In a cringeworthy take on the time-honored amorous holiday tradition, in lieu of flowers, cards, or candy, federal gun regulators instead urged narcing for St. Valentine's Day.

"Valentine's Day can still be fun even if you broke up," said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in a post on its social media channels. "Do you have information about a former (or current) partner involved in illegal gun activity? Let us know, and we will make sure it's a Valentine's Day to remember! Call 1-888-ATF-TIPS or email ATFTips@atf.gov."

On Twitter, the post was ratioed, drawing just 8K likes versus 12K quote tweets and retweets, with the vast majority of those responding having a negative take on the advice from ATF.   

"Have you considered having your ex murdered by government proxy?" asked conservative commentator Hannah Cox via Twitter. "Because if not, the ATF has a special Valentine’s Day offer for you."

"This is very slimy of you guys to try to twist this day for your own benefit by encouraging people to turn on one another," said Beatrice Cardenas, a Republican vying for a seat in the California legislature. 

"So uh… this is kind of psychotic," noted Jessica O’Donnell of the Blaze.

Likewise, the same post by ATF on its Facebook page brought just 1,500 likes and was rebuffed by over 1,500 overwhelmingly sour comments, hinting that it may have backfired.

"This is just the most tone deaf thing I have ever heard," noted John Correia with Active Self Protection. 

"Ok, this can’t be real!?" asked the AK Operators Union.

"This is why red flag gun laws shouldn’t exist. A temporary feeling of pain would lead to lying to a law enforcement agency," said one commentator. "That would cost the taxpayers money, the innocent victim a huge hassle to deal with, and the criminal that lied to a law enforcement agency would likely not get punished."