The GAO gun trafficking report I referenced earlier today has been posted to their website. I present it here for your convenience. United States Government Accountability Office Report to Congressional Requesters
I have not had time to read the entire document, nor to analyze it. I expect the experts to begin weighing in immediately, and national gun organizations will no doubt release position statements soon. In the mean time, read the report for yourself. Notable highlights from first glance:
"Over 90 percent of the firearms seized in Mexico and traced over the last 3 years have come from the United States."
Which, as we've seen repeatedly, is a woefully incomplete data set to extrapolate from.
While the eTrace data only represents data from gun trace requests submitted from seizures in Mexico and not all the guns seized, it is currently the only systematic data available...
Again, they're admitting their findings are incomplete, but they intend to draw conclusions anyway. Why?
ATF officials stated certain provisions of some federal firearms laws present challenges to their efforts to combat arms trafficking to Mexico. For example, they identified key challenges related to (1) restrictions on collecting and reporting information on firearms purchases, (2) a lack of required background checks for private firearms sales, and (3) limitations on reporting requirements for multiple sales.
So they can gin up the hysteria to enact complete registration and end private sales.
I and others will no doubt have much more to say about this later. Let me end this post by noting it ironic, and more than a little Orwellian, that the agency tasked with ensuring government accountability to the citizens through their Congressional representatives says the way to do that is by making citizens more accountable to the government.
Also see:
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Comments
All the more reason to secure the border, my dear.
I see several "lines in the sand" being drawn here.
Ahh, my bad. When I first glanced at the title, I thought it said "GOA" (Gun Owners of America). No wonder I was puzzled.
The old-age dyslexic altzheimers kicking in, I guess. . .
Other then that, looks like another Napalitano-DHS-style hatchet job (released before it's time, I'm sure).
So glad you are on top of this. Thanks, David.
pg. 15 chart says 6700 guns traced to US in 2008
pg. 16 says 30,000 guns confiscated by Mexicans in 2008
this only comes to 22%. Where does the 87% number come from?
With the caveat that I'm just checking in and don't have time to consult this right now, my guess would be 87% of the 6700. Why the rest weren't submitted for tracing is something only those withholding the information--and those relying on it to further an agenda--can answer.
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