Senator Sounds Alarm Over ATF ‘Knock and Talk’ Investigations
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) sounded the alarm Tuesday about whether the Biden administration’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is harassing or intimidating firearms owners into legally questionable investigations.
In a letter (pdf) sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Ernst asked whether the ATF is unlawfully harassing or coercing gun owners amid viral videos appearing to show ATF agents targeting them and similar other reports. Ernst noted that the agents may be targeting individuals who made straw purchases, or when one person buys a gun for another person.
“Several reports and videos have surfaced detailing ATF agents engaging in ‘knock and talk’ investigations of straw purchases,” Ernst wrote. “During the course of these ‘knock and talk’ investigations, ATF agents knock on the front door of a private residence and ask the resident to display a recently purchased firearm as proof that the resident did not conduct a straw purchase. In all of the ‘knock and talk’ incidents brought to my attention, none involved the presentation of a warrant.”…