In the scheme of things, trying to return to fiscal responsibility and getting unneeded programs and agencies cut, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives represents a drop in the bucket. It’s a bucket that is not needed, has been ineffective and it’s time for it to be abolished.
Perhaps it's time that the members of congress refresh their memories on the Second Amendment contained within the Bill of rights to the Constitution.
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (abbreviated ATF) is a federal law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Justice.
Its responsibilities include the investigation and prevention of federal offenses involving the unlawful use, manufacture, and possession of firearms and explosives, acts of arson and bombings, and illegal trafficking of alcohol and tobacco products.
Frankly their strategic plan from the ATF website, is a complete farce, containing many words and little meaning.
The ATF also regulates via licensing the sale, possession, and transportation of firearms, ammunition, and explosives in interstate commerce.
Many of ATF's activities are carried out in conjunction with task forces made up of state and local law enforcement officers, such as Project Safe Neighborhoods.
ATF operates a unique fire research laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, where full-scale mock-ups of criminal arsons can be reconstructed.
The agency is led by Kenneth E. Melson, Acting Director and William J. Hoover, Acting Deputy Director. The ATF has nearly 5,000 employees and an annual budget of $1.12 billion (2010)
A new whistleblower website, Clean Up ATF, reveals just what gun owners have been saying for years: The ATF is out of control.
“Managers, Counsel, Internal Affairs and staff of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (BATFE or "ATF") have repeatedly given false testimony, concealed substantial waste, fraud and abuse, abused their lawful authority, and waged systematic campaigns of reprisal against their own employees that dare to speak out.
This website is intended by members of the ATF community to promote restoration of integrity, accountability and responsibility to ATF’s leadership, and regain the trust of the American taxpayer.”
The ATF may be the most hated federal agency in America today, surpassing even the IRS in its notoriety. Gun-rights advocates have demonized the agency as a dark legion of storm troopers who trample the rights of ordinary citizens.
Critics have gone so far as to compare its treatment of gun owners to Nazi persecution of Jews during World War II.
In a best-selling book published last year, Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association described ATF's disastrous raid at Waco, which began the 51-day siege that ended in conflagration, as "reminiscent of the standoff at the Warsaw ghetto."
Yesterday, it was reported from the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action that the U.S. House voted to block unauthorized record keeping on gun owners.
It should come as no shock to the reader that another overreach by ATF is duplicative in that they already have this information.
The U.S. House has voted for an amendment to H.R. 1 offered by Reps. Denny Rehberg and Dan Boren that prohibits the use of federal funds for a new and unauthorized multiple sales reporting scheme proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). The measure passed the chamber with broad bipartisan support.
"The reluctance of the Calderon and Obama administrations to face reality and pursue real solutions is costing the lives of law enforcement and civilians on both sides of the border," said Chris W. Cox, executive director for the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action.
"NRA has always and will continue to support any law enforcement initiative that targets criminals. Any proposal that only burdens law-aiding gun owners and retailers, as this proposal does, is a non-starter with the NRA.
To put it very simply, if someone is breaking the law, go after them full bore. If they aren't, leave them alone."
The ATF is demanding the authority to require all of the 8,500 firearm dealers in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to report all sales of two or more semiautomatic rifles within five consecutive business days, if the rifles are larger than .22 caliber and use detachable magazines.
Yet, under existing law, the bureau has full access to every record of every firearm transaction by every licensed dealer, whether during a bona fide criminal investigation or simply to enforce compliance with record keeping requirements.
This reporting scheme would create a registry of owners of many of today's most popular rifles, firearms owned by millions of Americans for self-defense, hunting and other lawful purposes.
Chris W. Cox, executive director concluded, "On behalf of the tens of millions of law-abiding gun owners in America, I would like to thank Reps. Rehberg and Boren for their leadership on this important issue."
"Every congressman who voted for this measure seeks real solutions to this tragic and violent problem that continues to escalate. In these trying times, limited resources should not be squandered on programs that will do nothing to address the heinous crimes occurring along our border."
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Copyright © 2011 Jim Campbell
Please visit my website at A Charging Elephant
Comments
Another of so many great articles JC. Can you do one on the CIA soon?
That's an interesting though indeed Craig. I'm beginning to peak over the black helicopters circling my home day and night. Waiting for a drone attack at the moment!
