The BATFE was started as a TAXING arm of the government. They levied the taxes on tobacco and alcohol (expanded to include firearms and now explosives). Remember the old days when they had tax stamps on bottles of alcohol? Shay’s Rebellion in 1786 was about the government’s power to tax alcohol. Since the government had the most guns, they had the power to tax alcohol.

In 1934 the Congress knew that it was a violation of the constitution to ban certain types of guns. So they chose to TAX them. For certain kinds of firearms (full auto firearms, etc.) you were required to obtain a $200 tax stamp. In 1934, that put said regulated firearms out of reach of anybody except the rich and famous.

Anyway, the thing they have in common is that the government taxes them.

“Every Communist must grasp the truth, “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”"

Quotations of Chairman Mao Tsetung
Foreign Languages Press
Peking 1972
“Problems of War and Strategy” 11/6/1938

Regards,

Steamboat Jack

Boy, that is one agency that should be eliminated. After the Davidian massacre, there was some talk to merge the agency with another but like all things that come out of Washington, talk does not mean action.

Question: what do alcohol, tobacco and firearms have in common?

The only thing they should have in common is a Saturday afternoon, a twelve pack of beer, a good plinking rifle (a .22 Savage with a tight bead sight), and a pack of your favorite smokes. Other than that, my above comment stands.

Clint:

Thanks. Today was the first time I'd seen it.