The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is once again under intense scrutiny. A March 27, 2025, letter from U.S. Representative Andy Biggs (R-Arizona) revealed serious concerns about the agency’s use of facial recognition technology to identify gun owners – often without clear policies, proper training, or even legal oversight. As reported by F. Riehl of Buckeye Firearms Association, the revelations have triggered widespread alarm among gun rights groups and privacy advocates alike.
Hundreds of Searches, No Clear Rules
Biggs, who chairs the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, cited reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) showing that the ATF conducted at least 549 facial recognition searches between 2019 and 2022. According to Liberty Doll, a popular Second Amendment commentator on YouTube, these searches were done without warrants or judicial approval. In some cases, ATF agents used commercial platforms like Clearview AI and Vigilant Solutions with no training and zero accountability.
Lack of Oversight Raises Alarms
The June 2021 GAO report warned that ATF lacked any formal mechanisms to track how its agents were using these powerful surveillance tools. As Liberty Doll explained in her recent video, “they just let loose their employees to use it all willy-nilly.” That means federal agents were uploading photos to commercial facial recognition engines, sometimes without the knowledge of their own leadership. And while ATF claims to have stopped using such tools as of April 2023, new information suggests otherwise.
The Trump Connection
A turning point came after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. According to Senator Ron Johnson and corroborated by Liberty Doll, ATF received and used facial images of the shooter during the investigation. This directly contradicted the agency’s previous claim that it had halted the use of facial recognition. If the ATF used the software in a high-profile investigation after announcing they had stopped, critics argue there’s no telling who else they may be monitoring.
Biggs Demands Full Transparency
In his letter to Acting ATF Director Kash Patel, Rep. Biggs demanded full documentation. He asked for all internal and external communications related to the use of facial recognition, including contracts, payments, emails, training materials, and any disciplinary actions taken against agents for improper use. As reported by F. Riehl, the letter also asked for records of collaboration between the ATF and state or local agencies that may be carrying out searches on ATF’s behalf – effectively outsourcing surveillance.
Is This a National Registry in Disguise?
Gun rights advocates have long warned that the ATF is building a national gun registry – even if unofficially. Liberty Doll pointed out that the agency maintains nearly 1 billion firearm transaction records, some digitized, some searchable. With facial recognition in the mix, critics argue that the ATF wouldn’t even need names or paperwork. They could identify people just by their faces, especially those posting pro-gun content online. “It’s like a registry by another name,” she said.
A Pattern of Overreach
This isn’t the first time the ATF has been accused of stretching its authority. As noted by F. Riehl, the agency has faced backlash for aggressive “knock and talk” visits, sketchy gun store surveillance, and keeping searchable databases of gun purchases. The facial recognition scandal is just the latest in a series of incidents that have eroded trust between gun owners and the federal government. “The Second Amendment isn’t just under attack in courtrooms,” Riehl wrote. “It’s being chipped away behind surveillance screens.”
Outsourcing Surveillance Doesn’t Solve the Problem
Liberty Doll highlighted a disturbing workaround. Even if the ATF stopped directly using facial recognition software, it now asks local agencies to conduct searches for them. This means the surveillance continues, just through a different channel. “It’s sort of half true,” she said of the ATF’s claim that they’ve stopped. “They’re just outsourcing the searches to departments who are still using the same software.” This tactic raises more questions than it answers.
Calls for Congressional Action
With federal funding for “Law Enforcement Advanced Analytics” under debate, critics fear that taxpayer dollars could expand these surveillance programs even further. Biggs’ letter urges Congress to investigate before the problem grows. He emphasized the danger to both privacy and civil liberties, especially when combined with vague definitions of threats and a lack of judicial oversight. “Enough is enough,” Biggs declared.
A Dangerous Mix of AI and Government Power
The technology itself isn’t the only issue – it’s how it’s used. Clearview AI, one of the platforms mentioned in the GAO reports, scrapes billions of images from the internet, including social media. The software can match a person’s face to photos from countless sources, allowing instant identification. But without rules, safeguards, or transparency, that power becomes a threat to innocent Americans, especially those exercising constitutionally protected rights.
The Slippery Slope Is Real
What makes this situation chilling is how easy it is to imagine the consequences. If a federal agency can identify you using only your face, without probable cause, and then link that to gun purchases or political speech, we’ve crossed a dangerous line. Liberty Doll was right to warn that this could have a “chilling effect” on the exercise of rights. And if GAO reports and whistleblowers are to be believed, the ATF has already crossed that line – quietly, and without telling anyone.
Will the ATF Comply?
As Liberty Doll put it bluntly, “We’ll see if the ATF complies with the investigation, which honestly would probably be the biggest surprise here.” The agency has until April 10, 2025, to respond to Rep. Biggs’ request. Whether they do or not, the public is waking up to a disturbing truth: surveillance is no longer the stuff of spy movies – it’s real, it’s happening, and it’s aimed at people who simply believe in their constitutional rights.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.