ATF Project Gunrunner

Firing Melson shouldn't be the end of it. Issa should continue to build his case. If he can build a criminal case against him he just might roll over on someone higher up.
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I agree. Don't stop digging until the whole truth is known.
 
On a bright note, it looks like the NY Post at least is starting to look at the evidence and reach the conclusion that this was likely more about generating support for policy than it was a law enforcement effort.

Hopefully more major media outlets will start doing some real journalism and ask how this program was supposed to aid law enforcement when the ATF had no way to surveil the weapons once they entered Mexico? I keep seeing news reports that repeat the stated goal of Gunwalker without ever questioning it.

Tom Servo said:
He can't build much of a case when the people under investigation control the supply and quality of evidence.
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Ah; but there is the rub - they don't control all the evidence or the investigation would never have gotten this far. Issa has something like 19 cooperating witnesses, including the Assistant SAIC at Phoenix. I'm hoping he is feeding out that evidence slowly and strategically withholding some of the key stuff to help evaluate what kind of cooperation DoJ is actually providing.

As for ATF going away, I don't see that happening. As problematic as ATF is, giving their responsibilities to another agency will just make that agency stronger and less responsive to Congress. Ultimately, one of the advantages of being regulated by ATF is that ATF is a weak agency with a history of incompetence so it is easier to challenge them when they are wrong. If we faced this same program being run by the Director of the FBI, that would be a much tougher fight I think.
 
Bartholomew Roberts:

I could be completely wrong here but re the antics of the BATFE, it's "checkered past", the problem arises from the nature of the laws, re firearms, that it "enforces", questions of it's competence or incompetence aside.

The entirety of the existing body of federal firearms law, with few exceptions, amounts to a closet overburdened with "stuff" that should have long since have been thrown away. That strikes me as the problem, that the congress has not only failed to check the antics of the BATFE, but that it has failed to clean out the closet. The question of whether The Congress can be looked to for the above mentioned, needed effort, is another matter.
 
We should oppose Traver with the same vigor that we investigate gun-walker, otherwise this is a win for Holder and Obama. This is a crisis that will either benefit us, or be wasted and benefit the administration.
 
Standing Wolf said:

Firing the current head of the BATFE and replacing him with a known anti-Second Amendment bigot is most emphatically not the needed result.
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True, but that might be pretty much what Obama et al have in mind. As for The Congress, have they ever acted to seriously check the antics of the "ATF"?
 
True, but that might be pretty much what Obama et al have in mind. As for The Congress, have they ever acted to seriously check the antics of the "ATF"?
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Actually, there was a push to shut them down after Waco. Even Al Gore made rumblings about merging them into the FBI. Nothing came of it, though.
 
As for The Congress, have they ever acted to seriously check the antics of the "ATF"?
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Most unfortunately, alan, you've hit the nail squarely on the head.

Maybe it's time to send a bunch of new people to Congress with orders to do the people's work instead of the government's work.
 
Like any bureaucracy, the ATF has to justify its existence. Enforcing alcohol and tobacco laws is pretty far down the line of law enforcement prestige and is decidedly "non-sexy." If enforcement of firearms law was moved to the FBI or other legitimate law enforcement agency (Secret Service?), there would be less pressure for the agency to prove itself and justify its existence through bogus and ill-conceived efforts to ring up numbers and arrests or be a willing political tool. The law enforcement agency assuming the responsibilities would have other duties and responsibilities to help justify its existence. There would consequently be less motive to engage in unlawful behavior.
 
If all we get from this is the firing of the temporary agency head we should be really angry. The law was broken and deaths have occurred from these sales. I agree the agency head should go but if AG Holder fails to prosecute some ATF people he needs to be next on the list. If Congress especially the House part of it does not hold the feet of the White House administration to the fire then Issa and some Reps should be sent packing.
 
I have re-emphasized my objection to Mr. Traver taking over BATFE to my member of congress. Dr. Burgess seems to agree that Mr. Traver is not a good choice.
Notifying your member of congress would be a good place to start.........again.
 
Well, it is finally starting to hit mainstream media now - they discussed it on "Morning Joe" of all things. Of course, information-wise, they are about 6 months behind the internet; but I'm starting to see several news organizations actually question the law enforcement angle.

If I were AG Holder, I'd be stacking bodies underneath that bus and looking to throw DHS under there as well to get that attention focused on another Department that has some culpability. I think it is telling that until now the White House response has been "Neither the President nor Holder knew about or authorized the operation" and the latest response was "The President did not know or authorize the operation."

And unlike those who don't think this will go anywhere, I think it has some potential to go far. If it doesn't end up going somewhere it will be because itwas used as leverage in a backroom deal between Republicans and the White House.
 
Limbaugh bulldogged it a while yesterday as well.
The resignation raises more questions than it answers.....and Traver will likely get the job of cleaning up this whole mess but I don't think Issa is gonna be satisfied until he has a bit more. Just a hunch based on the questions that have already been asked, and statements made to the media.
 
I think it is telling that until now the White House response has been "Neither the President nor Holder knew about or authorized the operation" and the latest response was "The President did not know or authorize the operation."
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Which is in-and-of-itself an admission that they lied in their previous statement.
 
The ATF was transferred to the DOJ under the Homeland Security Bill in 2003. This should all be stopping at AG Holders front door step. If he is claiming he knew nothing about this idiotic operation then he should be under the bus material for the White House. Especially since he has not announced some criminal prosecutions of the ATF personnel resonsible for this fiasco.
 
Notifying your member of congress would be a good place to start.
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True, but know which members can make a difference. Traver's being groomed for a position as acting director, which does not require confirmation through the Senate Judiciary Committee.

These are the guys who control the actual budget, and who can put real pressure on the ATF. Of course, a quick glance at the roster shows why the ATF continues to enjoy budget increases year by year.
 
If I were AG Holder, I'd be stacking bodies underneath that bus and looking to throw DHS under there as well to get that attention focused on another Department that has some culpability.
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You mean a bus like this one?:D

obamabus2cg0.jpg
 
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