An editorial in today’s Washington Times calls for an end to The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (and Really Big Fires). No surprise there. I wrote it. TTAG’s Armed Intelligentsia will recognize the post’s general theme (ATF as surplus to requirements) and the supporting arguments (the Agency’s ongoing attack on Americans’ Second Amendment rights). What’s new: the mainstream media’s newfound interest in the Gunwalker scandal and the growing belief that, OMG, this could be Obama’s Watergate. The Times wanted to change the piece to say that Gunwalker could “wound” the President. I held out for “topple.” And so it is. And so it may come to be. Imagine that.
Nice piece, oh Fearless Leader.
You’re just saying that because it’s true. Seriously, it’s the ATF that deserves the attention. And I don’t mean that in the nicest possible way.
Phenomenal editorial. Well done, sir.
I would venture that the mainstream media is finally catching on because this is an atrocity that they can see even through the gauze of anti-gun liberalism (or moderate ambivalence, for that matter). To wit: The ATF, responsible for managing the spread of firearms, has been (gasp) spreading firearms. This would be akin to uncovering an IRS plan to funnel tax money through off-shore bank accounts and shell companies. The American people may be many things, but fools about how their money is being (mis)spent is not one of them.
For die-hard gunners, this scandal is but the final straw in a long line of BATFE(&rbe) atrocities, but we have to keep in mind that for folks who aren’t thinking about gun rights all day, the rub is that THESE PEOPLE LIED TO US AND BETRAYED OUR TRUST. That’s the part that’s triggering the wake-up call. Let’s hope that the people ultimately responsible for pushing the button on this get the tarring and feathering they deserve.
-CRF
Pffft. I’m sure this toppling Obama is a wet dream for a lot of folks but don’t hold your breath. The little “Weapons of Mass Destruction” thing didn’t “topple” Bush. No, you pretty much have to get caught sending pics of your “sack” to get toppled.
Things don’t happen quickly in Washington, it took two years after the arrest of those 3rd rate burglars for Watergate to put an end to President Nixon’s administration. The supposed lies regarding the ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ as a reason to go into Iraq was never going to unseat President Bush, as it was only one out dozen’s of reasons that his administration gave for going to war with Iraq (and the democrats signed on to it as well).
But this ‘Fast and Furious’ worm has the ability to slowly eat it’s way through to the top. I’ve followed it since it broke in the blogosphere last December, and it has certainly been heating up in the past few days. Tally-Ho. The game is afoot.
Congratulations, Mr. Farago!
If Obama’s party wants to dump him, this may be their chance.
well done as usual RF, now if we could get Chris Matthews to talk abou gunwalker. Now that would be something
I’d be genuinely interested to hear what he had to say.
Tingle….leg…I dunno.
I go past ATF headquarters every day when I go to and from work. It honestly looks like the shadiest place ever. I never see anyone going in or out, or anyone in the windows. I pass it all the time during work hours too as I often come home halfway through the day to work from home. Every time it has a spooky feel to it….
TTAG appears on dead trees! VPC is calling for a ban on chainsaws!
Topple the Teflon President? Don’t make me laugh. He has too many friends in the media, and has captivated a huge part of the American public. As H.L. Mencken said, “there’s no underestimating the intelligence of the American public.” That goes double for Chris Matthews and the rest of Obama’s lapdogs.
Up until this week I would have agreed with you but his looney toons base is starting to walk a way from him. There is already talk of primarying him. Besides Obama is stating to make Hoover look good His opponents can use Gunwalker can be used to push Obama aside and clear the way for a replacement with minimal collateral damage.
Oh, and Pearlite, we have recovered several thousands of live chemical munitions in Iraq plus large quantities of unfilled gas rounds.
Just like Obama…Bush had (looks like he still does) a “loony toons” base.
When facts get in the way resort to insults.
Who brought up “loony toons”??? Facts? The fact that it fits your narrative doesn’t make it “fact”.
No, that it verifiably happened makes it a fact.
Congratulations on your mainstream editorial. Now just make sure that all of your i’s are dotted and all of your t’s are crossed. If the TTAG articles didn’t put you on the federal radar, that editorial will.
Great job, Robert!
“[T]he ATF must be disbanded. Its budget should be zeroed out, its buildings sold, its employees transferred or fired and its work parceled out to appropriate authorities.”
ATF: Abolished, Transferred or Fired.
It’s Farago’s trademark-edgy style, but is it the ideal solution? I am skeptical.
The root problem is (are?) the National Firearms Act of 1934 and Gun Control Act of 1968. It matters not what agency enforces these laws. The legislation itself is inimical to our constitutionally recognized and God-given liberties.
Yes, there a criminal element in the ATF that needs to be purged, but the same holds true for the FBI and DOJ, as well. Let’s not be led off in pursuit of a red herring. Repeal the NFA 34 and GCA 68 legislation now. That should suffice to defang the snake. Budget cuts can then be imposed on the newly downsized agency.
I’m with big Mac.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Good article!
It’s tragic but the ATF has become what gun control advocates usually accuse the NRA of being: a criminal’s best friend.
On the Washington Times, one respondant “Snowleopard” said, “Listen, the ATF and Dept Homeland Security are being used now to oppress the people of the US by watching and labeling with stereotypes the very citizens of the land. We are being watched and turned upon with the tools we gave (wrongly) the fed’s in the name of national security.”
I’ve been looking for a place to drop this comment in, and this seems appropriate: here in Charlotte, NC, the police have portable towers they can tow around. They tow them to a “high crime” location, raise the tower, and either man it or not. The damned things look like prison guard towers, and you cannot tell if someone is inside or not. But you *definitely* feel like you’re in prison being watched. I don’t like them, not one little bit.
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