By: Teresa Mull

A headline from the Philadelphia Inquirer reads: “An Amish farmer’s 600 guns were seized. It’s unclear if he broke the law.”

Does anyone else see something wrong with this sentence?!

Why is someone having his guns seized if it’s “unclear” if he broke the law?

According to the newspaper, farm owner Reuben King said he has been selling long guns from his personal collection to “fellow Amish and non-Amish, too.”

The problem, according to the ATF, is that it’s unclear how many guns you can sell before you’re considered a gun dealer.

The Inquirer further reports:

The Amish, generally, do not pose for photographs, and therefore, most don’t get the photo IDs needed to purchase firearms from licensed gun shops. Hunting rifles and shotguns, known as “long guns,” can be sold privately between two parties without a background check or photo ID.

Joshua Prince, a Pennsylvania firearms attorney, told the Inquirer this situation is “murky,” adding that requiring the Amish to provide photo ID to purchase a gun (the Amish generally don’t have their pictures taken) is unconstitutional.

GPM will keep you apprised of this case. But remember – the ATF seized the guns and asked questions later!

Teresa Mull ([email protected]) is editor of Gunpowder Magazine.