Gregory Kielma • October 31, 2023
Biden Administration Opens a New Front in its War on Guns and the Companies That Make Them
By Larry Keane -October 31, 20237
President Joe Biden is stepping up his effort to cripple the firearm industry, the one industry that provides the means for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
President Biden’s Commerce Department issued a new and unprecedented edict that bans the export of firearms, ammunition and certain accessories to most overseas markets. The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security posted a notice of a 90-day “pause” for the exports on a Friday afternoon – on the Frequently Asked Questions Section that’s listed on the bottom the BIS website.
The “Friday news dump” was apparently an attempt to slip the kneecapping of the industry under the radar. However, this appears to be a coordinated event and more evidence of gun control groups steering domestic and foreign policy for the Biden administration.
Earlier Attacks
President Biden’s revulsion that Americans would actually choose to exercise their Second Amendment rights has long been clear. He labeled firearm manufacturers “the enemy” at the outset of his campaign for The White House. That was a purposeful choice of words. He didn’t say the firearm industry “opposed” his policies, nor did he say it was an “adversary.” He chose to call the firearm industry “the enemy,” labeling it as an existential threat to the America he wanted to fashion during his administration.
Since he was inaugurated, Biden has taken every opportunity to wage a campaign against the firearm industry and gun owners in general. He nominated David Chipman, a gun control lobbyist, to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF, of course, is the federal agency that regulates the firearm industry. His nomination was akin to putting the fox in charge of the hen house. NSSF opposed and his nomination was withdrawn. Director Steve Dettelbach was later nominated and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Giffords David Chipman ATF
Giffords Law Center Senior Policy Advisor David Chipman (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
There’s also the ATF’s “zero-tolerance” policy that has seen federal firearms licenses (FFLs) revoked and businesses closed for minor clerical errors, even in cases that were addressed and closed. Some of those cases were reopened to revoke licenses and shut down businesses and livelihoods. As part of that pressure campaign, there’s been a significant increase in the number of “voluntary” license surrenders by business owners who agreed to give up their licenses instead of fight the weight of the federal government over the onerous policy.
President Biden has used nearly every lever of government he can to erect roadblocks to law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights and hobble the firearm industry’s ability to meet the demands of gun owners. He issued Final Rules through the Department of Justice (DOJ) and ATF to attempt an end-around Congress and redefine “frames or receivers” and ban stabilizing pistol braces.
The frame or receiver rule outlawed the sale of unfinished firearm parts kits and his stabilizing pistol brace rule redefined brace-equipped pistols as short-barreled rifles, requiring that they be registered as controlled items under the National Firearms Act, requiring tax stamps and submission of fingerprints, photos and redundant background checks.
Both Final Rules are being challenged in the courts as unconstitutional. That’s because they are. The Final Rules create criminal law without the consent and will of Congress. It is important to remember that only Congress can write laws – especially those that involve criminal punishments. When an executive authority does that on its own, that’s tantamount to tyranny.
President Biden also took aim at gun owners and hunters by kowtowing to anti-hunting and antigun special interests to ban the use of traditional lead ammunition on National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs). His administration hasn’t done this just once – but twice (and just last week). These rules phase out the use of traditional lead ammunition and require more expensive and less available alternative ammunition. It was announced that it was to protect wildlife populations from the detrimental effects of the use of traditional ammunition.
Shotgun ammunition shells lead
President Biden promised his administration would “follow the science,” except it isn’t. There is no peer-reviewed, site-specific evidence to support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) claims. They published the rules claiming to protect human health, California condors and American bald eagles. But the sites where they are banning the ammunition don’t hold condor populations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s own research demonstrates there is no human risk from consuming game harvested using traditional ammunition. American bald eagles are thriving, in large part because of the contributions paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers through Pittman-Robertson excise taxes. That’s benefited wildlife conservation to the tune of over $25 billion since 1937, when adjusted for inflation.
