Michael Silence emails a presser from Coalition to Stop Gun Ownership err Violence on the recent ATF hearings:

These hearings were supposed to get to the bottom of claims that BATFE agents and local police violated the civil rights of law-abiding gun purchasers, particularly at a series of gun shows in Richmond, Virginia, over the past two years. They have failed to do so, although they appear to have unintentionally shed light of a wide variety of serious crimes uncovered by BATFE in the course of their investigative work at these events.

When Richmond-area law enforcement agencies learned that local gun shows were an important source of guns sold to gang members and other criminals – including the guns used to commit four homicides in the city since May 2004 – they developed a plan to try to stop these sales. After earlier investigations revealed that people who buy firearms illegally at gun shows often provide false residence information on background check forms, BATFE decided to verify address information on suspicious purchases.

BATFE has said 19 defendants arrested during the investigations have been convicted or pleaded guilty to crimes ranging from illegal “straw purchases” of firearms to drug possession. But instead of encouraging BATFE to probe further, this subcommittee has allowed itself to be used by the National Rifle Association and its allies in the firearm industry to pressure BATFE to stop scrutinizing illegal activity at gun shows.

I guess if I apply some turd polish, I can see the good that come from this. However, that does not excuse the ATF and others from conducting illegal residency checks, which is what they’re accused of. Some other news from the piece:

‘ATF Washington Field Division, will not routinely be present at the Richmond Gun Shows.’ BATFE has requested that we not post the letter. Our attorney worked for ‘suitable’ wording but however we have decided to remove that posting. We also told verbally in front of four lawyers the BATFE is out of the ‘residency check’ business.”

Looks like they got a little slap on the wrist, mostly from press coverage. The ATF should be out of the residency check business since they are illegal.

Despite promised release, I’ve not seen the transcripts from the first hearings and I have no info on the second hearings from yesterday. Anyone have any idea what else transpired?

Posted in uncategorized on March 29th, 2006 by SayUncle | RSS 2.0 |