Buckeye Reporter

Mark Manley, a Baltimore resident and gun owner, experienced a traumatic event when his home was raided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents. Manley, who legally owns over 70 firearms compliant with federal and Maryland laws, described the incident as terrifying for his family.

The raid occurred on November 21, starting early in the morning. Manley's wife noticed movement outside their house and alerted him. Upon investigation, Manley saw ATF agents taking tactical positions around their property. He woke his daughters but left his son asleep in the basement. As he attempted to communicate with the agents, an explosive device went off, causing disorientation among his family.

Manley recounted how he was handcuffed along with his daughter while heavily armed agents pointed rifles at them. His wife questioned why they were being treated this way despite complying with orders. The situation escalated when agents entered their home forcefully and used flash-bang grenades in their son's basement room.

The family's home suffered significant damage during the raid, including broken doors and floors needing replacement due to grenade use. Canine units brought into the house also caused additional mess.

Despite opening his gun safe voluntarily to show compliance with legal requirements, no illegal items were found by the agents. The reason behind the mistaken raid remains unclear to Manley and his family.

Manley expressed concern about racial profiling during the operation: "Would this happen if I was white? Probably," he said, noting that being a strong Second Amendment supporter may have made him more of a target.

Efforts to reach out to ATF officials for comments have been unsuccessful so far. Meanwhile, the Manleys are seeking legal advice and have started a GoFundMe campaign to address damages incurred from the raid.