The Latest Salvo
Now, the Biden administration has slipped in this “pause” on firearm exports. That’s significant for several reasons.
First, President Biden campaigned on reversing the U.S. Munitions List to Commerce Control List (USML-CCL) export reforms that were begun under the Obama-Biden administration and completed by the Trump administration. Those reforms reduced regulatory costs and streamlined exports while strengthening end-to-end user checks to ensure firearm exports weren’t being sent overseas to bad actors.
Opponents of these reforms include disgraced U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who coveted his Senate oversight role to bless or block any firearm exports under the old rules.
Senator Robert Menendez New Jersey
It’s now apparent why he so zealously wanted that oversight back. The longtime ally of President Biden was recently indicted on federal corruption and bribery charges that stem from him greasing the skids for small-arms shipments to companies in Egypt. FBI officials raided his home and found hundreds of thousands of dollars wadded up and stuffed in his jacket pockets, along with stacks of gold bars. The twice-indicted senator has also been charged with illegally acting as an agent for the Egyptian government.
The export “pause” is unprecedented and the timing is suspect. The Biden administration’s new Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which is staffed by gun control lobbyists and activists, just concluded a roundtable meeting with Democratic lieutenant governors to explore new ways they could collaborate on more gun control.
It also took place in the wake of successive Bloomberg News features that called into question exports to foreign countries, falsely alleging that U.S. manufacturers are somehow complicit in stoking crime.
One was an attack on SIG SAUER over crime in Thailand and a later article focused on Central and South America. Another attacked the Commerce Department’s role in assisting U.S. manufacturers at NSSF’s annual SHOT Show. That’s something the Commerce Department does for all industries.
Bloomberg News is owned, of course, by Michael Bloomberg. He’s the billionaire former New York City mayor who flamed out on his own attempt to occupy the Oval Office. He also ran an undercover sting to uncover illegal gun trafficking in other states…without notifying the ATF or FBI. That put the lives of federal agents in jeopardy and was subsequently chastised by his own police chief and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Michael Bloomberg
Bloomberg is also the financier of Everytown for Gun Safety and their mouthpiece The Trace, the gun control group that now has office space in The White House, along with other gun control projects he’s funding, such as Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action and the Center for Gun Violence Solutions at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. When you pay that much money to fund gun control, universities name an entire school after you.
During this so-called “pause” in exports, the Commerce Department will conduct a “policy review to determine if changes are warranted to advance U.S. national security and policy interests.” Of course, this raises concerns that under the guise of human rights, the Biden administration will actually attempt to undo the USML-CCL reforms, extend the “pause” indefinitely, impose unwarranted regulatory burdens to increase costs to exporters and close off overseas markets to American firearm manufacturers.
Purely Political
All firearm and ammunition exports, of course, are subject to Defense and State Department review, which can halt exports if there are concerns. Firearm and ammunition license applications undergo a 100 percent end-user check by the BIS Office of Export Enforcement. They do this regardless of how long a company has been doing business with a particular customer, regardless of how many times the buyer was subjected to an end-user check and regardless of whether BIS has no derogatory information on that customer, even if the end-user was recently approved.
At present, no other commodity is subject to this same 100 percent check requirement. The kicker is that The White House has complete authority to regulate the export of firearms. That’s what exposes this “pause” as being purely politically motivated.
In July, the Biden administration sought to create a new division within BIS called “Embargoes and Human Rights.” With the assistance of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Commerce, Justice and Science, this creation of the division was blocked. It could be that the export “pause” is political payback.
There’s no right to export and the decision to grant or deny a license is purely a function of the national security and foreign policy assessment of those in charge. The USML-CCL reforms give the administration complete and essential unfettered discretion. BIS invoked national security and foreign affairs as the reason for the pause.
Congressional reaction to this move comes through the power of the purse. Congress can – and must – act through appropriations to ensure that the Biden administration is held accountable for its attempt to kneecap the industry through this unprecedented halt in exports
This is a naked attempt by the Biden administration to hobble the firearm industry, which President Biden made more than clear he despises. It’s also a shameless favor to the gun control industry that have bought their way into The White House and are now using foreign policy to exert their influence over domestic policy.
