ATF targets gun dealers to stem sales to Mexican cartels

[RamboLiberal]

Source: MSNBC

U.S. law enforcement officials have devised an aggressive and potentially controversial new strategy to crack down on the illegal gun trade to Mexico by targeting cartel networks inside this country and "corrupt" U.S. firearms dealers, according to internal Justice Department documents obtained by NBC News.

The documents also state that the drug traffickers appear to have expanded efforts to acquire firepower in the U.S. by tapping well-developed supply networks beyond the Southwest border region in order to acquire high-powered assault rifles as well as components for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The new strategy was prepared in recent weeks by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)’s Office of Field Operations, in the wake of stinging criticism of current ATF efforts to stem the flow of weapons to the cartels by the Justice Department’s inspector general.

Labeled “law enforcement sensitive,” it calls for ATF agents to put more emphasis on monitoring the activities of U.S. guns stores and other federally licensed firearms dealers who may be assisting or turning a blind eye to gun purchases by drug cartel operatives. The report describes such “corrupt” U.S. firearms dealers as “high value targets” -- a phrase that could rile gun rights groups and their supporters in Congress who charge ATF is already too aggressive in regulating the firearms industry.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39345370/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[Romulox]

1. End the Drug War. nt

[Kingofalldems]

2. Uh oh

:popcorn:

[Cirque du So-What]

5. This isn't the gungeon

but I'd expect a much different take on this story over there - bemoaning the plight of those poor, oppressed gun dealers or somesuch codswollop.

[madinmaryland]

Save some for me!!

:popcorn:

[xchrom]

3. Awesome. Nt

[Arctic Dave]

4. Whaaaa.

If a gun dealer knowingly sells guns to cartel operatives then they are just as bad as the drug dealers themselves. Fuck em seven ways to Sunday and the horse they rode in on.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Good.

I love the smell of popcorn on a Friday night.:popcorn:

[slackmaster]

7. The actual strategy document doesn't agree with the title of the MSNBC story about it

From http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/Cartel_Strategy.pdf

...While our strategy will remain multi-faceted and continue to include the inspection of licensed gun dealers and the targeting and arresting of straw purchasers, our revised approach will place greater emphasis on investigations that target specific cartels and the persons responsible for organizing and directing firearms trafficking operations in the United States. We have come to understand that we can best impact firearms trafficking to Mexico and Southwest border violence by linking our investigations to drug trafficking organizations and where possible to specific Mexican cartels. Our efforts will also be enhanced through increased coordination with our Federal counterparts....

I skimmed the document. They're going to CONTINUE scrutinizing US gun dealers, which is and has always been one of their primary missions. The change in emphasis is toward investigating the criminal organizations.

The "targets gun dealers" phrase appears to be both recycled and extemporaneous.

[Ter]

8. Abolish the ATF

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be a place to shop, not a bureaucracy.

[Paladin]

11. Hold Your Breath.... (n/t)

[MichaelHarris]

9. IMPOSIBLE!

I get my news from the gungion and according to their sources not many guns from America are used in Mexico. They have stats and numbers, and everything.


:sarcasm:

[Pavulon]

14. I prefer my news with just faith,, fuck all those silly numbers

look good feel good baby, as long as it pimps my agenda. I mean I am sure the frag grenades and belt fed weapons are being trucked in from arizona.

[friendly_iconoclast]

15. You misread what was posted there. Plenty of guns from America are used in Mexico.

The trouble is, many of them come by way of the MX government, which for some reason cannot keep track of the assault rifles,

grenades, and machine guns it buys directly from US manufacturers.


You might think they had some sort of problem with official corruption, but of course that can't be the reason.

Both governments blame US gun dealers, and you can always count on government spokespeople to tell the truth...

[bloomington-lib]

10. They have billions of dollars.

You can't stop people with that much money from buying weapons. If you could stop the money i.e. legalizing, well then maybe.

[Adsos Letter]

12. "ATF targets gun dealers to stem sales to Mexican cartels"

The ATF is targeting the MIC and the Mexican military? Interesting.

[applegrove]

13. Well blow me down with a feather. I rec'd this and it is still at negative recs. Now how does that

happen. Hello NRA!

[ManiacJoe]

16. Why rec a poorly written article?

See response #7.