Wayne Thorn

Over the past decade, concerns have escalated regarding the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and its surveillance practices targeting Second Amendment (2A) advocates. Reports indicate that the ATF has been monitoring social media platforms and employing advanced technologies, such as facial recognition, to identify and track gun owners. This article delves into these practices, the implications for civil liberties, and the ongoing debate surrounding the ATF’s role.

ATF’s Surveillance Practices

In recent years, the ATF has expanded its surveillance capabilities by utilizing facial recognition technology (FRT). According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the ATF has accessed systems like Clearview AI and Vigilant Solutions, which aggregate billions of facial images from publicly available sources, including social media platforms. Between October 2019 and March 2022, the ATF reportedly conducted at least 549 facial recognition searches on gun owners. While the agency claimed to have halted such practices as of April 2023, subsequent reports suggest otherwise. citeturn0search1

Civil Liberties Concerns

The ATF’s surveillance activities have raised significant civil rights and privacy issues. A 2021 GAO report highlighted that the agency lacked proper oversight regarding its employees’ use of non-federal facial recognition systems. Employees initially used the technology without formal training, raising concerns about accuracy, potential misidentifications, and violations of civil liberties. The GAO emphasized that government surveillance could have a “chilling effect” on individuals exercising their First Amendment rights, and by extension, their Second Amendment rights. citeturn0search1

Congressional Scrutiny

The ATF’s actions have not gone unnoticed by lawmakers. In a 2023 hearing titled “ATF’s Assault on the Second Amendment: When is Enough Enough?”, members of Congress examined the agency’s regulatory overreach and enforcement practices. The hearing addressed concerns about the ATF’s use of surveillance technologies and its impact on law-abiding citizens exercising their constitutional rights. citeturn0search3

Public Outcry and Calls for Reform

The revelation of the ATF’s surveillance practices has led to public outcry, with many advocating for the agency’s abolition. Social media platforms have seen trending calls to dismantle the ATF and repeal certain firearm regulations. For instance, in January 2022, discussions about abolishing the ATF and repealing the National Firearms Act (NFA) gained significant traction online, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the agency’s actions.

Conclusion

The ATF’s use of social media surveillance and facial recognition technology to monitor Second Amendment advocates has sparked a national debate about privacy, civil liberties, and government overreach. As technology continues to evolve, it is imperative to balance law enforcement objectives with the protection of individual rights. Ongoing scrutiny and dialogue are essential to ensure that constitutional freedoms are upheld in the face of expanding surveillance capabilities.

Contact President Donald Trump below:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Here is my letter to the President

Dear President Trump,

I hope this message finds you well. As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and an advocate for the constitutional rights of American citizens, I am deeply concerned about the ongoing overreach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Reports have surfaced for over a decade indicating that the ATF has been using social media and other digital surveillance methods to monitor and target law-abiding gun owners. This blatant disregard for privacy and constitutional freedoms is unacceptable.

The ATF has repeatedly demonstrated a pattern of overreach, entrapment, and regulatory abuse that directly infringes upon the rights of law-abiding Americans. Rather than serving to protect the people, it has become an agency that imposes arbitrary restrictions and enforces unconstitutional policies that erode our fundamental freedoms.

For these reasons, I urge you to take decisive action to abolish the ATF altogether. Its continued existence serves only to undermine the Second Amendment and burden responsible gun owners with unnecessary and unconstitutional regulations. The American people deserve better than a rogue agency that operates with little accountability and routinely oversteps its authority.

I appreciate your unwavering support for our constitutional rights and trust that you will take a strong stance against government overreach. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to seeing action taken to restore the rights and liberties of American citizens.

Contact me below about anything, comments on articles, questions you may have, etc.

Wayne Thorn

Here is Psalms 20:6-9 from the King James Version (KJV):

6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed;
he will hear him from his holy heaven
with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses:
but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen:
but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord:
let the king hear us when we call.

These verses convey a similar message, emphasizing trust in God’s strength over human power, while expressing confidence in His divine salvation and unwavering support.

40 MILLION CHRISTIANS DON’T VOTE

15 MILLION AREN’T EVEN REGISTERED

Isaiah 40:3 (ESV):
“A voice cries:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'”

We are now the voice crying in the wilderness in this time and place that the savior of all has come to give use life, life eternal with the father.

The statement “We are now the voice crying in the wilderness in this time and place that the Savior of all has come to give us life, life eternal with the Father” draws from the biblical imagery of John the Baptist as the forerunner who prepared the way for Christ. It also reflects a call for believers to take up that same mantle today.

“We are now the voice crying in the wilderness”:

In biblical times, John the Baptist was the voice in the wilderness, proclaiming the coming of Jesus and calling people to repentance. In today’s context, we, as believers, have taken on the role of proclaiming the good news of Christ’s coming. The wilderness symbolizes the spiritual desolation or confusion in the world—a place where many are lost, distant from God, and searching for meaning. As voices in this wilderness, we are called to guide people towards Christ, just as John did.

1. “In this time and place”:

This phrase highlights the urgency of the call. Every era and generation faces unique challenges—whether moral, social, or spiritual. In our current age, the distractions of modern life, secularism, and materialism often act as barriers to hearing God’s voice. Now, more than ever, the world needs voices that cut through this spiritual noise, proclaiming the eternal truths of the gospel in the context of present-day challenges.

2. “That the Savior of all has come”:

This affirms the central truth of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ, the Savior, has come into the world. His coming was not just for a specific group of people or time but for all humanity, throughout all history. Our message, as “voices crying in the wilderness,” is to proclaim the arrival of Jesus, the fulfillment of the prophecy that John the Baptist once heralded. We point to the fact that the Savior has come, bridging the gap between humanity and God.

3. “To give us life, life eternal with the Father”:

The heart of the gospel message is not only about salvation from sin but also about the gift of eternal life. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, we are offered a life that transcends earthly existence, a relationship with God that begins now and lasts forever. Our task as modern-day “voices in the wilderness” is to proclaim this gift—life with the Father, secured through faith in Christ. We are called to share the hope of eternal life, which offers a deep sense of purpose and peace amid the uncertainties of the world.

In essence:

This statement calls believers to recognize that we are living in a spiritually dry and confused world—a “wilderness”—and just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ’s first coming, we are now preparing the way for hearts to receive Him in the present. Our role is to boldly proclaim the life-changing truth that Jesus has already come to bring salvation and eternal life, inviting people into a life-giving relationship with the Father. We are entrusted with sharing this message of hope, redemption, and eternal life, becoming voices of God’s grace and love in a world that desperately needs it.

Stand Up

We must stand up, just as our country did at its founding, by using the powerful tools we have—our voices and our votes. The principles on which this nation was built call us to engage actively, and it is our responsibility to ensure that godly values are represented in our leadership and policies.

As Christians, we cannot sit idly by while our government is increasingly influenced by voices that reject God’s truth in favor of subjective feelings and personal agendas. There are those who shout loudly, demanding that their views be accepted, but we must remember that our foundation is not built on human opinion but on the eternal truth of God.

There is only one truth—God’s truth—and it transcends personal feelings, opinions, and cultural trends. Now is the time for believers to boldly stand for what is right, guided by Scripture, and to use the influence we have been given to promote righteousness in our communities and our nation.

Make your voice heard VOTE