Huh. So an Executive Agency in the government decides it wants to push a meme about US guns fueling Mexico's violent crime problem, can't get the corroborating trace data to support such claims, and resorts to taking the matters into their own hands.
And it's all the NRA's fault.
What we know for sure at this point. (Obviously abridged, since to try and capture the entire timeline here would take up wayyyyy to much space. You can check out the Gunwalker time line at the National Gun Rights Examiner, here.) The ATF forced multiple gun dealers in Arizona to sell guns (2000 plus at this point, it could be more) to people those merchants knew were straw buyers, but were told point blank by the ATF to sell to anyway.
Those buyers were surveilled and were NOT interdicted before their purchases were turned over to gun runners. As a result, Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed in a fire fight with gun runners in Dec 2010. Found at the scene were two guns traced to Operation Fast and Furious. Another federal agent, Jaime Zapata, was killed in Mexico with a gun linked to a similar operation in Texas.
We have senior Justice Dept officials on record as using the results of this operation as a justification for the border states rule on multiple sales of long guns.
But all this is the NRA's fault? Really?
As Ron White would say, I don't think so, Scooter.
Showing posts with label Gunwalker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gunwalker. Show all posts
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
It's Been A Year
12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000. That's how much time has passed since former Marine and Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed in an ambush by a thug armed with a gun purchased from a Phoenix gun store at the urging the federal agency charged with preventing that very act.
In that time, we've heard all kinds of things around the operation known as Fast and Furious (Gunwalker to the intimately familiar). Things like it was a botched operation, that it got out of control, and that it was a rogue operation. We've heard all manner of excuses from those who support what happened: It was the NRA's fault, it was the fault of the Republican Party for not confirming a permanent director, we even heard it was all George Bush's fault.
We know two gentlemen who have done the heavy lifting and yeoman's work of making sure that we know what we know: Mike Vanderboegh and David Codrea If you would like a complete round up on Fast & Furious/Gunwalker, check out David's Examiner site. If you would like a daily play-by-play, check out Mike's place.
What we have found out in the last 12 months is that this operation wasn't botched at all. The objectives of the operation we met with precision, and that supervisors up and down the chain of command in main Justice and the ATF were giddy with excitement at the numbers of victims racked up with weaponry connected with F&F.
One thing that hadn't been put forward in all this blame 'x', is the race card. Until now. The Tuscon Citizen posits that all this hubub is really a racist attack on Messicans and black people. Why else would those evil racist Republicans be going after Eric Holder? I mean, it has to be because he's black, right? It can't be because he's the most incompetent person to hold the post of Attorney General at all. Nope, that can't be it.
And just to make sure we get this all tied in together, let's throw in obligatory references SB 1070 and go after a local Congressman who's part of the process to get the incompetent ass who's in charge of this circle-jerk thrown out of office, by accusing him of racism as part of a great big racist conspiracy to get Eric Holder.
I don't think I've seen that much left-wing hate in one piece since, well, the last time I tried to watch MSLSD. But it absolutely amazes me still that for a group that touts itself to be so 'tolerant', they sure tend to be pretty bigoted and intolerant themselves.
Just so we're clear here: Agent Terry, RIP.
In that time, we've heard all kinds of things around the operation known as Fast and Furious (Gunwalker to the intimately familiar). Things like it was a botched operation, that it got out of control, and that it was a rogue operation. We've heard all manner of excuses from those who support what happened: It was the NRA's fault, it was the fault of the Republican Party for not confirming a permanent director, we even heard it was all George Bush's fault.
We know two gentlemen who have done the heavy lifting and yeoman's work of making sure that we know what we know: Mike Vanderboegh and David Codrea If you would like a complete round up on Fast & Furious/Gunwalker, check out David's Examiner site. If you would like a daily play-by-play, check out Mike's place.
What we have found out in the last 12 months is that this operation wasn't botched at all. The objectives of the operation we met with precision, and that supervisors up and down the chain of command in main Justice and the ATF were giddy with excitement at the numbers of victims racked up with weaponry connected with F&F.
One thing that hadn't been put forward in all this blame 'x', is the race card. Until now. The Tuscon Citizen posits that all this hubub is really a racist attack on Messicans and black people. Why else would those evil racist Republicans be going after Eric Holder? I mean, it has to be because he's black, right? It can't be because he's the most incompetent person to hold the post of Attorney General at all. Nope, that can't be it.
