Trump Faces Potential Legal Trouble Over Auctioned Gun with His Engraved Face: Possible Violation of ATF Regulations
Speculation is swirling regarding the potential legal consequences former President Donald Trump could face in connection with a unique gun that was reportedly auctioned off at Mar-a-Lago for charity. The gun in question featured an engraving of Trump’s face, evident in video and photo evidence obtained by media site MeidasTouch. While The Western Journal has not independently verified the accuracy of the website’s reporting, the story has gained attention from various outlets, including Newsweek and The Washington Examiner.
According to MeidasTouch, the auction took place last week as part of a fundraising event for a dog charity. Among the numerous items up for sale, the bidding for this particular firearm began at $10,000. The gun itself was a Glock handgun, accompanied by a case engraved with Trump’s well-known mugshot from his arraignment in Georgia.
It is worth noting that under current gun control laws, Trump is prohibited from purchasing firearms within the United States due to four separate criminal indictments he is currently facing. Two of these cases are federal, one was filed in New York, and another in Georgia.
Reporting for MeidasTouch, J.D. Wolf mentioned that someone attending the auction had placed a bid on the gun. However, Wolf could not independently verify whether the firearm had previously belonged to Trump.
The potential legal issue centers around the language used by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), which prohibits certain individuals from participating in gun transactions. During a gun purchase, the ATF asks buyers a series of questions, including whether they are under any indictment that could lead to a prison sentence exceeding one year.
In Trump’s case, he fulfills the criteria that would usually deny someone the right to purchase a firearm based on mere allegations, as confirmed by the agency. However, the ATF also prohibits individuals under indictment from selling or transferring firearms and ammunition.
According to the ATF, federal law states that it is unlawful for someone under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year to ship, transport, or receive firearms or ammunition. It is also illegal to sell or dispose of firearms or ammunition to individuals prohibited from possessing such items.
Based on the above criteria, both Trump and the buyer of the gun could potentially face legal repercussions. Newsweek suggests that the individual who purchased the weapon may be liable for assisting in lawbreaking due to the extensive publicity surrounding Trump’s indictment and trial. However, as acknowledged by MeidasTouch, it must be established that Trump was the gun’s owner before it was sold.
As of Tuesday, it remains unknown who the current owner of the gun is, and it is unclear whether Trump was aware of the gun sale. Dave Aronberg, the State Attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida, provided insight, stating that if the gun did indeed belong to Trump and he was aware of its auction, he could face legal jeopardy. Aronberg added that these unanswered questions could potentially lead to a criminal investigation, with prosecutors seeking a determination regarding whether this violated Trump’s pre-trial release. While there is currently insufficient evidence to establish wrongdoing, this situation could pose yet another headache for the former president.
Notably, the gun was reportedly sold on behalf of the Forever Family Rescue Foundation, a dog charity.
