The DEA was an active and willing participant in Fast and Furious, and they knew they were doing it to manufacture evidence of an "iron river of guns" flowing into Mexico that would be used to justify more gun control laws.
I'm not willing to be collateral damage because you're scared stupid of imaginary Cocaine Slurpees to the point that you're blind to the unintended consequences.
Imaginary Cocaine Slurpees? Hardly. Just the free market at work. For people bored with regular Slurpees.
zChildren would be the collateral damage, as you said. But hey the kids should be smart enough to figure it out. They grow up fast nowadays.