NSSF says Mexican army providing drug cartel weapons.

Wikileaks says there’s a smuggling operation going through government channels.

That and the ATF is helping out too.

Finally watched the CBS video. It really makes ATF look bad. Allowing 2,500 guns to go across the border is inexcusable.

The story makes CBS news:

Keeping American weapons from getting into the hands of Mexican gangs is the goal of a program called “Project Gunrunner.” But critics say it’s doing exactly the opposite. CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports on what she found.

Larry Pratt on Foxnews tries to bring it up but the Foxnews talking head tries to shut him down. Those darn gun nuts, showing up on conservative TV. The nerve!

Lugar and Lieberman address constituent concerns.

Grassley wonders why ATF won’t answer specific questions.

The story makes the Washington Times.

ATF was dismissive of Senator Grassley’s inquiries. So he’s pushing the issue again. He’s investigating ATF for allowing guns to be smuggled into Mexico.

They deny the allegations that they authorized smuggling guns into Mexico. And have lawyered up.

DaveY looks at the issue:

Why would the comment period be extended beyond the generous 2.5 weeks they originally gave us for public input? Could it be because of this?

Records obtained via a Freedom of Information Act about the ATF multi rifle sale registration scheme show only 9 people supported ATF, and only one of those people submitted comments on time. Meanwhile, hundreds of comments were lodged opposing the scheme.

Grassroots works.

The long gun reporting requirement has been delayed, and it is likely illegal.

Those poor investigators, being setback like that.

This time, at the LA times. Being opportunists, this is spun as though it wouldn’t happened if, by golly, they had more resources. So don’t cut our budget, please. In fact, give us more money.

A bit back, a senator sends letter asking why ATF is letting guns into Mexico. Now, 17 senators send letter telling ATF they do not have the authority to implement reporting requirements for multiple long gun purchases. Having lawful authority hasn’t really stopped them before.

Fox picks up on the story:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms — the agency tasked with keeping U.S. guns from being smuggled to Mexico — has come under fire for allegedly allowing firearms to cross the border into Mexico.

Last Friday, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter to the ATF stating that his office had “received numerous allegations that the ATF sanctioned the sale of hundreds of assault weapons to suspected straw purchasers, who then allegedly transported these weapons throughout the Southwest border area and into Mexico.”

The WaPo picks up on it too but with a rather passive voice:

Whistleblowers who have contacted a U.S. senator allege that federal agents allowed guns, including the AK-47s, to be sold to suspected straw buyers who transported the weapons throughout the region and into Mexico.

It’s budget time. We’ve been hearing about it for a while. But, via Alan, this is the first mention of it in the US press that I have seen:

A U.S. senator is examining a claim that two guns sold in purchases sanctioned by federal firearms agents were later used in a December shootout that left a Border Patrol agent dead near the Arizona-Mexico border.

Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa said in a letter provided Monday to The Associated Press he had received information that appears to partially corroborate the claim received by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about the guns.

This could get interesting.

ATF has opened up the comment period on the proposed import ban of shotguns:

You can comment on the report by e-mail to shotgunstudy@atf.gov or by fax to (202)648-9601. The deadline for comments is May 1, 2011.

Michael Bane has more on the study, including thoughts on ATF’s end game here. Looks like increased shotgun regulation, even conversion once imported like 922(r), is possible. And says Michael:

ATF has always been an agency in search of a mission. It’s just no fun to bust untaxed cigarette smugglers, and you’ll never get a fawning Katie Couric interview that way! The best way for ATF to “clarify” it’s mission is to figure out a way to make more law-abiding Americans into criminals.

Being a tobacco ninja isn’t as fun.

Good. Cut in by 50%. ATF is all butthurt that the cuts would mean they couldn’t fight gun trafficking to Mexico. Which is funny since the ATF is actually being investigated by a Senator’s office for allowing guns to go into Mexico.

Jacob says don’t cut it, abolish it. That’s not realistic, someone has to process tax stamps. But, yeah, take away all their ninja gear and sniper training.

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Ownership issues a presser crying about it.

Story picked up in the Mexican Press.

A timeline into allegations that ATF let guns travel south of the border. Some gun store owners have made similar allegations.

I dunno about the story. Seems the sources are mostly forum posts and self-referencing examiner.com links when you start looking into it. Still, if true, this is a big deal.

Allegations ATF has allowed weapons to be smuggled into Mexico?

ATF allows guns to go to Mexico. Sort of like the drug war. Create a problem so you can have a job fixing it?

Germany suspends H&K exports to Mexico.

Says Sebastian.

White House puts stop on ATF’s made up rule about multiple long gun sales reporting. This rule would have been illegal, but that never stops bureaucrats. Bonus link to ATF’s Emergency Justification documents.

There is a fine line between AOWs and Short Barreled Rifles/Shotguns. It’s also fairly arbitrary and inconsistently enforced by ATF. And, despite being told by courts in some jurisdictions that ATF’s AOW rules for vertical grips are no good, ATF will prosecute you anyway. Ian looks at constructive possession:

This has been allowed to stand so far because no-one was sure if the Second Amendment guaranteed an individual right to a handgun or not, until the Heller decision. Now, of course, we have the guaranteed right to possess a functional firearm (specifically a handgun) in the home for the purposes of self-defense.

Given that, I can’t see the restrictions on SBS, SBR, or AOW standing.

Says NSSF:

ATF has issued Ruling 2010-8 which will allow manufacturers to consolidate their records. Previously, ATF required both a record of manufacturing and of disposition (27 CFR 478.123).

The Tennessean:

On Dec. 1, Gun City’s federal firearms license was revoked after years of regulatory violations, barring the store from buying, selling or repairing guns. The store had challenged the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ revocation, but a federal judge in October denied its appeal.

“Their license expired, or was revoked, effective at the end of November,” said Richard Gardiner, a Fairfax, Va., attorney who represented Gun City in its appeal. “They can sell ammunition still. They can run the range. They can sell clothing and scopes and any accessories.” Owner Cindy Arp could not be reached for comment on the store’s future.

Paperwork violations, it looks like. I wonder if the violations are the serious kind or the failing to dot i’s kind?

David Hardy says their attempt to report on multiple long gun sales violates the Firearm Owners Protection Act. But laws are for people, not agencies.

NSSF responds. So does the NRA.

Steve has a video of a new stock design that makes bump-firing easy. My first thought is that it sounds a lot like the Akins Accelerator. The stock even comes with a letter of approval from the ATF. Just like the Akins Accelerator did. But that didn’t stop ATF from later determining that the Akins was a machine gun. The difference seems to be that this stock has no mechanical parts. Here it is in action:

Would I buy one? Probably. But only if I were willing to lose the $319 it cost after ATF changes its mind. If it worked for 22LR conversions, then definitely.

National Firearms Act Trade & Collectors Association:

Recently, the NFATCA took the lead on an issue that could have far-reaching consequences in the NFA and Sporting communities. It was learned that ATF was seeking to create a definition of small arms ammunition under the aegis of the Safe Explosives Act. The definition was being created as an opinion letter and had no input from the firearms community. More importantly, it could have arrived as a declaration that all ammunition above .50 caliber would now be classified as an explosive. New licensing, regulation, administration and the prospect of re-classifying all weapons that used these new explosives were a very real possibility. The fact that this was “flying under the radar” of traditional firearms advocacy groups was troubling, to say the least.