Hey everybody, welcome back to Guns N’ Gadgets, your trusted source for Second Amendment news where I bring you all the stories that the mainstream media just won’t touch. And today we’re talking about a bold move out of Virginia, a story that perfectly illustrates how local governments can stand up to federal overreach, especially when it comes to ATF’s surveillance tactics. And folks, this one is a win for privacy. It’s a win for our rights. And the idea that government shouldn’t be spying on law-abiding citizens just because they legally own firearms. Funny, I’m saying that while I’m sitting in a car loaded with cameras.

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Again, links down below, code GNG. I’ll put it in the pinned comment as well. Let’s get into this. So here’s what happened here. The city of Chesapeake, Virginia just made headlines by terminating ATF’s access to the city’s license plate reader system. And this move came after a local news investigation uncovered that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were actively scanning tens of thousands of license plates a year with no local oversight and no transparency. And here’s the kicker. The local government didn’t even know it was happening until the journalists exposed it. Let that sink in for a second.

Big brother. Didn’t even tell the local government what they were doing. Shocker. So how did all this start? Back in Virginia, back in Virginia, back in April, a Virginia news outlet called 13 News Now submitted a public records request to the city of Chesapeake and to the officials there. And what they discovered was pretty shocking. In just one year from July of 2022 to July of 2023, the ATF scanned more than 40,000 license plates using the city’s plate reader system. And in the following year, they scanned more than 32,000. Here’s the thing. Chesapeake is not a crime hotspot.

It isn’t some desperate attempt to stop a cartel. It’s a federal agency using local infrastructure to build a massive surveillance dragnet. And they weren’t telling anyone about it. There was no notification. There was no public hearings. There was no consent sought and no consent given. Just quiet, creeping surveillance. Fast forward to July 2nd of this year, 2025, just a week ago, the Chesapeake City Council voted unanimously to shut it down. By a vote of seven to zero, they revoked ATF’s access to the city’s license plate reader network. That vote came after council members received dozens of emails from concerned residents and a local activist group, Hampton Roads for Justice.

They were all demanding accountability. Now, think about that for a second. One group of citizens armed with the truth and a little bit of pressure got their local government to stand up to the ATF. That’s what advocacy looks like. And that’s exactly why I keep saying freedom is one at the local level. This wasn’t a partisan decision either. Republicans, Democrats, and independents, all of them said this goes way too far. And I agree. And there’s no need for ATF to scan any license plates. They don’t do typical law enforcement work. Let’s be honest here. If you’re okay with ATF scanning tens of thousands of license plates in secret, you’re not thinking about how easily that power can and is abused.

Now, why would ATF even need this information you ask? Well, that’s a good question because I’ve asked it too. And they claim it helps them track firearms trafficking. But here’s the problem. This kind of blanket surveillance isn’t targeting criminals. It’s collecting data on everybody, everybody on the road. Gun owners, non-gun owners, families, kids, veterans, our daughters, our sons, you name it. And all of that data, timestamps, locations, vehicle information, was all being sent to a federal agency that’s repeatedly shown to disregard due process and the Constitution. Remember, this is the same ATF that brought us the pistol brace rule.

The same ATF involved in Operation Fast and Furious. The same ATF that wanted to change the definition of machine gun or who gets to sell their own weapons. So ask yourself, do you trust these people with your private data? Because I sure the hell don’t. This is exactly why we need to push back. Not because we’re anti-law enforcement, but because we’re pro-liberty. And there’s a massive difference there. When agencies operate in the shadows with no transparency, that’s tyranny, plain and simple. And if the Chesapeake, the people, the city of Chesapeake, can say no more, then so can your town.

So can my town. You don’t need to be a lawyer. You don’t need to be a politician. You just need to be a citizen who’s paying attention. Now, what Chesapeake showed us is that local governments still have power. They control who uses their infrastructure. And when federal agencies step over the line, they can and should be told to pack up and get the hell out. Look, this isn’t the end of it. I mean, there’s no doubt that ATF and probably many other agencies are doing the exact same thing in dozens, if not hundreds of cities across this country.

And they’re counting on you not knowing about it. And that’s why this story matters, not just for gun owners, but for every American who values their privacy. So what can you do about it? Number one, you can call your local officials and ask them if ATF or any other federal agency has access to your city’s surveillance infrastructure. Number two, demand transparency. If you’re being surveilled, you have the right to know about it. And number three, support local watchdogs and journalists. They’re doing the work that uncovers these abuses, so give them an attaboy when you can.

And if you live in a town with license plate readers, let’s be real, most cities have them now. Ask the hard question, who has access to the data? What do you do with the data? Does it get deleted? Where does it go? Who do you sell it to? And this is what it means to be vigilant, folks, because liberty isn’t lost overnight. It’s taken piece by piece, in silence, in secrecy, until one day you realize it’s gone. So salute to the folks in Chesapeake. You guys and gals did the right thing.

And if you want to see more cities follow suit, share the video. Help us shine this spotlight on this surveillance overreach. I’ll leave you with this. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. And today, that vigilance just scored a victory in Virginia. Thanks for watching Guns and Gadgets, your premier source for Second Amendment News. Subscribe, hit the bell, and I’ll see you on the next one. Stay safe, stay informed, and stay free. Take care, America. [tr:trw].

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