And just to make sure we get this all tied in together, let's throw in obligatory references SB 1070 and go after a local Congressman who's part of the process to get the incompetent ass who's in charge of this circle-jerk thrown out of office, by accusing him of racism as part of a great big racist conspiracy to get Eric Holder.
I don't think I've seen that much left-wing hate in one piece since, well, the last time I tried to watch MSLSD. But it absolutely amazes me still that for a group that touts itself to be so 'tolerant', they sure tend to be pretty bigoted and intolerant themselves.
Just so we're clear here: Agent Terry, RIP.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Here We Go Again
As with most apologists for the current fiasco at the Department of JustUs, there's plenty of blame to go around, except where you know, it's actually supposed to be.
From this piece, another in a series funded by the Joyce Foundation through Media Matters, we hear about how all of this gunwalking nonsense could have been avoided if Texas had all the coolest and latest gun control schemes.
Because, you see, it's the gun laws of Texas that made a desperate woman commit a federal felony by straw purchasing guns for the cartels. Or something.
See, because Tejas didn't pony up to the Brady/VPC/MAIG playbook by banning sport utility rifles like the G3, FAL, AR 15, and WASR 10; or register gun owners like cattle; or require a waiting period to exercise a civil right, well by Gawd this young lady would still be free to get in other kinds of trouble.
Oh, and let's not forget that the USGOV running guns to Mexico is the fault of the weak gun laws in those states. Not that it would've made a difference...Gun dealers being ordered to proceed with sales they knew where wrong to people who until the NICS system was played with couldn't have made the purchase in the first place.
Which begs the question. How does a guy with a known felony record walk into a gun store and fill out a 4473? How does that happen? I'm no expert on the field of felons, but would it stand to reason that somebody told these felons to go to the store and make the purchase? They obviously had to know they would be flagged if they tried, right? I'm having a problem getting my head around that issue.
From this piece, another in a series funded by the Joyce Foundation through Media Matters, we hear about how all of this gunwalking nonsense could have been avoided if Texas had all the coolest and latest gun control schemes.
Because, you see, it's the gun laws of Texas that made a desperate woman commit a federal felony by straw purchasing guns for the cartels. Or something.
See, because Tejas didn't pony up to the Brady/VPC/MAIG playbook by banning sport utility rifles like the G3, FAL, AR 15, and WASR 10; or register gun owners like cattle; or require a waiting period to exercise a civil right, well by Gawd this young lady would still be free to get in other kinds of trouble.
Oh, and let's not forget that the USGOV running guns to Mexico is the fault of the weak gun laws in those states. Not that it would've made a difference...Gun dealers being ordered to proceed with sales they knew where wrong to people who until the NICS system was played with couldn't have made the purchase in the first place.
Which begs the question. How does a guy with a known felony record walk into a gun store and fill out a 4473? How does that happen? I'm no expert on the field of felons, but would it stand to reason that somebody told these felons to go to the store and make the purchase? They obviously had to know they would be flagged if they tried, right? I'm having a problem getting my head around that issue.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Another Idiot Comes Out On Gunwalker
So now that Gunwalker has hit the prime time on networks other than CBS News and Fox, the shills for the administration are all over what they believe is a non-starter of a scandal.
Witness Ruben Navarrette, Jr from CNN. I can't tell if he's ignorant, stupid, or both.
See, in his little world, the whole 'Gunwalker' thing is actually the fault of the Republican Party. Between calling for the border to be secured and stepping up enforcement of immigration violations, the Party of Socialism (Lite) forced the ATF to do this operation. Like the repugs brought the Acting Director of ATF in to a super secret squirrel meeting and said 'We want you to arm the cartels on the border'.
How, exactly this is the fault of the Party of Socialism (Lite) is not quite explored. We have gracious examples of supposedly racist behavior on the part of the State of Arizona. Add in the supposed blood-thirstiness of the NRA, and well, ATF just had to do something, right?
What is apparently lost on this poor excuse for a shill, is that this operation was designed from the outset to aid in one thing: justify further encroachments on that which shall not be infringed. That main Just Us was hounding ATF SACs for numbers and information is just now coming out, but it is there.
Calling F&F a misguided operation is like saying that Custer's expedition into the Little Bighorn took a wrong turn. Both operations were run by supposedly competent individuals, yet both ended very, very badly.
