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 NSSF opposed and his nomination was withdrawn.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.
Why Responsible FFL Dealers Are Being Targeted — And Why It Should Concern Every Law-Abiding Gun Owner By Gregory “Gregg” Kielma, FFL & Owner of Tactical K Training and Firearms In recent years, many of us in the firearms community have watched a troubling trend unfold, responsible, law-abiding Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) are increasingly being treated as if they are the problem, rather than partners in public safety. As an FFL who takes compliance, ethics, and community responsibility seriously, I’ve seen firsthand how the landscape has shifted. T his isn’t about politics — it’s about fairness, due process, and the survival of lawful small businesses that follow the rules. FFLs Are Held to the Highest Standards — And Most of Us Exceed Them Every legitimate FFL knows the rules are strict, detailed, and unforgiving. We: • Conduct background checks • Maintain meticulous records • Follow federal, state, and local laws • Report suspicious activity • Cooperate with inspections • Educate customers on safe and lawful ownership The overwhelming majority of FFLs take these responsibilities seriously. We are the front line of legal firearm transfers, and we play a critical role in keeping guns out of the wrong hands. Yet despite this, responsible dealers are increasingly being treated as if they are the source of crime — even when the data shows otherwise. A Shift Toward “Zero Tolerance” — Even for Minor, Unintentional Errors In the past, ATF inspections focused on identifying patterns of negligence or willful misconduct. Today, many FFLs report that the enforcement climate has changed dramatically. Under newer enforcement philosophies, even minor clerical mistakes — the kind that have no impact on public safety — can be treated as grounds for revocation. Examples include: • A customer writing “USA” instead of “United States” • A missing middle initial • A date written in the wrong format • A transposed digit in a ZIP code These are not acts of criminal intent. They are human errors that can occur in any paperwork-heavy industry. Yet some FFLs are being threatened with shutdowns over issues that historically would have been corrected with guidance, not punishment. When honest mistakes are treated the same as willful violations, good people get crushed while bad actors slip through the cracks. Why Targeting Good FFLs Doesn’t Make Communities Safer Shutting down responsible dealers does not stop crime. Criminals do not walk into licensed gun stores, fill out a 4473, and wait for a background check. They obtain firearms through: • Theft • Black market trafficking • Straw purchases • Illegal street sales Law abiding FFLs are not the source of these problems — in fact, we are one of the strongest defenses against them. When the government focuses its energy on punishing compliant dealers instead of targeting criminal networks, the result is predictable: • Crime continues • Small businesses suffer • Communities lose trusted professionals • Law abiding citizens face fewer legal avenues to purchase firearms This approach doesn’t enhance safety. It undermines it. The Real-World Impact on Small, Family Run FFLs Most FFLs are not giant corporations. They are: • Veterans • Retired law enforcement • Firearms instructors • Small business owners • Community members For many of us, this is not just a business — it’s a calling. We invest in training, compliance, and education because we believe in responsible ownership. When enforcement becomes punitive instead of corrective, small FFLs are the first to suffer. A single paperwork error can threaten a livelihood built over decades. That’s not justice. That’s overreach. Why This Matters to Every Law Abiding Gun Owner If responsible FFLs are pushed out of business, the consequences ripple outward: • Fewer legal avenues to purchase firearms • Longer travel distances for lawful buyers • Reduced access to safety training • Less community oversight • More power concentrated in fewer hands When the government makes it harder for good dealers to operate, it ultimately makes it harder for law abiding citizens to exercise their rights safely and responsibly. What I Stand For as an FFL A s the owner of Tactical K Training and Firearms, I stand for: • Full legal compliance • Ethical business practices • Community safety • Education over punishment • Respect for the law and the Constitution I believe in working with regulators, not against them. But cooperation requires fairness, clarity, and a recognition that responsible FFLs are part of the solution — not the enemy. A Call for Balance and Common Sense The firearms community doesn’t ask for special treatment. We ask for fair treatment. We ask for: • Clear rules • Reasonable expectations • Corrective guidance for minor errors • Enforcement focused on criminal activity, not paperwork mistakes • Recognition of the vital role responsible FFLs play in public safety Good FFLs should not be targeted. They should be supported, respected, and valued as partners in keeping firearms out of the wrong hands. Because when responsible dealers are shut down, everyone loses — except the criminals. Gregg Kielma Proud FFL
