ATF is too wounded to enforce gun-control laws [View all]
http://www.kcchronicle.com/2015/05/26/another-view-atf-is-too-wounded-to-enforce-gun-control-laws/ayezsz0/?page=1
Many members of Congress seem to view the U.S.s most deadly criminals those who carry guns as a protected class. For decades, theyve tried everything imaginable to cripple the agency charged with enforcing federal laws against illegal gun buying, trafficking and possession.
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A new report by the Center for American Progress recommends that the ATF be merged into the FBI. Its worth considering. It would be hard to do worse than the status quo.
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Merging into the FBI might push the ATF out of the congressional crosshairs. The FBI, for all its troubles, is generally well-regarded by both parties, and its reputation could give the enforcement of gun laws greater credibility.
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Theres the chance that shielding gun-law enforcement from congressional attacks could lead it to be neglected by the FBI, the Department of Justice and the White House. But the opposite is also true: An administration committed to combating gun crimes would have some political cover to do so.
The way the ATF has been treated by the GOP is classic conservatism; hobble, handicap and under-fund until an agency can't function and then say, "See, gobmint don't work!"
When forced to pass laws they don't like they sabotage them by making them un-enforceable. I hear the gunners constantly say that the FBI doesn't prosecute those who fail background checks but the records of that crime must, by law, be destroyed in 24 hours.
They say background checks don't work but refuse to demand background checks on the 40% of gun sales that are not done through licensed gun dealers.
They say we don't need state laws because there are federal laws but refuse to admit that the agencies that enforce federal laws are underfunded, under manned and consistently without leadership because the Senate won't approve department heads.