ATF to Require Information on Frequent Gunbuyers in Border States

[Teh One Who Knocks]

The Associated Press




WASHINGTON -- In an effort to stem the illicit flow of weapons into Mexico, the Justice Department announced Monday that all gun shops in four Southwest border states will be required to alert the federal government to frequent buyers of high-powered rifles.

The new policy comes amid criticism of a failed federal probe aimed at dismantling large-scale arms trafficking networks along the Arizona border with Mexico.

In the probe, called Operation Fast and Furious, several agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives say they were inexplicably ordered by superiors to stop tracking some small-time "straw" buyers who purchased large numbers of weapons apparently destined for drug cartels.

Under the new policy, federal firearms licensees in Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico must report purchases of two or more of some types of rifles by the same person in a five-day span. The requirement applies to purchases of semi-automatic rifles that have detachable magazines and a caliber of greater than .22.

ATF estimates it will generate 18,000 reports a year.

Deputy Attorney General James Cole said the new reporting measure will improve the ATF's ability to disrupt illegal weapons trafficking networks that funnel firearms to criminal organizations.

One of the critics of Operation Fast and Furious called the new policy "the height of hypocrisy."

The Obama administration is restricting the gun rights of border state citizens, "when the administration knowingly and intentionally allowed guns to be trafficked into Mexico," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas.

"Limiting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens is not going to solve the problem," Smith said.

ATF estimates the requirement will cover nearly 8,500 gun store operators in the four states, though less than 30 percent of those operators are expected to have multiple sales to report.

ATF will retain the information and if no investigative leads have been realized after two years, it will be purged.

Holders of federal firearms licenses already report multiple sales of handguns. The results go to the National Tracing Center, and ATF says it has led to successful prosecutions for firearms trafficking.

[Muddy]

Doesnt sound like a bad idea to me..

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Doesnt sound like a bad idea to me..

It doesn't to me either, but my opinion of it is contingent on what exactly BATFE considers to be 'frequent'

[Loser]

So it's ok for the ATF to sell firearms to the drug cartels, but....ya know...that pretty much says it all..

[Teh One Who Knocks]

So it's ok for the ATF to sell firearms to the drug cartels, but....ya know...that pretty much says it all..

That's a different argument

[Griffin]

It doesn't to me either, but my opinion of it is contingent on what exactly BATFE considers to be 'frequent'

Under the new policy, federal firearms licensees in Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico must report purchases of two or more of some types of rifles by the same person in a five-day span.

I own quite a few guns myself but seriously, what law abiding citizen needs to buy 2 semi-auto fire weapons every 5 days?

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I own quite a few guns myself but seriously, what law abiding citizen needs to buy 2 semi-auto fire weapons every 5 days?

I looked thru the story and I completely missed that

And I would agree, who needs to buy two or more guns every 5 days? More importantly, what kind of average law abiding citizen would have that kinda money?

[KevinD]

I have no problem with this, as far as it goes. I've never actually bought a firearm at a gun shop or store. Not for any particular reason, it just worked out that way. I have a friend who is a huge gun collector (last count was over 2000 firearms), but he has bought these here and there, mostly once a month at estate sales etc. He's not an abnormal person, he just collects guns. I could see how this could adversely affect him and those like him.

[Muddy]

So it's ok for the ATF to sell firearms to the drug cartels, but....ya know...that pretty much says it all..

Hahaha.. true