Why are officers forced to carry 9x19 despite it being terrible objectively requiring magdumping to be effective? Why can't they just carry .40 S&W which is far superior? If they need range they carry a 5.56 x 45 rifle. Ken Bradmon Why do people who have NO IDEA what they are talking about, make up stories that are not true, and then rant about it? That is what this question does. Most law enforcement agents are NOT FORCED to carry 9mm hand guns. That is the minimum caliber round they can carry, not the ONLY caliber they can carry. As for your thought and claim that .40 S&W is far superior - also nonsense. Extensive testing by THOUSANDS of people testing the two calibers in a wide variety of ways has proven beyond all doubt, that your claim is untrue. Yes the .40 S&W is a little larger than 9mm, but bigger isn’t always better. Depending on the shooter, some get much better results with 9mm. Which is better - a bigger hole in the bad guy, but the first three shots missed center mass, or a slightly smaller hole in the bad guy, and the first three shots were right on target? Personally, I own both. I am (much) more accurate with my 9mm Glock than I am with my .40 S&W Sig. Plus my 9mm is both lighter weight, and it holds the same number of rounds. That’s why I prefer my 9mm.
Staying Safe While You Travel By Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms 03/17/2026 When I talk about safety, most people think of their home, their workplace, or their personal protection plan. But the truth is simple: your vehicle is one of the most important places to stay alert and prepared. Whether you’re driving across the state or just heading into town, the habits you build behind the wheel can make all the difference. Let’s Take a LOOK! Plan Before You Go Safe travel starts long before the engine turns over. • Know your route and have a backup plan. • Let someone you trust know where you’re headed. • Check the weather, traffic, and road conditions. Preparation reduces stress and keeps you focused on the road—not on your phone. Maintain Situational Awareness Situational awareness doesn’t stop when you get in the car. • Keep your doors locked and windows up when stopped. • Scan your surroundings at gas stations, parking lots, and rest areas. • Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is. Awareness is your first line of defense, and it costs nothing. Equip Your Vehicle A well-prepared vehicle is a safer vehicle. • Keep a basic emergency kit: flashlight, first aid, water, and tools. • Maintain your tires, fluids, and battery. • Ensure your phone is charged but avoid using it while driving. Small steps prevent big problems. Stay Smart at Stops Most incidents happen when people let their guard down. • Park in well lit, visible areas. • Avoid sitting in your car distracted after parking. • When fueling, stay outside your vehicle and stay aware of who’s around you. Your attention is your advantage. Kielma’s Parting Shot: Avoid Unnecessary Risks Your goal is always the same: get home safely. • Don’t engage with aggressive drivers. • If you feel followed, drive to a public, well populated location. • Never stop for strangers on the side of the road—call for help instead. Safety is about smart decisions, not heroic ones. Gregg Kielma
If I bought a gun for someone and registered it at the store and its stolen, can something come back on me? From an Avid Reader of my blog Let’s Take a LOOK! You “bought a gun for someone”? As in “You bought a gun with your own money and gave it to someone as a gift?” or “ Someone gave you money to buy a gun for them”. I have a feeling it’s the second. So yes, you can be in a lot of trouble, because you have committed a federal felony known as a straw purchase. You can spend up to ten years in federal prison for it. Most states don’t have registration, but yes, if you registered it as belonging to you, and then gave it to someone, and it turns up as used in a crime, it will get traced to you, and likely be evidence that you either did a straw purchase or transferred a firearm illegally. Enjoy your time in Club Fed! ETA: A number of comments question the nature and legality of gifting firearms. So I’m going to write this once more, and delete any comments that continue misinformation: • It’s perfectly legal, at the federal level, to give someone a bona fide gift of a firearm. • There are no particular restrictions on this about who you may gift a firearm too (they may be family members, friends, etc. • There are no particular restrictions that one must own a firearm for some period of time before gifting it to another. You may go to a gun store on Christmas Eve, tell them that you are buying a gun to give to your wife/mistress/girlfriends/best friend/best friends wife/child for Christmas and they will happily help you out. • You can’t legally give a firearm to someone who you know or should