Gunrunning scandal uncovered at the ATF

[beevul]

Gunrunning scandal uncovered at the ATF

Program aimed at stopping the flow of weapons from the US to Mexico may have allegedly had the opposite effect

By Sharyl Attkisson

"Project Gunrunner" deployed new teams of agents to the southwest border. The idea: to stop the flow of weapons from the US to Mexico's drug cartels. But in practice, sources tell CBS News, ATF's actions had the opposite result: they allegedly facilitated the delivery of thousands of guns into criminal hands.

Sources tell CBS News several gun shops wanted to stop the questionable sales, but ATF encouraged them to continue.

On the phone, one Project Gunrunner source (who didn't want to be identified) told us just how many guns flooded the black market under ATF's watchful eye. "The numbers are over 2,500 on that case by the way. That's how many guns were sold - including some 50-calibers they let walk."

50-caliber weapons are fearsome. For months, ATF agents followed 50-caliber Barrett rifles and other guns believed headed for the Mexican border, but were ordered to let them go. One distraught agent was often overheard on ATF radios begging and pleading to be allowed to intercept transports. The answer: "Negative. Stand down."


CBS News has been told at least 11 ATF agents and senior managers voiced fierce opposition to the strategy. "It got ugly..." said one. There was "screaming and yelling" says another. A third warned: "this is crazy, somebody is gonna to get killed."


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/23/eveningnews/main20035609.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

2500 guns "allowed" in a single case? How many cases are there?

This is going to get REALLY ugly, before its over.


This appears to be a transcript of the report, but I can't find a video link.

[Remmah2]

1. This scares the crap out of me.

As I understand, some of the gun shop owners even expressed concern over the sales and were told by the ATF to look the other way.

Yup, blame gun owners for the misdeeds of their government.

Did the Brady Bunch have a response to this?

[Bold Lib]

2. That's an interesting question. What is the brady bunch take on this?