The American firearm industry has been called the “arsenal of democracy” because a strong and robust small arms manufacturing base has armed and equipped our law enforcement at home and our military and allies abroad. President Biden’s export “pause” is an attempt to weaken that capability and diminish the industry that provides the means for Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
Larry Keane is SVP for Government and Public Affairs, Assistant Secretary and General Counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Ruger vs Beretta Mike Hardy 4/20/2026 Drama in the firearms industry is not unheard of, but it is fairly rare. Given the industry’s relatively smaller size, there just usually aren’t a lot of eyebrow-raising events that happen. However, that has changed recently with interactions between Ruger and Beretta. These two stalwart bastions of gun design and manufacture have not exactly come to blows, but there are developments raising some eyebrows. Let’s take a quick look at the situation. In September of 2025, Beretta – the oldest gun manufacturer in the world, since 1526 – acquired 7.7% of Sturm, Ruger & Co. stock and then bought more to up its total holdings to 9.95%. That number makes Beretta the largest single shareholder of Ruger stock. The “Poison Pill” In October 2025, Beretta purchased the extra shares as recounted above. That led Ruger to issue a “poison-pill defense”… there are different forms of that strategy, but they all boil down to making a hostile takeover more difficult and costly for the acquirer. In its initial federal disclosure, Beretta Holding said that it: Did not have a present intention of seeking control” of Ruger, but instead they claim that they simply want a “strategic minority interest” in order to reverse what it calls Ruger’s “deteriorating financial performance.” I’m not sure Ruger believed that, after they contended that “Beretta’s Chair “indicated a long-term plan to combine Ruger with Beretta, but made no formal proposal” at a December meeting. Earlier this year, negotiations between the two companies fell apart, and Ruger went public with details of what it called a “creeping takeover” by Beretta Holding. In a March 9 statement, Ruger stated that: “Beretta repeatedly demanded terms that would transfer value from other Ruger stockholders to Beretta and undermine Ruger’s status as an independent public company,” That statement included: “Specific demands like 25 percent of the company, discounted shares, a board appointee that could violate antitrust laws, and more. Beretta repeatedly advanced extreme demands and threatened to ‘go to war’ if those demands were not met. “Beretta’s scathing reply on March 10 addressed what it called Ruger’s breach of confidentiality by issuing “blatantly false and misleading statements.” Beretta insists it wants only to help Ruger as a minority investor.
Colorado Democrats Want to Regulate Gun Barrels Like Firearms — And It May Be Coming to Your State Next Scott Witner 4/20/2026 Colorado Senate Bill 26-043 would require background checks, dealer transfers, and five-year recordkeeping for the sale of a simple metal tube — a move critics say is a textbook step toward de facto disarmament. Colorado Democrats are pushing legislation that would regulate firearm barrels — the metal tube the bullet travels through — as if they were complete firearms. Under Senate Bill 26-043, selling or transferring a barrel to a fellow gun owner without routing it through a federally licensed dealer would be a crime, carrying up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine on the first offense. This isn’t about suppressors, which are already federally regulated as NFA items. This isn’t about receivers. This is a barrel. A spare part that countless Colorado gun owners buy, sell, and swap without a second thought — and now legislators want the same paper trail you’d generate buying a complete firearm. The bill would require dealers to log the buyer’s name, address, phone number, date of birth, driver’s license number, the barrel’s make, model, and caliber, the transaction date, and the name of the employee who handled the sale — the same paper trail created when purchasing a complete gun. “The regulatory solution creates compliance burdens for 100% of law-abiding gun owners who make up the entire legitimate market for firearm barrels in the state.” The stated justification is ghost guns. Colorado banned so-called ghost guns in 2023, but legislators say criminals are now 3D-printing frames and other components and purchasing legal metal barrels online to build untraceable firearms. The problem with that logic? By the bill sponsor’s own account, ghost guns account for approximately 3% or less of firearms recovered from Colorado crime scenes. A 3% problem is being used to justify 100% compliance burdens on law-abiding residents. The Wyoming Loophole Denver