The case of Patrick “Tate” Adamiak has become, for many in the gun-rights community, one of the clearest examples of what happens when the ATF and federal prosecutors are weaponized against gun owners and treat them as criminals for constitutionally protected activity.
Adamiak is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence after a jury conviction that included machinegun and unregistered destructive-device counts, though one part of his case was later remanded on double-jeopardy grounds by the Fourth Circuit.
Now there is a new push to bring Adamiak’s case directly to President Donald J. Trump. There is a public call asking supporters to send letters urging Trump to pardon Adamiak.
For gun owners, this is not just about one man. It is about whether the federal government can continue turning collectors, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and ordinary Americans into examples for hostile administrations. It is about whether politically weaponized enforcement will be rewarded or corrected. And it is about whether a president who has publicly aligned himself with restoring constitutional government is willing to act when one of the most controversial ATF prosecutions in recent memory lands on his desk.
Adamiak had no prior criminal record, was an active-duty U.S. Navy sailor with orders to BUD/S, and there were no victims in the case. None of the evidence was functional or complete, and the items involved are still legally sold online. There were serious issues in the case, and the broader controversy surrounding the evidence and charging decisions has only intensified criticism from gun-rights advocates and organizations backing clemency.
This is where gun owners can do something practical instead of merely complaining online. Write. Put your name on paper. Tell the White House that Patrick “Tate” Adamiak deserves a full pardon.
Tell the administration that Americans are tired of seeing the ATF destroy lives through aggressive, agenda-driven enforcement. Tell President Trump that if his administration is serious about checking federal abuse and protecting the right to keep and bear arms, this is exactly the kind of case that demands action.
Letters should be sent to:
Mr. David Warrington
White House Counsel
Office of White House Counsel
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500U.S. Department of Justice
Office of the Pardon Attorney
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530
Gun owners should keep the letters respectful, direct, and personal. Explain why this case matters. Explain why federal agencies must not be allowed to play games with our constitutional rights. Explain why a pardon here would send a message that Americans are no longer willing to accept selective enforcement and bureaucratic persecution as normal.
A movement that claims to believe in liberty has to act like it when liberty is on the line. If gun owners want to help free Patrick “Tate” Adamiak, the time to write is now.
Our letter is below; we are mailing it today.
AmmoLand News
P.O. Box 700003
Sebastian, FL 32970
April 20, 2026Mr. David Warrington
White House Counsel
Office of White House Counsel
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500Re: Request for Presidential Pardon for Patrick “Tate” Adamiak
Dear Mr. Warrington,
On behalf of AmmoLand News and many of the law-abiding gun owners who make up our readership, I am writing to respectfully urge President Donald J. Trump to grant a full presidential pardon to Patrick “Tate” Adamiak.
Mr. Adamiak’s case has become a flashpoint for Americans who believe federal firearms enforcement has too often been driven by bureaucratic aggression rather than equal justice. To countless gun owners, collectors, and Second Amendment advocates, this prosecution stands as a disturbing example of how technical classifications, disputed evidence, and expansive agency interpretations can be used to secure devastating penalties against an American who, by all public accounts, was not a violent criminal.
Public court records show that Mr. Adamiak was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. His case has drawn sustained criticism from respected gun-rights advocates, attorneys, and journalists who believe he was wrongfully targeted and excessively punished.
This is not merely a case about one man. It is about whether the federal government will continue to use the machinery of prosecution to crush citizens under vague standards, shifting interpretations, and politically charged enforcement priorities.
Mr. Adamiak served his country in the United States Navy. He had no criminal history. His case did not involve the kind of criminal conduct most Americans associate with a 20-year prison sentence. Yet he remains behind bars while many violent offenders receive less time and less attention from the federal government.
President Trump has an opportunity to correct a grave injustice and send a clear message that his administration will not tolerate abusive or overreaching federal action against law-abiding Americans. A pardon for Patrick “Tate” Adamiak would be an act of justice. It would show that this White House recognizes the difference between true criminality and a prosecution that many Americans view as emblematic of ATF excess.
We respectfully ask President Trump to review this case personally and grant Patrick “Tate” Adamiak a full and immediate pardon.
Sincerely,
Duncan Johnson
Editor-in-Chief
AmmoLand News
ATF Gun Registry Exposed, Senate Hearing Raises Alarm Over 1 Billion Records
About Duncan Johnson:
Duncan Johnson is a lifelong firearms enthusiast and unwavering defender of the Second Amendment—where “shall not be infringed” means exactly what it says. A graduate of George Mason University, he enjoys competing in local USPSA and multi-gun competitions whenever he’s not covering the latest in gun rights and firearm policy. Duncan is a regular contributor to AmmoLand News and serves as part of the editorial team responsible for AmmoLand’s daily gun-rights reporting and industry coverage.
