Stimulus bill increases BATFE funding
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:26 pm
The recently passed stimulus bill allocates an additional $10 million to BATFE for Project Gunrunner: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6263314.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Project Gunrunner is a federal program that aims to stop smuggling of firearms from the U.S. to Mexico: http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/tex ... Trace.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Approximately 125 BATFE personnel are stationed in the border states and in Mexico. Among other activities, they trace weapons seized from gangsters in Mexico to U.S. sources.
In the two years ending in September, 2007, over 700 defendants had been referred for prosecution.
The additional money will fund the hiring of transfer of additional agents and analysts.
Opinion: I don't see a problem with this particular program. Certainly no one wants more weapons in the hands of Mexican and Central American gangsters who sometimes bring their violent disputes back to the U.S.
I am suspicious that prevention of smuggling will be one of the hooks to require all private sales to go through FFLs (a.k.a "closing the gun-show loophole). As it is now, an individual who is not an FFL can buy a dozen firearms at a time from a dealer, resell them off to smugglers, then claim that he sold them in face-to-face transactions. It's difficult in a case like that for prosecutors to prove any illegal activity took place.
- Jim
Project Gunrunner is a federal program that aims to stop smuggling of firearms from the U.S. to Mexico: http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/tex ... Trace.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Approximately 125 BATFE personnel are stationed in the border states and in Mexico. Among other activities, they trace weapons seized from gangsters in Mexico to U.S. sources.
In the two years ending in September, 2007, over 700 defendants had been referred for prosecution.
The additional money will fund the hiring of transfer of additional agents and analysts.
Opinion: I don't see a problem with this particular program. Certainly no one wants more weapons in the hands of Mexican and Central American gangsters who sometimes bring their violent disputes back to the U.S.
I am suspicious that prevention of smuggling will be one of the hooks to require all private sales to go through FFLs (a.k.a "closing the gun-show loophole). As it is now, an individual who is not an FFL can buy a dozen firearms at a time from a dealer, resell them off to smugglers, then claim that he sold them in face-to-face transactions. It's difficult in a case like that for prosecutors to prove any illegal activity took place.
- Jim