Screenshot via Twitter. Your friendly Mediaite neighborhood editor would question the sanity of anyone who turns to the feds for roman...

Screenshot via Twitter.
Your friendly Mediaite neighborhood editor would question the sanity of anyone who turns to the feds for romance advice, but hey, here comes the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with A really weird suggestion on how you should celebrate Valentine’s Day: Report your ex to the feds.
“Valentine’s Day can still be fun even if you’ve broken up,” the ATF’s official Twitter account posted on Monday morning. “Do you have any information on a former (or current) partner involved in illegal firearms activity? Let us know, and we’ll make sure it’s an unforgettable Valentine’s Day! »
A graphic accompanying the tweet got even creepier, asking “Do you have an ex who buys or sells guns illegally? We would love to give them a surprise for Valentine’s Day! The bitter former lovers were urged to seek revenge by contacting the ATF by phone, email or on their website.
Valentine’s Day can still be fun even if you’ve broken up. Do you have information about a former (or current) partner involved in illegal firearms activity? Let us know, and we’ll make sure it’s an unforgettable Valentine’s Day! Call 1-888-ATF-TIPS or email ATFTips@atf.gov. pic.twitter.com/OdDIPdIzkr
— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) February 14, 2022
The problem with that dumb tweet, of course, is that armed federal law enforcement officers who receive a report of illegal weapons activity aren’t going to respond with a postcard or a bouquet of flowers.
as the reason Scott Shackford underlined in a column about the ATF’s “irresponsible” tweet, it’s basically the feds telling people to SWAT their exes, the horrifically dangerous crime (mortal nature of this vengeful activity makes me loath to call it a “prank”) in which a terrible person falsely reports a violent crime in progress in an attempt to prompting the police to launch a SWAT-style raid or other aggressive law enforcement action against the victim.
“This is not trivial,” Shackford wrote. “The possibility of a vengeful former lover targeting a completely innocent person should have given law enforcement pause before posting these messages.”
His views were shared by many on Twitter, who expressed horror and disgust at the ATF’s tweet.
The ATF tweeted it today…
Never in human history has a jaded ex falsely reported his ex to federal authorities for a fabricated crime he didn’t commit. Never… 🤨👀 pic.twitter.com/JOJSQ7DTvF
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) February 14, 2022
Holy shit, the ATF encourages people to SWAT their ex. AND THE PLEASURE CALLER. https://t.co/VhtXozmWUI
— TOUR CELEBRATION OF 15 YEARS OF THE FALL OF IDEALS! (@philthatremains) February 14, 2022
Oh look. The ATF gives us a PERFECT example of what is wrong with red flag laws.
Nothing says a good Valentine’s Day like having an ex SWATed just because you can’t stand them. pic.twitter.com/0Fumfn44yF
— Beth Baumann (@eb454) February 14, 2022
Have you considered having your ex murdered by government proxy?
Otherwise, the ATF offers you a special Valentine’s Day offer. https://t.co/NBhvX6yid7
— Hannah Cox (@HannahDCox) February 14, 2022
It’s basically an invitation to SWAT an ex you don’t like. So incredibly dangerous.
Abolish the ATF. https://t.co/PKOvnAL10l
— Young Americans for Freedom (@YALiberty) February 14, 2022
— Absinthe (@allenherd) February 14, 2022
Retweeting this again to say, seriously, this is awful. The ATF is one of the most dangerous federal agencies. Their officers respond to complaints with deadly and disproportionate force. Encouraging people to report their exes to the ATF, even as a “joke”, is malicious and unhealthy. https://t.co/nLwxAB9Xji
— President Dawg (@PresidentDawg) February 14, 2022
“Report your ex and maybe we’ll get them” is not a good joke for the ATF.
—Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) February 14, 2022
Former Congressman justin amas had perhaps the most concise answer: “Abolish the ATF”.
Abolish the ATF. https://t.co/2S9LDy3Gh5
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) February 14, 2022
This is an opinion piece. The opinions expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author.
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