What shills like Navarrette can't seem to wrap their heads around is that Operation Fast & Furious and the new reporting requirements are two heads of the same snake. They are not exclusive of each other. You can't have reporting requirements for multiple long gun sales without F&F, and in order to justify the long gun requirement, you have to have F&F. He sees this new requirement as something independent of what happened that just needed to be done, regardless of the true facts in the case.
What he, and all the others who are late to the party seem to forget is that this operation was approved all the way up the chain. How far is still a mystery. But the pieces of that puzzle are beginning to fall into place.
Witness Ruben Navarrette, Jr from CNN. I can't tell if he's ignorant, stupid, or both.
See, in his little world, the whole 'Gunwalker' thing is actually the fault of the Republican Party. Between calling for the border to be secured and stepping up enforcement of immigration violations, the Party of Socialism (Lite) forced the ATF to do this operation. Like the repugs brought the Acting Director of ATF in to a super secret squirrel meeting and said 'We want you to arm the cartels on the border'.
How, exactly this is the fault of the Party of Socialism (Lite) is not quite explored. We have gracious examples of supposedly racist behavior on the part of the State of Arizona. Add in the supposed blood-thirstiness of the NRA, and well, ATF just had to do something, right?
What is apparently lost on this poor excuse for a shill, is that this operation was designed from the outset to aid in one thing: justify further encroachments on that which shall not be infringed. That main Just Us was hounding ATF SACs for numbers and information is just now coming out, but it is there.
Calling F&F a misguided operation is like saying that Custer's expedition into the Little Bighorn took a wrong turn. Both operations were run by supposedly competent individuals, yet both ended very, very badly.
What shills like Navarrette can't seem to wrap their heads around is that Operation Fast & Furious and the new reporting requirements are two heads of the same snake. They are not exclusive of each other. You can't have reporting requirements for multiple long gun sales without F&F, and in order to justify the long gun requirement, you have to have F&F. He sees this new requirement as something independent of what happened that just needed to be done, regardless of the true facts in the case.
What he, and all the others who are late to the party seem to forget is that this operation was approved all the way up the chain. How far is still a mystery. But the pieces of that puzzle are beginning to fall into place.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Update to My 'Project Gunwalker' Post
So, 3 weeks ago, I sent an email to my 3 congress-critters: one congresswoman and 2 senators.
Since then, I've got a response from the Congresswoman:
You get the picture. This was on the 14th. Today, I got a response from one of the senators, Senator Mike Enzi.
Since then, I've got a response from the Congresswoman:
Dear 'Hazmat'
Thank you for contacting me about the death of Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry. It is good to hear from you.
As you know, Agent Terry was shot in the line of duty on December 15 2010. Agent Terry's death is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). I am aware of news reports that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) is facilitating the transfer of U.S.-origin firearms into Mexico as part of "Project Gunrunner." I am also aware of news reports that Agent Terry may have been shot by one of these firearms.
I realize that many in the public, including members of Agent Terry's family, are frustrated with the lack of information being shared by the federal government on this matter. They are right to be frustrated, especially considering the shocking allegations surrounding both Project Gunrunner and Agent Terry's death. Senator Charles, the Ranking Republican at the Senate Judiciary Committee, has led congressional efforts to get to the bottom of this scandal. I support his efforts to hold the accountable for its actions and will continue to closely monitor developments as the investigations proceed.
Blah, blah, blah, thanks for writing, sign up for my newsletter, blah, blah.
Cynthia M. Lummis
Member of Congress
You get the picture. This was on the 14th. Today, I got a response from one of the senators, Senator Mike Enzi.
Dear 'Hazmat'
The shooting of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry on December 14 was a tragedy. Diana and I send our prayers and thoughts to his family. His murder is currently being investigated. I will pay careful attention to the results of this investigation.
In the past, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) has overstepped its authority and Project Gunwalker may fit into this category as well. The Senate Judiciary Committee has oversight of the BATFE and understand the Committee's ranking member, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) has been working to get answers about this program from the BATFE. I support his efforts to uncover the truth. I continue to encourage my colleagues to exercise their authority to ensure that not only are our Second Amendment Rights protected, but that our country and those who protect our borders are not put at risk by questionable programs.
Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts and concerns. As the 112th Congress continues I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that the Second Amendment is not infringed upon.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Enzi
United States Senator
(bolded emphasis mine)
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