of ATF Forms 3310.4,Report of
Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers for each multiple sale of handguns.
Special occupational taxpayers may also be required to produce their Forms 2, 3, 5, 6 and 10 for
firearms on hand. There may be additional state law records required of a dealer, but ATF has no
jurisdiction over these records and arguably no jurisdiction to inspect them.
When a ATF [Investigator] shows up for a compliance inspection, require credentials to be displayed
by everyone present and note the full name of the [Investigator](s) in writing. Never permit a special
agent or a state or local or non-ATF federal official to participate in a compliance inspection. These
individuals have no authority under the inspection laws, and are there for some different (and more
ominous) reason. A state official might have independent state-law authority to conduct an inspection
or investigation, but he has no right to do it in tandem with a ATF compliance inspection. You should
require other [Investigator]s or investigators to get in line so that you can deal with them at a separate
time. If they refuse to leave, call the sheriff and swear out a trespassing complaint. If a ATF special
agent, a firearms specialist from ATF's Technology Branch in Washington (part of the criminal
enforcement branch), or other criminal law enforcement type is present, this is not an ordinary
compliance inspection and you should immediately terminate it, direct the individuals to leave and
contact legal counsel.
ATF [Investigator]s can inspect at any time during your listed business hours, without prior notice
or appointment. If they do not give you advance notice then restrict their inspection activities to your
listed hours. If you are subjected to an unannounced inspection, be on guard. You may be under
suspicion or you may be dealing with one of the cop wannabes. If the [Investigator] has the
courtesy to advise you ahead of time of an intended inspection you are free to, and should,
accommodate the time, date and hours of inspection to the [Investigator]'s convenience. You
should never consent to more than one compliance inspection in any twelve-month period. Require
ATF to obtain an inspection warrant and immediately seek legal counsel.
Under general principles of law a compliance inspection must be "reasonable" in terms of time,
duration, scope, number of [Investigator]s, lack of disruption to your business, etc. If the
[Investigator] is reasonable and professional, you should be too. The process does not have
to be adversarial or antagonistic. If the [Investigator] is not reasonable or professional, keep in
mind that your license does not require you to talk to him, or to provide him access to your copy
machine, rest room, etc. If you are dealing with an idiot, remember RULE ONE -- and let him bring
his own copy machine. Also remember that he has no right to use your electricity.
The [Investigator] is legally entitled to inspect all your required records, your business premises,
and your firearms inventory. He is legally entitled to inspect nothing else. You should not permit
inspection of non-required records unless there is a satisfactory explanation of why it is desired
(such as inspecting a purchase or sale invoice for the correct serial number where the bound book
and the Form 4473 show different serial numbers for the same firearm).
You should not permit inspection of non-business portions of the premises when your home is the
licensed premises. (When your business is conducted from your home, you should carefully delineate
that portion dedicated to the firearms business and confine the business strictly to that portion of the
premises.)
You should accommodate the [Investigator] by making copies of any records desired (within reason).
Never permit original records (or firearms or other property) to be removed from the premises
without a summons, subpoena or court order, and without seeking legal counsel. The [Investigator]
has no power of seizure and may attempt to bluff his way into removing original records or may try to
obtain your consent. Do not be bluffed and do not consent. Inspections should be conducted on
your premises [unless you are a licensedcollector (03). If so, you are permitted an inspection at ATF's
offices]. (If you store firearms off premises, the [Investigator] is also entitled to inspect such storage
facilities.)
A compliance inspection of a special occupational taxpayer will begin with the [Investigator] attempting
to reconcile his NFA Branch printout of Title II firearms shown as registered to you in ATF's records with
the actual Title II firearms in your possession. He will be unable to do so because of the abysmal state
of the national registry. Have mercy on him and help ATF untangle its records. Try to refrain from thinking
about whose records and recordkeeping should really be under audit here. The [Investigator] will also
likely need your technical expertise in identifying anything more esoteric than a rifle, pistol or shotgun.
Try to conceal your contempt for a "federal firearms [Investigator]" who probably doesn't know a wipe
from a baffle, or a lightning link from a drop-in sear, and who may think a Mauser broomhandle is something
used by a German hausfrau.
[If you are a firearms manufacturer or importer, an [Investigator] may plan to conduct an excise tax audit
at the same time as a compliance inspection. no longer accurate] The authority for these two
types of inspections/audits derive from entirely different legal authorities and they involve entirely
separate legal considerations. You should insist that either the audit or the inspection be conducted
first and separately.The reasons are expanded on under the Excise Tax Audit section, below.
