Franklin Gun Shop reopened?

[RED333]

7 minutes ago, Smith said:

They obviously had issues. However, the ATF record keeping procedure is administered at the ATF by the same approach as the IRS. No matter how compliant you are, you are not in compliance. It is rigid, strict, subjective, loose, and an enigma all at the same time. If they want you, they will get you.

I remember some years ago working at a gun store when we got checked. We got a bunch of write ups for clerical process that adhered to every current ATF letter that we were sent. The agents said, they wanted it done other ways and that the letters were subject to their on site interpretations and rulings. The ATF office said we had to go by the on site agents and we were not given anything in writing to contradict the "official" ATF ruiling letters.

So rules are made up the day of inspection and no way to get it right, WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT!!!

[Smith]

6 minutes ago, RED333 said:

So rules are made up the day of inspection and no way to get it right, WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT!!!

Interpretation of an interpretation of "guidelines" ... but yeah. 

Ironically, I picked up a transfet from Bellshire and Phil was under an inspection. He was irritated over very similar issues. 

Edited November 24, 2022 by Smith

[threeshot]

UPDATE 5/25/2023:

The three brothers who own the Franklin Gun Shop received no prison time at their federal sentencing on Wednesday for forging documents in an attempt to cover up more than 100 weapons missing from their inventory.

U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger sentenced brothers Alan, Brian and Michael Hassler to two years of supervised release and ordered each to pay a $20,000 fine at the hearing at the federal courthouse in Nashville. The Hasslers pleaded guilty in November to making false entries on an official document with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation and making false entries regarding the disposition of firearms.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire wrote that the missing weapons were likely sold to lawful gun owners, but the brothers failed to fill out the necessary paperwork. Faced with a federal investigation, they chose to forge those documents to make it look like other customers purchased them.

In short, the brothers "committed a federal crime to cover their own negligence in following federal regulations," McGuire wrote in a sentencing memorandum last week.

"This case puts the truth to the adage: 'It’s not the crime, it’s the cover up,'" McGuire wrote. "Though in this case, the cover up was the crime."

The charges stem from a 2016 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigation into the Hasslers' family owned business, Franklin Gun Shop.

A follow up investigation in 2020 found that hundreds of weapons were missing from the store's inventory with no record of their sales. By July 2021, the brothers were able to find records for all but 144 weapons, court records show.

Then, "in perhaps a desperate attempt to keep their family business open," the Hasslers "exercised extremely poor judgment," McGuire wrote. The brothers forged federal records known as Form 4473s by adding the missing weapons to other Form 4473s for previous sales to make it appear the guns had been legally sold, McGuire wrote.

ATF agents contacted the individuals on those forms, all of whom kept their receipts to show what they had actually purchased, which didn't include the missing weapons.

In December 2021, the ATF served a warrant on Franklin Gun Shop. Shortly after the men were charged, they admitted their wrongdoing to federal prosecutors and moved to enter a guilty plea.

Several of the missing guns have been located by the ATF in unrelated investigations, and none indicated any criminal activity on the part of Franklin Gun Shop, McGuire wrote.

Franklin Gun Shop's license was revoked in May 2022. The men have also lost their federal firearms licenses.

The Tennessean left a message with the Hasslers' attorney Ben Russ seeking comment Thursday afternoon.

Source:
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2023/05/25/franklin-gun-shop-owners-get-20000-fine-for-forging-documents/70258119007/

 

 

[No_0ne]

13 hours ago, threeshot said:

UPDATE 5/25/2023:

The three brothers who own the Franklin Gun Shop received no prison time at their federal sentencing on Wednesday for forging documents in an attempt to cover up more than 100 weapons missing from their inventory.

U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger sentenced brothers Alan, Brian and Michael Hassler to two years of supervised release and ordered each to pay a $20,000 fine at the hearing at the federal courthouse in Nashville. The Hasslers pleaded guilty in November to making false entries on an official document with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation and making false entries regarding the disposition of firearms.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire wrote that the missing weapons were likely sold to lawful gun owners, but the brothers failed to fill out the necessary paperwork. Faced with a federal investigation, they chose to forge those documents to make it look like other customers purchased them.

In short, the brothers "committed a federal crime to cover their own negligence in following federal regulations," McGuire wrote in a sentencing memorandum last week.

"This case puts the truth to the adage: 'It’s not the crime, it’s the cover up,'" McGuire wrote. "Though in this case, the cover up was the crime."

The charges stem from a 2016 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigation into the Hasslers' family owned business, Franklin Gun Shop.

A follow up investigation in 2020 found that hundreds of weapons were missing from the store's inventory with no record of their sales. By July 2021, the brothers were able to find records for all but 144 weapons, court records show.

Then, "in perhaps a desperate attempt to keep their family business open," the Hasslers "exercised extremely poor judgment," McGuire wrote. The brothers forged federal records known as Form 4473s by adding the missing weapons to other Form 4473s for previous sales to make it appear the guns had been legally sold, McGuire wrote.

ATF agents contacted the individuals on those forms, all of whom kept their receipts to show what they had actually purchased, which didn't include the missing weapons.

In December 2021, the ATF served a warrant on Franklin Gun Shop. Shortly after the men were charged, they admitted their wrongdoing to federal prosecutors and moved to enter a guilty plea.

Several of the missing guns have been located by the ATF in unrelated investigations, and none indicated any criminal activity on the part of Franklin Gun Shop, McGuire wrote.

Franklin Gun Shop's license was revoked in May 2022. The men have also lost their federal firearms licenses.

The Tennessean left a message with the Hasslers' attorney Ben Russ seeking comment Thursday afternoon.

Source:
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2023/05/25/franklin-gun-shop-owners-get-20000-fine-for-forging-documents/70258119007/

 

 

Dumasses ...

[CaneyRiverDog]

I enjoyed the ambiance of the FGS and the old Out post Armory! Todays gun stores, outpost armory, on target, Nashville Armory are TOO STERILE.!!! I feel like its a cross between the an OR room  and the set of SWAT!!!

[NoBanStan]

@BigKand I ran into one of those guys running a single private table at a LGS a few years back. Said he shut the store down because he had employees stealing and selling things off the dock. Said that he was getting the blame as the FFL holder, so he was out and the few guns he had on the table were the last of his gear. He was switching to selling CBD instead.  *Shrug*

[Defender]

Was this the Gunshop located not far from the Franklin exit in an old Uncle Buds restaurant?  If so, I remember it.  I. Went there a few times and thought their prices were high.  I went back because they had a good stock of guns and accessories, LOL.  I don’t think I ever bought a gun there, but my buddy did I believe.  I did buy some accessories there a few times.

[monkeylizard]

That's the one.