resident Keith Emerson told the committee what anyone with a map already knows: a criminal who wants a barrel can simply drive a couple of hours to Wyoming and buy one without any Colorado paperwork whatsoever. The bill creates zero barrier for anyone willing to cross a state line, while creating new criminal exposure for every honest Coloradan who doesn’t. Anti-gunners’ answer to that argument, as always, is that Wyoming should be doing this too. It’s never the law that’s the problem — it’s everyone else’s freedom that needs to be curtailed. Perhaps the most troubling procedural detail: the bill contains a “safety clause” that designates it as emergency legislation. In Colorado, that designation exempts the bill from the citizen ballot initiative process. If SB 26-043 passes and Governor Polis signs it, there is no referendum — no direct democratic challenge by the people it would affect. It’s locked in. Death by a thousand regulations Colorado has added a new layer of gun control in every legislative session since 2019 — waiting periods, age restrictions raised to 21, ammunition purchase age requirements, extreme risk protection order expansions, detachable magazine permitting requirements, and now barrel regulation, alongside a companion bill that would ban 3D printing of gun parts and criminalize possession of even the digital instructions to print them. No single bill bans guns outright. But each year the regulatory web gets tighter, the cost of compliance grows, and the risk of innocent mistakes steepens. Map it across seven years, and the picture is unmistakable: this is how you disarm a population without ever using the word “ban.” You regulate. You criminalize transfers. You decide what counts as a gun. You do it one small, “common sense” step at a time until eventually, a lot of people just give up. “Colorado and the other 49 states are all policy laboratories — and the experiments that succeed, or fail depending on your perspective, will get exported to other states, as they always have.” Colorado gun owners should be contacting their state legislators now. And gun owners in every other state should be paying close attention, because what starts in one purple state rarely stays there.
Staying Safe at Home, Work or Your Business Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms 4/19/2026 Hello friends, family and business partners, my mission is to empower responsible citizens with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to stay safe every day. Through disciplined training, clear instruction, and a commitment to integrity, Tactical K Training & Firearms prepares individuals to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. I believe safety is a lifelong practice — one built on awareness, accountability, and never tiring of doing the right thing. Please, Never Tire of Staying Safe. At Tactical K Training & Firearms , I, Gregg Kielma teach responsible gun owners to build confidence, sharpen awareness, and protect what matters most through practical, real world training. Safety Isn’t a Phase, It’s a Lifestyle. My approach at Tactical K Training & Firearms reinforces the habits, skills, and mindset that keep you, your family, and your community safer every day. Kielma Parting Shot: Your Life, Family and Friends Are Worth The Effort. Through clear instruction, honest guidance, and real-world scenarios, Tactical K Training & Firearms helps responsible citizens stay prepared, stay aware, and stay confident. Gregg Kielma
!FLORIDA IS MY HOME! Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms 4/19/2026 Florida has been my home for 47 years, and throughout that time I've mostly experienced all of its positives. Here are some reasons why I truly enjoy living here. Sure, there are challenges—like the intense heat, hurricanes, bugs, and occasional overgrowth—but this place feels like home, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else! !FLORIDA IS MY HOME! Let's Take a LOOK! 1. No State Income Tax Florida is one of the few states with zero state income tax, allowing residents to keep more of what they earn. This is especially attractive for retirees, remote workers, and high income earners. 2. Year Round Warm Weather With 230–250 sunny days per year and mild winters, Florida offers a climate that supports outdoor living all year long. 3. World Class Beaches Over 1,300 miles of coastline and award winning beaches like Siesta Key, Clearwater, and Pensacola make Florida a paradise for beach lovers. 4. Outdoor Recreation & Natural Beauty Boating, fishing, kayaking, hiking, paddleboarding, and exploring the Everglades—Florida’s biodiversity and outdoor lifestyle are unmatched. 5. Affordable Housing (Compared to Many States) While prices have risen, Florida still offers more affordable options than high cost states like California or New York, with many markets below the national median. 