LA Times: FBI report at odds with ATF claim on weapons

[friendly_iconoclast]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fast-furious-fbi-20110727,0,1225732,print.story

FBI report at odds with ATF claim on weapons

A copy of the FBI document shows ballistics tests did not rule out the Fast and Furious guns in the death of Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry.

By Richard A. Serrano, Washington Bureau

July 27, 2011

Reporting from Washington

The claim by senior ATF officials that none of the weapons lost in the botched Fast and Furious sting operation were used in the shooting of a Border Patrol agent is not supported by FBI ballistics tests, according to a copy of the FBI report on the shooting.

Last week, spokesmen Scot Thomasson and Drew Wade of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told The Times that the FBI had assured them that neither of the two Fast and Furious weapons found at the scene of Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry's death were the ones that killed the agent.

"We're not aware of any forensic evidence that would link these guns to the homicide," they said.

A copy of the FBI report obtained by The Times' Washington bureau shows ballistics tests did not rule out the Fast and Furious guns...

[spin]

1. This investigation has a long ways to go ...

and I can only hope that the results are the truth and not politically motivated.

Still, it appears at this time that the ATF and the DEA and the FBI might have had some involvement.

If this it true then our country bears great responsibility in the deaths and injury that these weapons may cause.

I totally support efforts to stop firearm smuggling to Mexico, Canada or any other nation. Perhaps our laws need to be improved and better enforced.

I believe we can do this without restricting the Second Amendment rights that we are fortunate enough to enjoy. I have no problem with honest responsible citizens owning firearms but I do have a major problem with allowing straw purchasers to obtain firearms that will end up in the hands of criminals. I believe most gun owners support my views.

[gravity556]

2. Maybe, just maybe

if Mexico built a wall along their northern border, they could more efficaciously interdict shipments of both arms headed south as well and southbound cash, and who knows, it might even put some of the the human slave traders that lead these poor people through the AZ desert in the summertime, leaving behind the sick and injured to die.

You know what pisses me off? Mention the US building a wall, and it's racist xenophobia. But what no one gets, up in Washington, 3000 miles from the carnage is that it's not about jobs anymore. The coyotes charge exhorbitant sums, then on the US side, cram drop houses (think small 3/2 with no AC) wiht 50 or 60 immigrants until they can be moved to locations further into the interior of the country. Instead, groups like La Raza have twisted it into some bullshit political cause. They don't give a flying fuck how many women are raped, or how many little girls get sold into prostitution-all they want is that sound bite.

I grew up in Phoenix. I've watched my city, my home, being overrun by gangbangers and sicarios working for La eMe. And they don't just do the human smuggling and selling of prostitutes, they like to use violence to ensure they get their cut. Kidnappings are popular-low risk of police involvment because everyone involved is an illegal immigrant. Not that the law south of the border is any better-corrupt cops, corrupt federales, corrupt city councimen. All of them offered plato o plomo. Silver or lead. You'll be paid in one or the other, but the payment in lead tends to be messy.

Also, you CANNOT WALK INTO A GUN SHOW AND PAY CASH FOR A MACHINE GUN, NO PAPERS, NO QUESTIONS. Only the extremely gullible and those with an agenda believe (or act like they believe) the idiotic line above to be gospel truth.

Why would a cartel pay 30+ thousand dollars for an M2 heavy machine gun (that's the one they love to trot out, belt fed, looks menacing, some mouthbreather will wail that it can shoot down airplanes from miles away. Horseshit.

If you can walk in to a gun show and purchase a full auto AK47 (preferably with an underfolding stock and non-pitted rifling, but full auto (meaning one pull of the trigger will continuously fire the gun until it runs out of ammo, I will reimburse you for the 400 dollars that the scaremongers say is all that one of these death machines cost. Plus, you'll have the story of the decade-it'll be like finding a unicorn with a t-rex's head and temperment. You could totally get the number from that hot barrista then.. :)

[friendly_iconoclast]

3. Mexico will *never* impose strict border controls, for several reasons

1. Smuggling (of people north, and of various inanimate objects in both directions) is too lucrative.

2. Mexico needs the remittance payments send back by Mexican citizens working in the US.

3. Working in El Norte keeps the unemployment rate down, and the Mexicans working in the US are too busy

trying to make a living to worry about such pesky questions as "Why should I have to leave my country in order

to find work?"

4. Republicans need cheap labor