What the what? Ares Armor coup?

TomVMurphyTX · July 7, 2015

Forward e-mail content as received

July 6, 2015

It is with heavy hearts in Ares Armor Inc. that we announce the forced termination of Founder Dimitri Karras for breach of duty as an employee of this firm.

Mr. Karras had been on paid administrative leave since March 2015 for highly unprofessional behavior against members of the management team, staff, and others. Most recently, he launched a series of disruptive and disrespectful public attacks against the CEO, and the company. Furthermore, the uncovering of serious financial discrepancies connected to his selling the company only served to complicate matters.

Mr. Karras repeatedly took advantage of the incredible patience and generosity of new owner and CEO, Bryce Stirlen. "We as an organization simply cannot allow him to continue this type of behavior against the company and people who supported him," said Stirlen. "Mr. Karras has a very well-documented history. As one the of the company directors said in a management conference call, 'sometimes to grow a bigger and better garden you just have to root out the weeds.' Regardless, we still wish Dimitri the best of luck in his future endeavors."

Bryce Stirlen, CEO

Ares Armor Inc.

2420 Industry Street, Suite D | Oceanside, CA 92054 | (760) 650-2737 | AresArmor.com

Edited July 7, 2015 by TomVMurphyTX

GRA · July 7, 2015

This is a shame. I'm sure Dimitri's stress had a lot to do with it. Sad. I hope this frees Dimitri up to go start another business on his own so he can prosper.

98Z5V · July 7, 2015

You could kinda feel something was going in, in the email sent out prior. Sometime last week. There was tension.

blue109 · July 7, 2015

Wonder if any outside forces with 3 letter names leaned on them?

98Z5V · July 7, 2015

They were kissing that agency's a$s last week, in the letter...

blue109 · July 7, 2015

Shame. They were doing something special with dimitri at the helm. He wanted to make a statement. They just want to make money. Just another gun part warehouse without him.

98Z5V · July 7, 2015

Here's last week's letter...

From ATF Cash Cow to BATFE Bull

The ATF was like an ATM for the U.S. Government. For many years, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) was a tax collecting cash cow. Today, as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) that cash cow has undergone a makeover. With greater focus on being an investigator and enforcer, the bureau is now more like a bull.

The best things in life are free. The most popular vices in life are not.

Even America’s Founding Fathers knew this. Under the U.S. Constitution, the first Congress imposed a tax on imported spirits in 1789. Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, suggested it to relieve debt from the Revolutionary War. The government was the happy receiver of revenues. Aaron Burr wasn’t the only one who thought of a gun vs. Hamilton. Taxpayers were not pleased.

In 1862, Congress established the Office of Internal Revenue for the Treasury Department. The next year, it authorized more of an upper hand by hiring three detectives to support “the prevention, detection and punishment of tax evaders.” Tax collecting and enforcement were connected. The model for the ATF was born.

For more than a century, politicians have re-named and bounced around the department like a ricochet bullet from an AR-15. They’ve wanted a say on the federal government’s most profitable earner. Reports show the ATF used to deliver a 35-to-1 return rate on every dollar it spent. Ka-ching.

ATF Independence Day

43 years ago on this day, July 1, 1972, was Independence Day for the ATF. Treasury Department Order No. 120-1 transferred the functions, powers and duties related to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives from the IRS to the ATF. In 1982, the Anti-Arson Act further empowered the ATF to investigate commercial arson cases.

On January 24, 2003, the Homeland Security bill moved the ATF law enforcement powers under the Department of Justice (DOJ). The tax and trade matters stayed with the Treasury Department through a new Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The agency name was changed to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE).

Headquartered in Washington, DC, the ATF is a law enforcement agency with nearly 5,000 employees, working operations across the United States, and even overseas. With an annual budget over $1.1 billion, it investigates violent crimes, and regulates firearms and other very important industries. Even after alcohol and tobacco stayed with the Department of the Treasury, BATFE is still a bullish investment as it collects more than $13 billion dollars in annual revenue.

The ATF and Ares Armor Inc.

The prior management of Ares Armor had a long-running dispute with the ATF over the legal issues of 80% lower receivers for AR-15 and AR-10 style rifles, and what constitutes a firearm. That conflict came to a head when agents conducted a raid on the company in March 2014.

Today, the bureau is pleased with the new ownership of Ares Armor Inc. Through the initiative of CEO, Bryce Stirlen, the two sides now have an open, constructive, and professional dialogue, regardless of differences in opinion on American’s rights under the Second Amendment of the Constitution.

