Tate remains imprisoned within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a system notorious for its harsh and unforgiving conditions. For 28 months and counting, he has been behind bars—despite never breaking a single law.

Currently, Tate is navigating the direct appeal process in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, a slow and grueling journey hindered by the overburdened federal court system. Months pass between court filings and motions, leaving Tate in legal limbo with no clear resolution in sight.

All appeal briefs were filed in August 2024, but his case has been placed on hold pending a Supreme Court decision expected in June 2025 (Vanderstok v. Garland). This case—where the ATF has already lost at both the district and circuit court levels—will determine the critical issue at the heart of Tate's conviction: when an item legally becomes a firearm.

For decades, the ATF has unilaterally reinterpreted gun laws, overstepping its authority to regulate as it sees fit. Now, we place our trust in the Supreme Court to uphold the lower courts' rulings and finally put an end to the ATF’s unlawful overreach.