Damn, JC...there is so much that we...I don't kn ow...let's get this government down to a manageable size that we the people can easily keep an eye on...I agree this dept has to go.
You know Hisgrace I was just telling my wife I love doing this so much I don't want to die, believe that I've lived the life of an Adrenalin junkie. I have to much I want to learn, in writing I accomplish that. Jim
Great article as usual There is some much going on and people do not have clue. The paid media reports what they are told and make its look like the government is taking care of wverthing for the American People all a farce thank again posting
That's why I'm hear, I source everything. The media and particularly the scumbag progressive lies go unchallenged, not by me! LOL
Why does it keep saying I report abuse when I don't!!
No clue ANON might be just something going down with the system at the time. Don't give it a thought. Thanks for the heads up I'll mention it to the Examiner see if it's a known issue. J.C.
ATF is an unconstitutional entity, hence illegal. They need to be prosecuted for treason against the people.
Good call RSBL....They have to be unconstitutional. Their actions are frequently at odds with the 2nd Amendment. Thanks for reading and stopping by to comment. Jim
I'm with RSBL. THEY SHOULD BE DONE WITH AND TRIED FOR TREASON AGAINST WE THE PEOPLE. ANOTHER DEBT THAT SHOULD BE WIPED OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL WASTE TANK. GOOD LEARNING HERE JIM. I HAD NO IDEA...YOU BE DA MAN! MY PERSONAL FRIEND AND THINK TANK! THANKS!
Thanks Donna, I'm humbled by your comment, o.k. you know me, I don't have a humble bone in my body, LOL But I sincerely appreciate your comments I like digging up stuff that we are always being kept in the dark. It's my mission. xoxo J.C.
They want to trample the American Citizens rights and take away our protection, then great, only the criminals will have the guns.
Yes, it's time to to abolish he Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
Shit it's making me think that Ayers and the Weather Underground might have been on to something. Believe it I was recruited to be a member, a card carrying member of the Peace and Freedom party. When I learned of their group, I said I'm out of there, became a member of my own party The "piece" and freedom party, and partied on through the 60's. Ya had to have been there what a great time. Peace Love Dove and all that commie crap. I'm probably the most fiscally conservative person on the planet, make that the solar system, remember Soros came from some place and I don't think it was from Earth.
Alot of these agencies are out of control and abuse their power. I actually think that the law abiding citizen is the target here not the criminal. Along with IRS this should be abolished.
Under the progressive movement you are exactly right that is why conservatives will not compromise. RINO's will become endangered species at election time.
It should be the right of every law-abiding citizen to own as many firearms they want. I think it's criminal to have to register one. They want us to think it's so they can track down a murderer but those weapons used in murders are usually stolen.The sole reason is so they can go after the owners when the NWO takes us over. If I were to buy a gun it would be one of those Saturday night specials.
Make no mistake about it Mary it is the 2nd Amendment and was recently affirmed by the United States Supreme in Heller V D.C. The lying ho Sotomayor who said during her hearings that she would not vote against it because it was established rule of law. Well, she did vote against the 2nd Amendment. She and Kagan are shills for Marxism, Impeaching Obama would get rid of both of them if he were found guilty be the Senate. Not holding my breath.
The ATF is but one of many U.S. government agencies that need to be totally abolished. We have too many government agencies and most of them are duplications of existing agencies. And, to top it off, none of these bogus agencies are competent or efficient. The FBI which gets so much hype as to their professionalism, etc. is nothing but an overblown bureacuracy that does nothing but snoop on citizens and cannot manage to campture one real serious criminal such as a serial killer or terrorist. The only time the FBI makes a big bust of a serious criminal is after some snitch rats somebody out and shows the FBI where to go and find them. The ATF is exactly the same sort of incompetent outfit as FBI and many other government agencies. It is time to Defund about 80 percent of the federal bureaucracy and then the congress would not be perpetually figuring out more ways to tax us and the president and others could not use these bogus agencies such as EPA to do things that cannot be legislated like shutting down oil drilling operations and coal mining. Our federal government is Public Enemy Number One and until we Downsize it and Hold it To It's Constitutional Powers, we will never take this country back.