6. Lower Overall Cost of Living Beyond taxes, Florida’s cost of living remains competitive, especially in suburban and inland areas. 7. Cultural Diversity & Vibrant Communities Florida is one of the most diverse states in the U.S., with residents from every background, age group, and region. 8. Strong Job Market & Growing Economy Florida’s economy continues to expand, with opportunities in tourism, healthcare, logistics, tech, construction, and remote work. (Supported by tax advantages and population growth.) 9. Laid Back, Outdoor Focused Lifestyle Sunshine, beaches, parks, and waterfront living create a relaxed atmosphere that attracts families, retirees, and remote workers alike. 10. A Haven for Remote Workers Remote workers relocating from high tax states can save 10–13% of income annually simply by living in Florida—an enormous financial advantage. !I LOVE FLORIDA! Gregg Kielma
Owning and Training With A Firearm: Some People Just Don’t Understand Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms 4/18/2026 A coworker commented on a Tampa Bay shooting on 4/15/2026, blaming me for selling firearms in the community. The incident involved two suspects, one juvenile and one 18-year-old, who used a firearm during a dispute—exact reasons unknown. I always emphasize safety and responsible ownership in my classes as an FFL and Firearms Instructor. Below are my thoughts and tips for conversations with those who advocate relinquishing Second Amendment rights and firearms. Some coworkers, friends, or neighbors may be uneasy about us owning firearms not because of anything you or I have did wrong, but because they’re filtering the idea through their own experiences, fears, or misunderstandings. Many people only encounter firearms through news stories about crime or through entertainment that portray guns as inherently dangerous, so they instinctively associate ownership with risk rather than responsibility. Others may have grown up in households or communities where firearms were never part of normal life, so the idea feels foreign or intimidating. Another reason, some worry about safety simply because they don’t understand the layers of training, discipline, and legal responsibility that you practice every day. And in some cases, people project their own anxieties—about violence, about control, or about the world feeling unpredictable—onto anyone who chooses to own a firearm. None of this reflects your character or your professionalism. It reflects their lack of exposure to responsible ownership. Often, once people see the level of care, education, and integrity you bring to the subject, their discomfort softens because they finally understand the difference between a lawful, trained owner and the stereotypes they’ve been reacting to. Gregg Kielma
Why People Lie on the 4473 — and Why It Never Works By Gregg Kielma, FFL & Owner of Tactical K Training and Firearms 4/18/2026 As an FFL, I see a lot of things behind the counter that the average gun owner never thinks about. One of the most frustrating — and frankly baffling — behaviors is when someone decides to lie on an ATF Form 4473. Let me be clear: lying on a 4473 is a federal crime, and people still try it every single day across the country. I check everything. Every box, every detail, every ID, every answer. That’s my job, and I take it seriously. So why do people still lie on a form that is designed to catch them? My Thought: They think “just checking a box” doesn’t matter Some people convince themselves that the form is just paperwork and nobody really looks at it. They assume the background check is a formality and the 4473 is just a hoop to jump through. They don’t realize that the form is the background check — and the moment they lie, they’ve committed a felony. My Thought: They underestimate how thorough NICS really is People imagine NICS as a quick name search. In reality, it’s a national system tied into criminal history, mental health adjudications, restraining orders, immigration status, and more. If someone is prohibited, it will surface. And when the system flags a lie, it’s documented. My Thought: They think their past won’t catch up to them I’ve seen people with old charges, dismissed cases, or “sealed” records assume they’re in the clear. But federal law doesn’t forget. If someone is prohibited, the system knows — and lying on the form doesn’t erase the past. My Thought: Straw purchasers think they’re smarter than the system This is the most common lie: “I’m the actual buyer.” If someone is buying a gun for another person — especially someone prohibited — that’s a straw purchase. It’s one of the fastest ways to earn federal charges. And yes, the patterns are obvious. The ATF sees them. FFLs see them. It’s never subtle. My Thought: They assume the FFL won’t check or won’t care Not in my shop. Not ever. I check everything because it protects my license, my business, my community, and the