Visit by Homeland Security yesterday for... a scope purchase?
- Thread starter Rob R.
- Start date
The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast
Member Benefits:
No ad networks! Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership Discuss anti-gun legislation Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses Discover free outdoor shooting areas View up to date on firearm-related events Share photos & video with other members ...and so much more!
Member Benefits:
- Feb 19, 2013
- 18,724
Agents Rocket Jay and efeng
j_h_smith
Ultimate Member
- Jul 28, 2007
- 28,516
Rob R.
Active Member
So how did they:
a) know you purchased the scope in the first place
b) get your personal information from eBay or PayPal? (or from where?)
"They just asked who I purchased from" so it wasn't from the sellers side right?
this seems a little scary.
dang, Snallygaster beat me to it
I mean it’s the government, we know they have at times exceeded their lawful sop/use of investigating anything and anyone. I think this is even an issue outside the US fisa surveillance bill as of recent the one rand paul was adamant about blocking ?
Rob R.
Active Member
Shall I forward you both agents emails and phone #’s to verify? Maybe a friendly wager to a chairity of your choosing if proven true?
Not sure how anyone would find the fascination in fabricating a story as lame as this
Rob R.
Active Member
Knowing Paypal/eBay I’m sure they have an open door policy to any agency when something is in question or flagged
- Feb 19, 2013
- 18,724
I took that as to the situation, not your story.
- Sep 5, 2016
- 778
Frankly you were far more forthcoming with information than I would have provided. I would have gone outside with the agents, got my lawyer on the cell phone, then passed the cell phone to the agents so they could explain to my attorney what their intentions were. I would have then taken the advise from my attorney.
I hate the idea that I wouldn't cooperate with law enforcement but I'm far too paranoid after seeing all the government abuses that have gone down in the last decade.
I hate the idea that I wouldn't cooperate with law enforcement but I'm far too paranoid after seeing all the government abuses that have gone down in the last decade.
Very interesting story Rob. Maybe I’m a bit dense, but I still don’t get why they came to see you. Was the Ebay seller, or the shipping company being targeted or investigated? Was it because the purchase was made on Ebay? I’ve purchased about 20 scopes & red dots in just 2017 alone, but all thru popular online or local brick and morter retailers like Bass Pro, Cabelas, Optics Planet, Midway, Brownells, etc.. No Ebay or “secondary” sources.
All the websites have the legal disclaimers on these items about ITAR, simply purchasing them and having them delivered to your residence shouldn’t have raised any red flags. Do you possibly have contradicting billing & shipping addresses perhaps? Sounds weird to me.
If they just came to “feel you out” I’m glad for you that it seemed they left satisfied you weren’t doing anything shady. While I agree with everyone that advised you to deny them access, in theory and by sheer principle, I’m smart enough and honest enough to admit that I doubt I can predict how I’d actually react when it’s my door they come knocking on. I could see myself doing anything and everything in my power at that moment to get myself “checked-off” their lists. Definitely a conundrum I hope none of the rest of us has to experience for ourselves.
Good luck with the rest of this, if there is more to come. Keep us posted.
All the websites have the legal disclaimers on these items about ITAR, simply purchasing them and having them delivered to your residence shouldn’t have raised any red flags. Do you possibly have contradicting billing & shipping addresses perhaps? Sounds weird to me.
If they just came to “feel you out” I’m glad for you that it seemed they left satisfied you weren’t doing anything shady. While I agree with everyone that advised you to deny them access, in theory and by sheer principle, I’m smart enough and honest enough to admit that I doubt I can predict how I’d actually react when it’s my door they come knocking on. I could see myself doing anything and everything in my power at that moment to get myself “checked-off” their lists. Definitely a conundrum I hope none of the rest of us has to experience for ourselves.
Good luck with the rest of this, if there is more to come. Keep us posted.
DubTap21
Active Member
Makes you wonder how much of our personal lives is being monitored by the US government under the guise of national security or counter-terrorism. SMH
Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
iH8DemLibz
When All Else Fails.
I'm thinking thief-bay and pay-pal have better things to do than conspire with DHS over scopes being purchased and delivered within the continental US.
OP, did DHS ask you about your dozen firearm purchases from last year?
OP, did DHS ask you about your dozen firearm purchases from last year?
DubTap21
Active Member
Scopes, thermal optics, laser devices and sights are detailed in ITAR. Have been for a long, long time.
Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
DubTap21
Active Member
This is what I would like to know as well. To be honest, if a seller doesn't make their buyers ID's private on the auction for a product, then the info is accessible to anyone who can log onto eBay with a user ID.
Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
- Feb 19, 2013
- 18,724
The problem when offering to talk with law enforcement is the acceleration rate in to the interrogation.. I'll exercise my right to remain silent before they must read the Miranda warning.
Rob R.
Active Member
Agreed, I have several LE friends and know they all are very trustworthy folks but we see a lot of scenarios that don’t play out well when it comes to situations like this ..I have no issues quickly dispelling any concerns from any gov’t agency but find this a bit unreasonable after thinking about it more, how tedious this is with much bigger concerns going on in the world
Thanks, I am also dumbfounded by the reasoning.. buying 4 scopes and 2 red dots in all of 2017 would have 1,000’s of visits all over the country. I’ve bought some on eBay and some from brownells.
I didn’t even think much into it as shortly after I went downtown to have dinner with friends. Today I thought more of it and what else may have triggered it? Maybe the 12-13 firearms and ammo purchases related to them all in 2017? I don’t know, regardless no laws were broken..
After seeing responses here next time I think it’s best I call my lawyer and remain outside.
Agreed, with leaked info all the time it’s become apparent our gov’t has certainly over stepped its bounds a number of times. With cameras, blimps in the sky, internet monitoring and more to come as technology moves forward I’m sure it will continue to be abused
Fox123
Ultimate Member
OP, you say you are business owner, what is the business you own/industry you are in?
Minus a warrant, I would have told them to leave. I wouldn't say anything else to them without my lawyer present. They are free to lie with impunity in order to manipulate you. If they decide you lied to them, no matter how trivial or just a misunderstanding, they might go out of their way to make your life a living hell if they've got nothing better to do. Don't trust the government or invite it into your house. Not ever.
Rob R.
Active Member
Nope, just really seemed interested in the Sig Sauer scope purchase which I won with a last second bid (no reserve). In a matter of a few minutes of talking and gathering info it felt like they acknowledged they were there for no real reason at all at that point. Like a false lead?
Agent said the Atn Thor thermal or whatever brand was a big one, leupolds or nikon? and another brand were popular too with this exporting ring if I remember correctly
BrewDoc_MD
Piss off, ghost!
yep, ebay clearly states that they "work closely" with multiple federal alphabet agencies. From ebay.policies/military-items:
Users who are viewing this thread
Latest posts
-
SB 1097 Likely rewritten to eliminate QHIC HQL Wear and Carry instructors (3 Viewers)- Latest: BurkeM
-
-
-