know is a prohibited possessor. • (Broadly) you can’t legally give a firearm to someone where that firearm would cross state lines as part of the gifting process. • It is NOT legal to make a “gift” that isn’t actually a gift. Again, the key word here is a “bona fide gift”. A firearm given in exchange for something isn’t really a bona fide gift anymore. • The 4473 form asks for the “actual buyer/transferee”, which means “The person who is paying the money”, not the recipient of a gift. • Whatever you heard from your uncle’s friends ex-lovers wife’s cousin isn’t relevant. References: Gifting Guns - Is It Legal - FFL License https://www.atf.gov/firearms/qa/whom-may-unlicensed-person-transfer-firearms-under-gca https://www.ffl123.com/gifting-guns-is-it-legal/ https://www.guns.com/news/2013/12/12/gifting-guns-need-know https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/4473-part-1-firearms-transaction-record-over-counter-atf-form-53009/download
National Concealed Carry Reciprocity: What Gun Owners Need to Know By Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms March 15,2026 Congress may soon vote on national concealed carry reciprocity. Let's Take a LOOK! Understanding Current LawsConcerning Reciprocity Travel in the United States: Why It’s Your Responsibility to Know the Law Traveling while armed is a reality for millions of responsible gun owners across the United States. But the moment you cross a state line, the rules change — sometimes dramatically. That’s where reciprocity comes in. Understanding reciprocity travel isn’t optional; it’s a core part of responsible firearm ownership. As an instructor, I remind every student: your permit doesn’t travel unless the law says it does. And it’s your job to know where it does — and where it doesn’t. What Is Reciprocity? Reciprocity refers to the agreements between states that recognize each other’s concealed carry permits. Some states honor many permits, some honor only a few, and others honor none at all. This patchwork of laws means that a permit valid in your home state may be completely invalid the moment you cross into another jurisdiction. Ignorance of the law is never a defense, and mistakes can carry severe legal consequences. Why Reciprocity Matters When You Travel Every state sets its own rules for: • Who may carry • How they may carry • Where they may carry • What training is required • Whether out of state permits are recognized When you travel armed, you are responsible for complying with the laws of every state you enter — even if you’re only passing through. A state that honors your permit may allow you to carry concealed. A state that does not honor your permit may require you to store your firearm unloaded, locked, and inaccessible. Some states have magazine restrictions, ammunition restrictions, or location based prohibitions that differ from your home state. Safe Passage Isn’t the Same as Reciprocity Federal law (FOPA) provides a “safe passage” provision for travelers transporting firearms through restrictive states. But this protection is limited: • The firearm must be unloaded • It must be locked away and not accessible • You must be traveling from one lawful location to another • You cannot make unnecessary stops Safe passage does not give you the right to carry. It only protects lawful transport. Your Responsibility as a Gun Owner Reciprocity travel requires preparation. Before you hit the road: • Check the reciprocity laws for every state on your route • Understand each state’s carry restrictions • Know prohibited locations • Review transport requirements • Keep documentation with you Laws change frequently, and relying on outdated information can put you at risk. Responsible gun owners stay informed — every trip, every time. Kielma’s Final Thoughts Reciprocity is a privilege, not a guarantee. When you choose to travel armed, you take on the responsibility of knowing and following the laws of every state you enter. That responsibility protects your rights, your safety, and your freedom.
SAF, FPC File SCOTUS Brief In Challenge To Illinois’ Public Transportation Carry Ban Mark Chesnut - Two major gun-rights organizations have filed a reply brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case challenging Illinois’ ban on the carry of firearms on public transportation. On March 3, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed the brief in support of the cert petition in the case Schoenthal v. Raoul, which was originally filed in 2022 and challenges the state’s complete ban on carry on public transportation. According to the SAF, in order to legally carry a firearm in Illinois, residents are required to obtain not only a Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID), but also a concealed carry license. However, even with both the FOID card and a carry license, Illinois still bans carrying a firearm on “…any bus, train, or form of transportation paid for in whole or in part with public funds, and any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public transportation facility paid for in whole or in part with public funds.”
