American Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms May Be Smuggling Guns Into Mexico

[jordan179]

I haven't had a particularly good opinion of the BATF for a long time now, but this managed to shock even me. According to Jeff Knox in the Knox Report on World Net Daily, "Did U.S. agency smuggle guns to Mexico to justify its budget?," (http://www.wnd.com/index.php ( Read more... )

Comments

[spiffystuff]

Huh.

Damn, legalize (but regulate) drugs already, and get rid of that bureau >:(

[galadrion]

Actually, the BATF has nothing to do with currently illegal drugs. Legalizing them would likewise have nothing to do with the bureau, until and unless said drugs were placed under its jurisdiction. And to be honest, it would make more sense to place them under the FDA, particularly if they were to be regulated.

[spiffystuff]

Right, brain fart - thought they were watching for illegal drug trafficking as well.
Though still I think the arms trafficking would be greatly decreased if drugs were legal as that's a major organized cash source...

[jordan179]

Most of the illegal arms trafficking which exists, exists because we (unconstitutionally) limit the right to bear arms. If we abandoned gun control for most citizens, the only black markets for firearms would be to convicted felons, and the international market to terrorists. These would be small in comparison with the current situation, and easily watched by other agencies.

[lather2002]

It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. The gentlemen may cry, Peace, peace ! but there is no peace. The war has actually begun ! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms ! Our brethren are already in the field ! Why stand we here idle ? What is it that the gentlemen wish ? What would they have ? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery ? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or death !

---Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775

[ford_prefect42]

I don't know why that would come as a surprise. Government agencies have a *long* history of creating problems so that they can "solve" them.

[jordan179]

Yes, but they don't usually suborn federal felonies and feed civil wars in our allies. That goes beyond the normal bureaucratic ineptitude; it's outright malice. Malfeasance, as opposed to mere misfeasance, in other words.

[belvarius]

This is monstrous if true! Mexico's troubles with the drug gangs have been increasingly brutal and horrific over the last few years and to find out one of our federal agencies may be a significant contributor to the violence is maddening to say the least!

You know, it's not just the death of that official that needs to be investigated but also those of U.S. citizens that have been injured or killed in the violence committed by these gangs as well. Also any and all property damage that may have been done by these guns.

I'm with you all the way on ending the BATF if this is true Jordan. At the very least there needs to be a massive round of firings/prosecutions of all the agents and officials involved in supplying arms to these drug gangs as well as a massive overhaul of how the agency conducts its business!

[jordan179]

Mind you, I don't think that the BATF is responsible for the whole mess in Mexico. But the fact that the BATF is making matters worse ...

It is not a legitimate function of a firearms regulatory bureau to back armed rebels abroad. Still less abroad in one of our allies. And far less when the rebels are also enemies of our own country.

I don't know for sure that the BATF has really done all this, but their past record does not exactly fill me with love and trust for the Bureau. The FBI they ain't.

[operations]

Why does the government get less regulation and oversight than we demand of Wall Street?

[galadrion]

Because they're the ones who claim - exclusively - the privilege of oversight. The problems logically follow.