Curio and relic (collector) licensees have the legal option of bringing their records and firearms to the
nearest designated ATF office for a compliance inspection. Although I am unaware of any compliance
inspection of a collector, this is an option to be considered seriously.
The simple truth is that you never want a ATF employee in your home if it can be avoided.
In summary, the firearms regulatory process does not assume you are a criminal, but rather seeks to
ensure that dealers generally are complying with the requirements of the law. If bona fide, the
process does not require invocation of your various rights to notice, counsel, warning,
non-self-incrimination, etc., which all come into play when you are the target of a criminal investigation.
Unfortunately, ATF sometimes attempts to avoid these constitutional "inconveniences" by illegally
using the access of civil [Investigator]s to further a criminal investigation without alerting the
targeted dealer. You should never cooperate in such a subterfuge.
The Excise Tax Audit.[No longer applies]
If you are simply a dealer in firearms or ammunition, you will have no occasion to undergo an excise
tax audit. However, if you manufacture or import firearms or ammunition you are subject to audit by
the regulatory enforcement branch of ATF.
[Note 1: Excise Tax is no longer under ATF, but was transferred to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and
Trade Bureau (TTB) of the Department of the Treasury in 2002. However ATF may attempt to enforce it.]
[Note 2: ATF has been requiring gunsmiths to become licensed as a manufacturer - even if they
"manufacture" no firearms. This may require filing of Excise Tax. See ATF Ruling 2010-10}
[Note 3: If a licensed importer or manufacturer imports or manufactures less than 50 firearms in
any given calendar year, those firearms are exempt from Excise Tax. See amendment to U.S.C.
4182 regarding the 50 gun exemption]
The manufacturers excise tax on firearms and ammunition is one of the most complex and least
understood federal tax statutes. It is said that only three people in the world completely understand it.
One is dead, one went mad trying to explain it, and modesty prevents me from naming the third.
Suffice to say, however, that ATF, which acquired jurisdiction over the tax from IRS in 1991, is
hopelessly inept in administering it.
An excise tax audit is governed by the general principles of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
and not the National Firearms Act of 1934 or the Gun Control Act of 1968.
You are required to maintain the same records any other taxpayer/return filer is required to maintain:
whatever records are necessary to support the figures on your return. There are no records
specifically required by law to be maintained such as those required of dealers by the Gun Control
Act. And, absent tax fraud or evasion, there are no criminal penalties for failing to maintain such records.
Therefore, the only penalty for failing to keep excise tax records, or to produce them, is that ATF could
choose to treat all your sales as taxable events.
As a practical matter a logbook of operable Title I firearms manufactured by you plus any ATF Forms 2
(Title II firearms manufactured by you), and a file of ATF Forms 6A, operable firearms imported by you,
accompanied by your bound book showing the same firearms sold by you and sales invoices showing
the sale price, would be all the records required for a proper excise tax audit (in addition, perhaps to your
retained copies of excise tax returns filed). You should decline to produce any other records for an
excise tax audit unless you have an alternative pricing issue under the excise tax regulations or tax-exempt
sales (to a government entity, the military, or for export).
You should also be aware that the definition of firearm under the excise tax statute is different from other
statutory definitions of "firearm." Excise taxable firearms are only those complete portable firearms which go bang.
The tax does not apply to crew-served weapons, silencers, frames or receivers, conversion kits, parts,
most destructive devices, etc., etc. The tax only becomes due on a sale or its commercial equivalent.
A transfer of a complete Title II firearm which goes bang is not always a sale and does not always trigger
the excise tax. Even when it is a sale, it is not taxable if the Title II transfer tax is being paid (a Form 4 transfer).
There is also no excise tax due on the manufacture or importation and sale of blank ammunition. I cover these
points because ATF [Investigator]s are generally excise-tax illiterate and much excise tax is asserted and
collected which is not legally due and owing. If you are a firearms manufacturer or exporter, you should have
competent tax counsel.
The Raid.
This is an event which means you are in deep, serious. It is the execution of a judicially-issued search
and seizure warrant (and occasionally also an arrest warrant) by ATF special agents, frequently
accompanied by agents of other federal or local agencies, on premises owned, occupied or inhabited by you.
When a raid team shows up at your premises and announces (usually by breaking down your door, sometimes
by killing your dogs and throwing flash bang grenades at your women and children) that they have a federal
search warrant, you must instantly do several things. You must first of all mentally assimilate the fact that they
are law officers rather than a rampaging motorcycle gang (which they often resemble in both appearance and
behavior). Having identified them as law rather than outlaw, you must freeze in place in a non-threatening
posture and attempt to stabilize the situation until some of their law-enforcement adrenalin (the most dangerous
drug on the street) has bled off. If only a search warrant is involved, you must then recover your wits sufficiently
to do the following:
(A) Try to note and record the identities of as many participants as possible, by name, agency, badge number,
and physical description.
