The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) works within the U.S. Department of Justice to enforce the law regarding the subjects in the ATF’s name. The ATF seizes many assets (such as cash, cars and homes) believed to be part of illegal activity. Owners of the seized property often have great difficulties recovering their property, even if no underlying criminal charge was ever filed.
 
In 2008, the ATF ordered Leatherman took kits inscribed with the slogan, “Always Think Forfeiture.” Bad publicity caused the ATF to cancel the order, but the “Always Think Forfeiture” slogan is still remembered and used as an ATF nickname.
 
 
Wikipedia: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (abbreviated ATF) is a federal law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Justice. Its responsibilities include the investigation and prevention of federal offenses involving the unlawful use, manufacture, and possession of firearms and explosives; acts of arson and bombings; and illegal trafficking of alcohol and tobacco products. The ATF also regulates via licensing the sale, possession, and transportation of firearms, ammunition, and explosives in interstate commerce. Many of ATF’s activities are carried out in conjunction with task forces made up of state and local law enforcement officers, such as Project Safe Neighborhoods. ATF operates a unique fire research laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, where full-scale mock-ups of criminal arsons can be reconstructed.
 
The agency is led by Kenneth E. Melson, Acting Director and William J. Hoover, Acting Deputy Director. ATF has nearly 5,000 employees and an annual budget of $1.12 billion (2010).
     
Wikipedia: Asset forfeiture
Asset forfeiture is confiscation, by the State, of assets which are either (a) the alleged proceeds of crime or (b) the alleged instrumentalities of crime, and more recently, alleged terrorism. Instrumentalities of crime are property that was allegedly used to facilitate crime, for example cars allegedly used to transport illegal narcotics. The terminology used in different jurisdictions varies. Some jurisdictions use the term “confiscation” instead of forfeiture. In recent years there has been a growing trend for countries to introduce civil forfeiture and such proceedings may be brought in the USA, Australia, the UK, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, various Canadian Provinces and Antigua.
 
Of Arms & the Law
ATF bid solicitation
Posted by David Hardy · 21 March 2008 08:58 AM
It seems that a while back ATFE made a solicitation for bids for a custom Leatherman, to be “Engraved with: ATF-Asset Forfeiture AND “always think forfeiture”.
 
Reason Magazine—Hit & Run
“Always Think Forfeiture”
Radley Balko | June 9, 2008
Earlier this year, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives put out a request for bids to produce a bunch of Leathermans for ATF trainees. Part of the request was that the Leathermans be inscribed with the phrase “Always Think Forfeiture,” a reminder to the agents-in-training of what the agency apparently sees as its most important task.
 
The plan was halted after objections from Idaho Rep. William Sali. Sali is now introducing legislation preventing any federal agency from pushing a forfeiture-first mentality on its agents.
 
The Truth About Guns
70 Agent IN Gun Store Raid Another ATF Sting Operation
Posted on April 14, 2011 by Robert Farago
As TTAG has pointed out a few times (but then again not so few as not to mention), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) relies heavily on “sting” operations. As anyone with a basic understanding of the law will tell you, a “sting” is another word for legalized entrapment.
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COMMENTS
Ike says:
April 14, 2011 at 7:11 PM
Remember the ATF motto, “Always Think Forfeiture”…..
 
George Iknadosian (X-Caliber Guns – Phoenix) is still fighting to recover his assets, which were seized at the time of his arrest and which he says are worth an estimated $2.2 million. He has sued the government for wrongful and malicious prosecution and for refusing to return his assets despite state court decisions ordering the government to return his property.