integrity of responsible gun ownership. I’m not here to play games with federal paperwork. If something doesn’t look right, the sale stops. Period. My Thought: They, people don’t understand the consequences Many people don’t realize that lying on a 4473 can lead to: • Federal felony charges • Up to 10 years in prison • Fines up to $250,000 • Permanent loss of firearm rights • ATF investigation • State-level charges on top of federal ones And here’s the kicker: most people who lie don’t even get the gun. They walk away with nothing except a documented federal offense. Tactical K Training and Firearms: My message as an FFL I’m not here to judge anyone, it’s not my position to judge you. I’m here to run a lawful business and promote responsible firearm ownership. The 4473 isn’t optional. It isn’t a suggestion. It’s a legal document, and I treat it as such. If someone can legally own a firearm, the process is smooth. If they can’t, lying won’t change that — it only makes things worse. Kielma’s Parting Shot: Honesty on the 4473 protects everyone: the buyer, the seller, and the community. As an FFL who checks every detail, every time, I can say with confidence: lying on the form never works, and it’s never worth it. Gregg Kielma
Why Do Felons Want Guns—And How Do We Stop It Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training and Firearms 04/18/2026 As a firearms instructor, an FFL, and someone who works every day with responsible, law‑abiding gun owners, I get asked a simple question that has a complicated truth behind it: Why do felons want guns in the first place? And more importantly, how do we stop them from getting them without punishing the people who follow the law? This is an issue that affects every community, every business, and every family. Understanding the “why” helps us build better solutions. Why Do Felons Seek Firearms? Felons—especially those with violent or repeat criminal histories—often pursue firearms for reasons that have nothing to do with self‑defense or lawful ownership. Common motivations include: Power and Intimidation Criminal activity often relies on leverage. A firearm gives someone with bad intentions the ability to threaten, coerce, or control others. Protection within Criminal Circles When someone is involved in illegal activity, they aren’t calling 911. They arm themselves because they expect violence from others in the same world. Financial Gain Firearms are a form of currency in the criminal ecosystem. They’re traded, stolen, and used to commit further crimes. Disregard for the law A person who has already shown a willingness to break the law is not suddenly going to respect firearm regulations. That’s why restrictions alone don’t stop them. None of these motivations have anything to do with responsible ownership, training, or personal protection. They’re rooted in criminal behavior—not citizenship. How Do We Stop It? The answer isn’t to burden the people who already follow the rules. Law‑abiding citizens aren’t the problem. The real solutions focus on criminal behavior, not lawful ownership. Target the illegal supply chain Felons don’t walk into gun stores. They get firearms through: Straw purchases Theft Black‑market trades Ghost gun trafficking Criminal networks My opinion, stopping this requires enforcement, not new restrictions on lawful buyers. Enforce existing laws consistently We already have strong federal laws—18 U.S.C. § 922(g) is clear. The problem is when violations aren’t prosecuted. When a felon is caught with a firearm, consequences must be real, predictable, and swift. Strengthen community reporting and awareness Most illegal firearms move through communities long before law enforcement sees them. Anonymous reporting, community partnerships, and education help cut off access early. Support responsible gun owners—not restrict them Trained, law‑abiding citizens: Store firearms securely Report theft immediately Understand transfer laws Keep firearms out of the hands of prohibited persons Empowering responsible owners is part of the solution. Invest in prevention, not punishment alone Some individuals re‑offend because they return to the same environment with no support. Programs that reduce recidivism—job training, counseling, and community reintegration—help shrink the pool of people seeking guns for the wrong reasons. Kielma's Parting Shot Felons want guns for criminal purposes, not for the reasons responsible citizens own them. Stopping them requires: Strong enforcement Cutting off illegal supply chains Community involvement Supporting lawful gun owners Reducing repeat criminal behavior At Tactical K Training and Firearms, I teach that responsible ownership is the backbone of community safety. When we focus on the real problem—criminal access, not lawful access—we protect our rights and our neighborhoods at the same time. Gregg Kielma