On the dimes with that one Jerome, let's not forget to put the CIA in with the FBI. Possibly the two are functioning with serious help from our allies who take terrorism a great deal more seriously than the progressives currently destroying our country and the all thing in love with Allah resident-in thief. Thanks for the comments Jerome. J.C.
Kudos JIm.
The mayhem at Waco was named Operation Showtime. It was budget time and ATF wanted to make a splash to ensure their existence. ATF was also responsible for a large portion of the Ruby Ridge fiasco that ended with the deaths of a 12 year old boy, his mother and a U.S. Marshall.
Currently, they are under investigation for, GET THIS, smuggling guns into Mexico to bolster their claims that guns are being smuggled into Mexico. NO, I'm not kidding.
Sen. Charles Grassley is leading the charge and Holder and the DOJ and ATF are in retreat.
Check out David Codrea's examiner blog for the whole story.
Thanks Paul I actually read both of them. The examiner software has a feature if you are writing on a topic other examiner articles pop up. I googled him to find the second. I left out Ruby Ridge because of space, but think I'll go back and add a one liner. Thanks for your comments, J.C.
Great article as always J.C. I've always argued that all these federal agencies are worthless. It seems we did just fine policing ourselves but nooooo... then the feds had to create all these departments because they supposedly knew better how to take care of things so far. Probably explains why our graduation rate from schools has plummeted since the inception of the Department of Education. They've made things so much better huh?
Indeed Chris, way to much federal government stealing our freedom, liberty, and forcing us to live under their tyranny, That stops in November 2012 the deck chairs are going overboard.
Good article Jim. Another government outreach program to keep citizens fearful. The US Militia groups have been harassed and even jailed in Michigan. They used the excuse of having an infiltrator who heard them talk about killing a cop. I absolutely do not believe that but it shows that they can always explain their infringements on something to make it acceptable.
Let's list these one by one again. Dept of Energy. Dept of Education. Dept of Tobacco an Firearms. .... END THEM! Save taxpayers money.
I agree Loral, I've written on each calling for them to be abolished and I'm not finished. Appreciate your comments always. JIm
Another great and very informative article, Jim!
The ATF needs to already be Gone!! Another waste of tax dollars.
Indeed Angie, there is nothing they do that can't be done more efficiently and less expensively by private contractors. Currently the federal agency is a joke.
Right on, Jim! The ATF is unConstitutional and along with numerous other gov't entities should be entirely done away with. Period.
WE have to get these thoughts circulating Karen. Government workers have their pensions and health plans paid by our tax dollars. When they pay income tax it's money already stolen from the Taxpayer. As much as possible should be cut, needed services provided by the private sector. Thanks for your comments Karen, Jim
Thanks, Jim! Fantastic as always! What other gov't programs can we get rid of??
10 minutes ago · Like
Hi Karen I'm going after them one at a time. It amazes me what I don't know before I start digging on these endless pits that gobble taxpayer wealth.
before i comment on my favorite subject,,id like to thank jim campbell for his contribution to this facebook group that i chat with,,,jim you should run for a rep. job .you would do very good in politics.your consistancy is impecable.now back to the commie gungrabbing outfit known as the batf,,these jackass`s have been mocking the second amendment for a long time now.abolishing this profane group of traitors should be priority 1. its beyond acceptance that we have even allowed our filthy government to appoint such an outfit as the batf.all they really are is an extension of tyranny. THE SOONER WE ERADICATE/ABOLISH THIS OUTFIT,from our society the better off we are as free americans.
Hey Big guy, thanks for the great compliment I really appreciate your confidence in my work. As to your rant on the ATF please in the future don't hold back! J.C.
Yes this agency along with others views the American people as the enemy and yet the tax payers are footing the bill. Time to get rid of them.
Yes, this agency should also have been eliminated long time ago, along with many others. Thank you for informing us with your great articles, Jim. Your friendship is always an honor.
The ATF should be a Wallmart for one stop shopping.
Yet another piece of quality plagiarism, Jim.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983197,00.html
you're certainly a cranky senile old man.maybe you brought up some good points,but you've brought them up the wrong way,or at least for the wrong reasons.not to mention its plagiarized.you wanna talk about illegal,well start with yourself.not to mention your REAL typing is full of spelling and grammatical errors.
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