ATF requests info about semi-automatic rifle sales in border states

[jpak]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20078579-10391695.html

The Justice Department announced today it will require federally licensed gun shops in Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico to report to the ATF purchases of two or more of some types of semi-automatic rifles within a five-day span by the same person.

The implementation of the new rule is an attempt to address and prevent firearm sales to "straw purchasers," people who claim to be the purchasing firearms for themselves but who are actually purchasing them on behalf of others.

In a statement today, Deputy Attorney General James Cole explained the reasoning behind the information request , saying federal, state and foreign law enforcement agencies have determined "that these kinds of rifles---greater than .22 caliber and with the ability to accept a detachable magazine---are highly sought after by dangerous drug trafficking organizations and frequently recovered at violent crime scenes near the Southwest Border."

According to the ATF, 36,148 reports of multiple sales of hand guns sales were submitted by Federal Firearms Licensees in fiscal year 2010 in the four southwest border states. ATF estimates the rule announced today will generate over 18,000 reports a year.

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GOP/NRA heads explode

:thumbsup:

[gejohnston]

1. not really, CYA at its best

other than a slight paperwork hassle, not that big deal. You fill out a form and mail it in. It sits in a stack for a couple days to weeks until the clerk does what ever with it. Nice theater, but who really cares. It has been the case with handguns since either the 1960s or after 9-11. The ATF might have to hire a new clerk to open the mail.

[TBMASE]

2. Hey, they're looking to track the same type of weapons we were selling to Mexican

drug lords through "Fast and Furious"
Perhaps they should have done this before getting caught supplying the bad guys with guns

[spin]

5. The ATF knows what weapons were involved ...

and they wish they didn't.

Every time one of those guns is discovered at the murder scene of a Mexican or an American it will be reported in the press. There could be a long blood trail over the next few years.

[spin]

3. I keep wondering why your head hasn't exploded because of the ATF scandal ...

If I favored draconian gun control, I would be really pissed to find that my own government had basically given 3000 firearms to straw purchasers who planed to smuggle them into Mexico and Honduras and sell some on the streets of America.

I have read very few comments from those who want much stronger gun control on this issue. To me it would seem logical that if you want to tightly control the sale of firearms you would also try to make sure that federal agencies enforce existing laws. It seems there is an fairly large amount of hypocrisy in the gun control movement.

[SSDA]

14. Bingo

Bingo. Fast and furious will not sway the anti gun zealots from their dreams of full confiscation.

[Hangingon]

4. I hope law suits are being prepared as we speak.

[Hoopla Phil]

6. So who do the FFL's report multiple straw purchase sales by the ATF to?

That seems to be the problem.

[Ragnarok]

7. I hope to run an agency some day...

...where I can just pull regulations out of my ass when people start investigating my agency. It's not very productive or Democratic, but apparently makes for good press. I wonder if they will end up having to arrest themselves over at the ATF?

[PavePusher]

8. By what form of idiocy do you think this will make a fucks' worth of difference....

when the MORANS "in charge" can't track the guns they themselves put in the hands of the illegal purchasers?

[jpak]

9. Fast & Furious proved without a doubt that Mexican Cartels buy guns from US gun dealers

thousands of them

This **sensible** policy will ID cartel straw buyers

and swiftly bring the Wrath of the Jackboots down upon them

and dam the Iron River

yup

[Hoopla Phil]

10. Only when FFL's are ordered by ATF to complete the sale.

yup

[eqfan592]

11. No, Fast & Furious proved that without a doubt...

... Mexican Cartels were buying guns with the full knowledge of US government authorities. Aurthorities that did nothing to stop them, and in fact worked AGAINST their being stopped. But hey, nice try jpak.

[gejohnston]

12. They already know the straw buyers

and they give them the money. Is it gun-aversive dyslexia or do you just ignore information you don't like? Or are you just screwing with us?

[PavePusher]

16. What part of "WHEN THEY WERE DIRECTED TO BY THE GOVERNMENT"

did you miss the fucking memo on?

Blinders, much?

The last time I saw a sub like you was in an actual scene. Kudos to you for taking your fetish public.

[friendly_iconoclast]

22. This "**sensible** policy" will encourage straw buyers to go on road trips...

in order to buy 1 (one) gun each at multiple gun shops within each state.

Which they can repeat after a suitable interval has passed...



This practice was known as "smurfing" in South Florida when used to launder money, and later multiple purchases of pseudoephdrine.


This is security theater promulgated by the cynical- and swallowed hook, line, and sinker by the gullible.

[ileus]

13. Interesting they'd make a problem worse to further an anti agenda.

[benEzra]

15. The "bigger than .22 caliber" part is weird.

AR-15's are .22 caliber, and I doubt they'd be exempted, given their second-most-hated status by the ban lobby and their popularity with U.S. shooters. And the rule can't mean "bigger than 0.220 caliber" since even .22LR is .222".

I wonder if the rule actually means "more powerful than .22 rimfire" instead of "larger than .22 caliber" or something, and either a reporter or a PR person garbled it?

[aikoaiko]

20. I wondered the same thing. I hope the wording in the policy or letter to FFls will be more clear.

waiting for the devil in the details.

[beevul]

17. Requests? REQUESTS?

Does that mean the answer to said request can be "no"?

[X_Digger]

18. ATF doing something by executive fiat for rifles that it took the congress to do for handguns?

That's going to go over like a lead balloon.

[SSDA]

19. More police state bs.

Watch - ill bet obama/holder try to put ATF under the DHS after this whole mess.

Screw these two. they are no better than bush.

[ileus]

21. Next up add Virginia to the list...These 4 are just a start.

http://www.swvatoday.com/news/article/webb_urges_inclusion_into_trafficking_area/10565/

[SSDA]

23. What a sham

Screw these jerks.

Has webb said a word on F&F

[Ragnarok]

24. Fuck the ATF

Defund, disband, destroy.

[Katya Mullethov]

25. Fire Chief caught in the act of commiting arson

Blames it on lack of no smoking signs