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Violent Home Invasion Robbery Wednesday, March 11, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tyrek Byrd, 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe to 15 years in prison for his role in a violent home invasion robbery targeting a local business owner and his family. In September 2025, a federal jury convicted Byrd of conspiring to commit armed home invasion robberies, Hobbs Act robbery, and using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. As proven at trial, in December 2019, Byrd and two co conspirators carried out a violent home invasion robbery targeting business owners whom they believed kept large amounts of cash at their homes. The conspirators researched their victims and businesses and used a GPS tracking device to determine where the victims lived before carrying out the robberies. On the night of December 31, 2019, Byrd and two accomplices confronted the owner of a Delaware County nail salon as the victim returned to the business. The robbers forced the victim inside, zip tied his wrists, covered his mouth with duct tape, and beat him while demanding money. The men then forced the victim to take them to his home, where they encountered the victim’s wife, children, and nanny. Inside the residence, the robbers zip tied the family members, ransacked the home, and continued assaulting the victim while demanding cash. During the ordeal, the assailants threatened the family and stated that they had been watching the victims for weeks. After terrorizing the family for approximately 40 minutes, the robbers fled with thousands of dollars in business proceeds, jewelry, and other valuables. Byrd’s coconspirator, Shaquan Brown, was previously sentenced to more than 22 years’ in prison for his role in this and other robberies. Another coconspirator, Willie Singletary, received a sentence of 17 years’ imprisonment for this role in the conspiracy. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives the Haverford Police Department, Uwchlan Township Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and the Montgomery County Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Carissimi, Brian Doherty, and J. Jeanette Kang. Contact USAPAE.PressBox@usdoj.gov 215-861-8300 Updated March 11, 2026
Honduran National Illegally In The United States Sentenced To Over Eight Years For Trafficking Firearms, Including A Machinegun, And Drugs Thursday, March 12, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of North Carolina CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Honduran man illegally present in the United States was sentenced to prison yesterday for trafficking guns, including a firearm fitted with a machinegun conversion device known as a “switch,” and drugs, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Sheriff Eddie Cathey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. Michael Naun Antunez Vasquez, 22, was sentenced to 101 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to trafficking in firearms, possession of a machinegun, transfer of a machinegun, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. After serving his prison sentence, Vasquez will be removed from the country and is forbidden from returning to the United States. “Vasquez was in the country illegally and profited by putting dangerous guns on our streets—including a firearm converted into a machinegun,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “When someone traffics guns and drugs and utterly disregards our nation’s laws and public safety, federal prison is the appropriate punishment.” “Firearms trafficking makes our communities less safe by putting guns in the hands of prohibited and possibly dangerous individuals,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “ATF, along with all of our law enforcement partners, is committed to stopping the illegal exchange of firearms and making sure that those who threaten our communities are held accountable.” According to court documents, Vasquez was a Honduran national who was in the United States illegally. On July 9, 2024, Vasquez sold a Romarm/Cugir pistol with a 30-round magazine to an individual working with the ATF. Vasquez also told the individual that he was able to sell additional firearms, machinegun conversion devices, and controlled substances. On July 18, 2024, Vasquez met with an undercover ATF agent, who told Vasquez he was purchasing guns to resell in another state for profit. Vasquez sold the agent two firearms: a Glock Model 30, .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol with a 25-round magazine, and a Glock, Model 19, 9mm semiautomatic pistol. The Model 19 was assembled from different parts that were stolen. Court documents show that on August 1, 2024, the ATF agent bought two more firearms from Vasquez. The first firearm was a Glock, Model 19, 9mm pistol that had been converted to a machinegun. The second firearm was a Glock, Model 48. During that meeting, Vasquez told the agent that he could also obtain pounds of methamphetamine. Vasquez agreed to sell the agent a machinegun, a Romarm/Cugir pistol, and a pound of methamphetamine. According to court records, Vasquez was riding in the front passenger seat of a car on the way to meet with the undercover agent when the vehicle was stopped by Union County Sherriff’s deputies. The deputies seized from the vehicle a machinegun conversion device, a Romarm/Cugir pistol, a Glock pistol, a Beretta pistol, a Palmetto State Armory pistol, several high-capacity magazines, ammunition, and approximately 28.7 grams of methamphetamine. Vasquez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Updated March 12, 2026