“Sometimes in business you may not like what you have to do, but you do it because it is right,” says Ares Armor Inc. CEO, Bryce Stirlen. “Having a healthy relationship with an entity which has as much power as the ATF is an intelligent way of conducting business. It protects the interests of our clients, customers, and employees. Conducting a constructive relationship between Ares Armor Inc. and the ATF is tactical in nature.”

Adds Stirlen, “That said, make no mistake, we WILL NOT waiver from protecting our Second Amendment Rights. We, however, choose no longer to incite conflict with the ATF – or any other government agency or official – through disruptive and disrespectful behavior.”

ATF Executive Management

PHOTO: Left: Thomas E. Brandon. Right: Ronald B. Turk

The ATF is also under new leadership. On April 1, 2015, Deputy Director Thomas E. Brandon became the Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, replacing B. Todd Jones. We salute Mr. Brandon for proudly serving in the United States Marine Corps from 1978 to 1982.

At the same time, Ronald B. Turk was named Acting Deputy Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. We salute Mr. Turk for his service as a Colonel in the Air National Guard. His latest deployment was to Iraq, where he was awarded the honor of a Bronze Star.

Edited July 7, 2015 by 98Z5V

blue109 · July 7, 2015

To be honest...when I originally read the description of that idiotic 6" long muzzle brake they made, I knew something was coming. The heavy emphasis on "we made sure it couldn't be misused" was very un-Karras like. Could already feel the noose tightening. Hope he starts something new.

Found this as well. http://jerkingthetrigger.com/2015/07/06/dimitri-karras-answers/

Edited July 7, 2015 by blue109

98Z5V · July 7, 2015

The one thing that I personally don't think Bryce fully understands is this - Dimitri will not back down from a fight. :bat:

survivalshop · July 7, 2015

Company take over getting nasty , the new owners , as said , kissing the Governments a$$. Also as said , for $$$. Too bad .

jtallen83 · July 7, 2015

Shame. They were doing something special with dimitri at the helm. He wanted to make a statement. They just want to make money. Just another gun part warehouse without him.

^Yep. I was going to order a BCG from there.........

Dimitri will take on all comers though, they have a fight on their hands :box1:

I love the Huxley quote at the end of Dimitri's letter;

“But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want

freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.” -Aldous Huxley

blue109 · July 7, 2015

Check out Ares Facebook page...it's ugly lol. This won't end well.

Edited July 7, 2015 by blue109

GRA · July 7, 2015

Thanks for the idea. I went to their FB page and gave them a piece of my mind.

Matt.Cross · July 7, 2015

They are taking a pounding on Facebook, they've screwed up massively.

blue109 · July 7, 2015

Don't see any way back for them. I predict they fade away in a year. At least TROY makes some really nice products, so a lot of people went back to them, or never left. Ares doesn't really do anything that 100 other companies aren't doing. People bought parts FROM DIMITRI. not from ares.

AngelDeVille · July 8, 2015

I got tired of two or three emails a day from them, I unsubscribed a few months ago.

jtallen83 · July 11, 2015

I subscribed so I could unsubscribe and tell them how Fuk'd they are without Dimitri.

blue109 · July 11, 2015

Ha! That's funny. Like calling someone just so you can hang up on them.

jtallen83 · July 11, 2015

Hate to derail the thread but you mention one of my pet peeves with cell phones, I miss slamming the phone down when I'm pissed. You could always tell someone slammed it on the old phones, now no matter how hard you hit the button it sounds the same.....they need to add a "slam" button to hang up with that makes a loud clatter before disconnection.

ChaseFan9 · July 11, 2015

Hate to derail the thread but you mention one of my pet peeves with cell phones, I miss slamming the phone down when I'm pissed. You could always tell someone slammed it on the old phones, now no matter how hard you hit the button it sounds the same.....they need to add a "slam" button to hang up with that makes a loud clatter before disconnection.

Hit it with a hammer, you'll get the same effect, trust me <thumbsup>

unforgiven · July 11, 2015

I get telamarketers on the phone..I start with a very quite voice ....they say what? I can't hear you.Then I give um' the hippo hurricane holler.Make'in there fuk ear's bleed...hopefully. >:D

shepp · July 15, 2015

Hate to derail the thread but you mention one of my pet peeves with cell phones, I miss slamming the phone down when I'm pissed. You could always tell someone slammed it on the old phones, now no matter how hard you hit the button it sounds the same.....they need to add a "slam" button to hang up with that makes a loud clatter before disconnection.

That's why you say "HEY!! Lemme know if this sounds like a phone hanging up" then push end

98Z5V · July 16, 2015

Airhorn. Small marine airhorn. Works everytime.

blue109 · July 27, 2015

I keep looking at Ares Facebook page..comments are pretty funny. Every post they make gets overrun with trolls. They ought to just shut it down at this point.