ATF joins with Border Patrol, Vermont locals in gun crackdown

[jpak]

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/6e47969cd5b5463aa09e0be13a651869/VT--Gun-Crackdown/

MONTPELIER, Vt. — A violent crime task force in Vermont is making inroads into firearms trafficking networks that link some of North America's biggest cities — and run through Vermont.

The eight-man unit, run by the Vermont office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, includes lawmen from ATF, the Vermont State Police, the Addison County sheriff's department and the U.S. Border Patrol. Established four years ago, it added a Border Patrol representative in 2010.

On Oct. 1, a Rutland city police officer will join the group.

James Mostyn, resident agent in charge of ATF's Burlington office, says the task force has so far identified three U.S.-to-Canada drugs-for-firearms trafficking organizations and that the addition of the Border Patrol has made both agencies more informed about the flow of illegal drugs and firearms.

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[SteveM]

1. And how does Vermont's gun laws, or lack thereof, encourage smuggling?

Sounds like Vermont is used for smuggling due to its sparse and rural population and a rugged border. Good, short connections to Boston, NYC, etc.

Clash of two prohibitions: Canada's recent gun law enactments, and both countries' persistent support of the W.O.D.

[spin]

2. I'm glad to see the ATF doing their job.

I seriously believe that there are a lot of very professional and dedicated agents serving in the front line battle against illegal gun sales and smuggling.

Unfortunately the agency has some serious management problems as shown by the recent agency operation named "Fast and Furious" that allowed thousands of guns to "walk" into the hands of criminals in both the United States and Mexico.

Agent: I was ordered to let U.S. guns into Mexico
March 3, 2011 6:10 PM

(CBS News)

WASHINGTON - Federal agent John Dodson says what he was asked to do was beyond belief.

He was intentionally letting guns go to Mexico?

"Yes ma'am," Dodson told CBS News. "The agency was."

An Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms senior agent assigned to the Phoenix office in 2010, Dodson's job is to stop gun trafficking across the border. Instead, he says he was ordered to sit by and watch it happen.

Investigators call the tactic letting guns "walk." In this case, walking into the hands of criminals who would use them in Mexico and the United States.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/03/eveningnews/main20039031.shtml