Local cops and agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) showed up at a man’s front door recently in Delaware. He is not a suspected criminal; he is a law-abiding gun owner. Cops and agents, of course, were armed. The ATF asked to see his weapons. Several guns were owned by the man, and he had made a number of purchases since 2020. The ATF didn’t have a warrant; they just had a list of his firearm purchases, so they wanted to see the guns he purchased.
Watch:
VIDEO: ATF conducts surprise firearm inspection at gun owner’s home without search warrant. @aarmark @eb454 @2AFDN @CCRKBArms @TheGunFeed @FloridaCarryInc #Delaware #ATF #WarOnGuns https://t.co/jw6VxN9cqO
— Lee Williams (@HT_GunWriter) July 18, 2022
The Delaware owner took the “I have nothing to hide” route, and for him, it was the best move. Agents were respectful and did not demand to see more than one weapon. There was no demand from them to enter the residence, and they left satisfied.
A warrantless investigation of this type is known as a “knock and talk.” Narcotics detectives usually use them, and they have always been constitutionally suspect. In order to convince a homeowner to waive their Fourth Amendment rights, police rely upon verbal skills and persuasive skills. When cops gain access to a home, there’s usually no record of what they told the homeowner. Therefore, make sure you are aware of your constitutional rights.