(B) Ask for a copy of the warrant.
(C) Disable -- not unplug, disable -- your telephones and fax machines.
(D) Gather your family, children and pets and leave the premises.
(E) Call your lawyer.
You may be prevented from doing some or all of the above things by legally illiterate agents, but that will simply
lay the foundation for your own day in court.
A federal search warrant authorizes only the search of a specified premises and only the seizure of specifically
described items. Corollary to the execution of a warrant, the law permits the agents to make a forcible entry if
that becomes necessary after knocking and announcing their identity and purpose, to control the premises, and
to take reasonable precautions for their own safety -- such as a pat down for weapons of those persons present
and assigning an agent to watch over and accompany anyone moving about on the premises. The law authorizes
the agents to prevent the destruction of evidence or contraband and it protects them against being assaulted or
interfered with. It is a serious federal crime to assault a federal officer or to obstruct execution of the warrant.
Don't turn a possible later indictment into a sure one. Never assist the raiding party in locating the items described
in the warrant. They have the right to search, but not the right to find. Do not open locked compartments, safes or
rooms for them or provide them with keys or combinations. Do not talk to the raiding officers other than to request
identification and a copy of the warrant. Resist the compulsion to show what a good guy you are; these are not
your friends and they are not there to help you.
A search warrant does not authorize agents to arrest you or anyone else on the premises (although assaulting the
agents or forcibly interfering with the execution of the warrant will justify a warrantless arrest) and it does not
authorize them to handcuff you, restrict you to a particular place or prevent you from leaving.You have a
perfect right to leave the premises and should do so immediately. If you are physically prevented from leaving, you
have just been falsely arrested in violation of the Fourth Amendment and will have your recovery later in court as
well as taking some of the other retaliatory measures promised above. You must get yourself and your family
out of the house for several reasons:
(A) to avoid the personal insult, humiliation, provocation and indignities which many agents seem to enjoy;
(B) to avoid a potential life-threatening situation; and
(C) to avoid creating evidence against yourself (RULE ONE). There is no useful purpose your remaining on the
premises can serve; if the agents are going to plant evidence or destroy property, they will do it whether or not
you are present.
You will need as much information about identities, badge numbers and descriptions as you can manage in the
minutes before you leave. These will be useful later when you assert or defend your rights. But they are not a
reason to delay leaving the premises promptly. You are legally entitled to a copy of the warrant, but do not remain
on the premises if you are refused.
You should disable your telephones and fax machines before leaving in order to prevent the agents from illegally
seizing evidence (calls and faxes) which might come in while they are on the premises. Such items did not exist
when the warrant was signed and cannot possibly be covered by the warrant. Their seizure will probably
therefore be illegal; but it is better to prevent such seizures from even happening. If you are physically prevented
from disabling your own property, go somewhere else and place incoming calls to all your lines and keep the
circuits open.
Now, call your lawyer.
Col. James Henry Jeffries III:
I graduated from the University of Kentucky (B.A.) in 1959, and from the University of Kentucky College of Law
(LL.B.) in 1962 where I was Note Editor of the Kentucky Law Journal. I was then selected by Deputy Attorney
General Byron White for the Attorney General’s Honors Program and remained at the United States Department
of Justice until my retirement in December 1989 (except for two years with a federal agency involved in national
security). While at the DepartmentI served in the Internal Security Division, the Criminal Division and the Tax Division.
I have tried more than 1,000(probably more than 2,000) federal cases, and supervised the handling of more than
10,000 (probably more than 20,000) federal cases. I have appeared in more than 80 of the 94 federal judicial districts
and before five of the federal courts of appeals. At the time of my retirement I was assistant chief of the Western
Civil Trial Section of the Tax Division, supervising 35 trial attorneys and 25 support staff with responsibility over all
civil tax litigation in most of the western half of the United States. I am the recipient of the Attorney General’s John
Marshall Award for litigation, as well as two special commendations and two Tax Division Outstanding Attorney
Awards.
3. Almost all my cases in private practice involve the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (“BATF”).
During my government service I also supervised several tax cases involving the firearms statutes administered
by BATF. As a special Assistant United States Attorney in the organized Crime Strike Force program during the
1970s I supervised numerous BATF organized crime investigations. For example, I have been the authorizing
attorney for more than 60 BATF search warrants and have personally participated in a number of BATF raids
in New York, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maryland. I have supervised several BATF/Strike Force undercover
operations directed at organized crime figures and conducted numerous grand jury investigations into violations
of statutes administered by BATF.