The link to this fascinating article was provided by Zorro.
I suppose he finds the fact surprising that the ATF suffers from the same kinds of bureaucratic problems as any other government agency.
The article seemed to find it especially damning that they don't share information with other agencies and even among their own internal departments.
Because I watch those cop shows on the tele, I understand that they must concern themselves with spies and moles. But Zorro and the other ATF haters don't know this because they don't watch TV to learn neat stuff like that.
What's your opinion? Is $37.5 million a lot of money in this context? Isn't it possible that it takes that much and more to make real progress?
Please leave a comment.
In summary:
ReplyDeleteOh Noes!
Cartels got guns!
ATF wants 'mo money!
We must do somthin' NOW!
... and yet, they don't say that the average age of a weapon traced is 14 years from first licenced sale... right smack in the middle of the old assault weapons ban they are advocating for renewal... so not only will the sky will continue to fall for decades more, but it won't change anything.
So, once again, MikeB looks to TV to find answers about reality, when everyone else looks to reality to discover what's going on.
ReplyDeleteIf they are the bureaucratic mess you admit they are, then giving them ANY money is a bad idea.
As for "progress," we don't want them to progess. We want them to wither and eventually go away, we want them to resort to selling their agents' guns and badges on Ebay to pay for their electric bill before they finally have to turn the lights off forever.
Van Dyke and Anon nailed it.
ReplyDeleteWanna see something funny? When the BATFE actually does its job of regulating something that kills vastly more Americans than are killed by gunshot, the Brady Bunch goes into a tizzy:
But while the ATF announces it will fight our terrorist enemies’ access to our cigarette supply, the agency continues to sit out the debate about whether we should close the “terror gap” in our background check system for gun purchases that enables terror watch list suspects to buy all the guns they want, and the gun show loophole that allows them to buy guns without Brady background checks.
More than 14 Americans die every year from smoking-related health problems, for every American shot to death.
Maybe it's the Brady Bunch whose priorities are tragically misguided.
You know, I'm willing to buy the notion that the BATFE is, in many ways, similar to other bureaucracies, particularly government bureaucracies, but I see that far less as a defense of the BATFE, than as an indictment of bureaucracies in general.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Jadefool's Biggest (Only?) Cheerleader, it's not just me and the "other ATF haters" who don't believe this blatant waste of tens of millions of tax dollars by "the most hated federal agency in America", in times characterized by a moribund economy, soaring national debt, and an out-of-control federal deficit, is grossly irresponsible.
Unless, that is, you think the Justice Department's (the BATFE's parent organization) Office of the Inspector General is staffed by "ATF haters." Maybe the IG's Office should watch more Miami Vice reruns with you, to learn how the real world works.
The fact that you think the ATF is the most hated and not the IRS shows how biased and close-minded you are. Raise your eyes up, man. There's a big world out there.
ReplyDeleteDid you not read the article, MikeB?
ReplyDeleteFrom the article, second paragraph:
"The ATF may be the most hated federal agency in America today, surpassing even the IRS in its notoriety."
Anon beat me to it. Apparently, Jadefool's Biggest (Only?) Cheerleader thinks TIME Magazine is "biased and close-minded" (in favor of gun rights).
ReplyDeleteHehe.
Ooh, Jadefool's Biggest (Only?) Cheeleader--do I have exciting news for you! As a fan of both moronic TV and the jackbooted thugs of the BATFE, you're gonna love this:
ReplyDeleteNewly formed Los Angeles-based Flashbang Productions has reached an agreement to develop and produce an unprecedented, scripted one-hour series—and potential spin offs depicting the investigations and exploits of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Title of the series is "ATF."
[ . . . ]
The scripted one-hour project is a continuing storyline, developed as a multi-year series, in the vein of "24" or "The Wire."
I see America's collective IQ taking an ill-afforded plunge. You should have fun, though.
Thanks for the heads-up. The show should generate some wonderful Youtube videos for the blogs.
ReplyDelete