Virginia Man Charged with Illegally Selling the Firearm Used in the Campus Shooting at Old Dominion University Friday, March 13, 2026 Kenya Mcchell Chapman, 32, of Smithfield, Virginia, appeared in federal court today and was charged by criminal complaint with dealing in firearms without a license in connection with the March 12 shooting at Old Dominion University (ODU), and with three counts of making false statements during purchases of firearms. View complaint here. View affidavit here. “The Biden Department of Justice declined to prosecute this man and let him off easy with a warning,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Left-wing soft-on-crime policies cost lives — but this Department of Justice doesn’t tolerate crime, we punish it.” “Chapman allegedly stole a firearm and illegally sold it to a convicted terrorist, who murdered a decorated American veteran, and he will finally face the full weight of justice,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated ATF and FBI agents, in partnership with state and local law enforcement officers, we have arrested and charged this safety threat and removed him from the community.” “If you steal firearms, lie on federal forms, and put weapons in the hands of convicted terrorists, this FBI will find you,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “I want to thank our Norfolk Field Office and partners who continue to work 24/7 to bring to justice those responsible for yesterday’s attack. In the meantime, we continue to keep the victims, their families, and the entire Old Dominion community in our prayers.” On March 12, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, committed a shooting at ODU in Norfolk during an Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corp (ROTC) class, killing one victim and wounding two more. Today, law enforcement searched Chapman’s residence and located ammunition consistent with the firearm recovered from the ODU shooting. Chapman allegedly stole the firearm from a vehicle in Newport News one year before the ODU shooting and sold it to Jalloh days before the ODU shooting. Jalloh was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2016 of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. As a previously convicted felon, Jalloh could not legally purchase or possess firearms or ammunition. In addition, according to court documents, in 2021, Chapman allegedly purchased three firearms that were recovered from crime scenes shortly afterward. Two were recovered from the scene of a homicide and another recovered from a drunk in public incident. If convicted, Chapman faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke Bresnahan and Rebecca Gantt for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Chapman Affidavit.pdf Updated March 13, 2026
PENSACOLA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SELLING MACHINE GUN CONVERSION DEVICES Tuesday, March 10, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Alaisjah Dayshawn Perkins, 22, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to receipt, possession, transfer, and making of a firearm which is not registered in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record and not identified by a serial number. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America was launched to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward protecting our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and this successful prosecution delivers on that mission. Our brave state and federal law enforcement partners are on the front lines of the fight against violent criminals, and my office will continue to back up their efforts with aggressive prosecutions to keep our citizens safe.” Court documents reflect that on April 26, 2025, law enforcement officers observed posts on a Facebook profile advertising the sale of machinegun conversion devices (MCDs). Subsequently, an undercover officer began communicating with the defendant. Between April and May 2025, law enforcement conducted multiple undercover purchases of several MCDs from the defendant. Pursuant to a search warrant for the defendant’s home, officers located tools and supplies for manufacturing MCDs. T he defendant was arrested and a bag of 13 MCDs was located in his pocket. The MCDs were sent to the Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for technical examination, and were determined to be designed to convert AR-style firearms from semi-automatic to fully automatic. Perkins faces up to ten years’ imprisonment. If Perkins is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, such term could be followed by up to a three-year term of supervised release. Thus, if Perkins were to violate any conditions of his release, he could potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision. This case was a joint investigation by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl. Contact United States Attorney’s Office Northern District of Florida USAFLN.Press.Office@usdoj.gov X: @USAO_NDFL Updated March 10, 2026
