In the same week that the U.S. Supreme Court began hearing a landmark Second Amendment case, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) wrongfully confiscated $12,000 worth of Airsoft toy guns.

The shipment of Airsoft toy guns was seized in customs by a BATFE agent who made a determination that the inner mechanism of the Airsoft toys could easily be modified to accommodate real ammunition. The toys were confiscated as a result and the BATFE has promised to destroy them.

The Airsoft toy guns fire round BBs that are basically tiny plastic beads. Most of the Airsoft toy is made of plastic and would blow-up if you tried to fire real ammunition through it.

Clearly, the agent who confiscated the Airsoft toy guns has no real-world understanding of live firearms. There is absolutely no way that an Airsoft toy could be converted into a real firearm. Why is this agent still employed by the BATFE? Doesn't it seem like you should know what a firearm is if you are going to work for the Burearu of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives?

It is also worth noting that the same models of Airsoft toys guns that were confiscated are readily available and legal all over the country and have been for years.

As usual, the BATFE agent is not required to prove his claims. He simply made a ridiculous accusation and confiscated private property without due process.

This is just another, in a long line of examples, of abuse of power on behalf of the BATFE. Clearly, training, clearer guidelines, and oversight is needed at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It might also help if the agents had a more practical understanding of firearms and the gun owning community. Agents whose personal beliefs contradict the U.S. Constitution have plenty of opportunity to act on their biases, seemingly unchecked.

Meanwhile, a law-abiding business owner has just been victimized by the government for importing legal merchandise that does not qualify as alcohol, tobacco, firearms, or explosives. Even if the toy owner decides to fight the case, he still loses.

It's time for a change at the BATFE.

Jennifer Freeman is Executive Director and co-founder of Liberty Belles, a grass-roots organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the Second Amendment.
http://www.libertybelles.org
jennifer@libertybelles.org