Visalia Californina Felon Indicted for Possessing Safe Full of Firearms Thursday, April 16, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Pete Alvarez, 45, of Visalia, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, during an investigation into a shooting, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of Alvarez’s residence. There, they located a safe in Alvarez’s bedroom with 17 firearms, including several short-barrel firearms without serial numbers that were in the process of being manufactured. Alvarez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions in Fresno County including, assault with a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property, being a felon in possession of a firearm, battery causing serious injury, and assault with a deadly weapon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fresno Police Department; and the Tulare Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Alvarez faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Updated April 16, 2026
Gun Store Owner Indicted for Aiding and Abetting Straw Purchasing and Failing to Report Cash Payments Over $10,000 Wednesday, April 15, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona PHOENIX, Ariz. – The owner of Virtus Armament and The Armory, Virtus Armament, a federal firearms licensee (FFL), was indicted last week on charges related to aiding and abetting straw purchases of firearms and failing to report cash transactions over $10,000. On April 8, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned an 8-count indictment against Esteban Yanez, 34, of Gilbert, Arizona, for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm, Straw Purchasing of Firearms, and Failure to File Forms 8300 Relating to Cash Received in Trade or Business. Yanez was arraigned April 14. The indictment alleges that on three occasions, Yanez aided and abetted individuals who knowingly made false statements to Yanez’s FFL when submitting the ATF Form 4473, misrepresenting the actual purchaser of the firearms. In two instances, the firearms were being purchased for an individual convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms. Finally, Yanez is also alleged to have failed to file the IRS Form 8300, reporting the receipt of over $10,000 in a trade or business, related to the sale of firearms. A conviction for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Straw Purchasing of Firearms carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Failure to File Forms 8300 Relating to Cash Received in Trade or Business carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-00326 RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-062_Yanez
How to Protect Ourselves From Potential Foreign Backed Threats in a Responsible, Safety Focused Way Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms 4/17/2026 Protecting ourselves from any organized threat — whether foreign backed, criminal, or extremist — starts with the same principles you already teach: awareness, layered security, and calm, informed action. The goal is not to hunt for “sleeper cells,” but to make it harder for any malicious actor to exploit vulnerabilities in our homes, businesses, or communities. At the personal level, the most effective protection comes from sharpening situational awareness: noticing unusual surveillance, unfamiliar vehicles lingering repeatedly, or individuals probing for information about routines, access points, or security measures. These aren’t signs of a specific group — they’re universal pre incident indicators. Strengthening digital hygiene is equally important, since foreign backed actors often exploit online vulnerabilities long before physical ones. Using strong authentication, monitoring accounts for unusual activity, and being cautious with unsolicited messages reduces the risk of being targeted or manipulated. At the community level, staying connected is one of the strongest defenses. Sharing information with neighbors, local businesses, and trusted community groups helps everyone spot patterns that a single person might miss. If something genuinely concerning appears — such as attempts to acquire restricted materials, suspicious photography of critical infrastructure, or probing questions about security — reporting it to local law enforcement or federal tip lines is the correct and lawful step. These agencies are trained to evaluate threats without bias and without putting innocent people at risk. Finally, preparedness matters. Having emergency plans, medical kits, communication backups, and basic readiness ensures that if any kind of attack or disruption occurs — whether foreign backed, criminal, or domestic — you and your family can respond quickly and confidently. The goal is resilience, not fear: building layers of protection that work against any threat, known or unknown, while maintaining respect for the diverse, law abiding people who make up our communities. Gregg Kielma
