This info is from the Second Amendment Sisters AZ Coordinator, who lives in Mesa, AZ:
Big fish to fry! It was confirmed in the local (Mesa AZ) newspaper today that Bob Stewart the owner of .50bmg manufacturer, Maadi-Griffin was arrested Friday by the BATF. Mr. Stewart was arrested in his garage while his wife and children were inside their home. Seized in the raid was a "stockpile" of weapons, including 40 guns, boxes of ammunition, gun parts and the 3000 names of his customers.
The BATF claims that Mr. Stewart is a convicted felon and has been selling his guns and gun kits over the Internet to bypass federal firearms laws. And that he advertises the fact that his kits require no FFL to purchase.
Maadi-Griffin has been in business for 10 years without problems from the BATF.
BATF agent Thomas Mangan said to the reporter, "we see no legitimate use for a gun like this, unless you are in the military". He went on to say, "no vest in the world could protect a law enforcement officer from a gun like this".
Mangan also said. "The kits are equipped with a part that prevents the gun from operating unless the part is removed by a machinist". In accordance with BATF regulations the kit is technically incapable of being fired. But Mangan said that the gun is so easily retrofitted to become operational that authorities felt Stewart was flagrantly violating gun regulations.
Mr. Stewart said, "I have a wife and children, friends, church and all that. I am willing to die for this if I have to".
The article went on to list his assets and listed the value of his home at $256,000. Sounds like asset forfeiture is next to come.
This is my summary on this story:
1. The guns were manufactured in accordance with BATF regs.
2. Maadi-Griffin bypassed a "loophole" in the regs.
3. Mr. Stewart was a "felon".
4. 3000 persons have purchased this gun.
5. Mr. Stewart has valuable assets.
I believe that the BATF found it easier and more efficient to arrest Mr. Stewart instead of changing BATF regulations. In the name of bureaucratic efficiency they will destroy this man and his family. Do you think that the BATF will not do anything with the customer list?
Plan on seeing more of this in the near future.