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Email: Talk@DionBergeron.com

The (B)ATF: Gestapo Overreach or Necessary Evil?

Coffee Break is a special segment on #DionsDailyDose that features a conversation between two lifelong friends that share interests in motorcycles, firearms, and love of their country. Topic: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, known as BATF, or more commonly, just the ATF, has been around since 1972 in its current form, established by Treasury Order 221. From the ATF website: July 1972 Treasury Department Order 221 “The functions, powers, and duties relating to alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives were transferred from the Internal Revenue Service to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms” Birth of ATF Under Director Rex Davis, ATF becomes an independent Bureau on July 1, 1972, reporting directly to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Enforcement, Tariff and Trade Affairs, and Operations. ATF’s jurisdiction increases through new legislation such as the Gun Control Act of 1968, Title VII of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Street Act of 1968 and Title XI of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. Is this agency a necessity? Have they grown beyond their intended scope? Do we need government to protect us? How does this abide by our Constitution, which clearly states "Shall Not Be Infringed"? Join us to talk about this and more. Dion, host of Dion's Daily Dose, is a husband and father, and has tried to fix the broken system from within, by running for political office (and coming very close to winning) and getting involved with his local political party, leading to a great deal of frustration as well as learning. He's a former truck driver & trainer and was a Correctional Officer at Indiana State Prison for 7 years. Jim, a veteran, a father, and vice president of a veteran's assistance-focused motorcycle club, believes that the time for fixing the system from within has passed, and sees no point in voting. He works a blue-collar job and has open derision for the entire political system. He is a self-professed III%'er, and is a "prepper", believing it's only a matter of time before society crumbles under the weight of corruption.

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