Senator examines gun claim in border shootout

AP via Miami Herald ^ | 01/31/2011 | JACQUES BILLEAUD

[Neil E. Wright]

PHOENIX -- 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.

"Members of the Judiciary Committee have received numerous allegations that the ATF sanctioned the sale of hundreds of assault weapons to suspected straw buyers, who then allegedly transported these weapons throughout the Southwest border area and into Mexico," reads a letter sent Thursday from Grassley to Kenneth Melson, acting director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

[Neil E. Wright]

About time the BATFags were called to account!!

America! It's about

★ FREEDOM! ★

★ Estimated Value – PRICELESS! ★

[Crim]

Shew.....I’m gonna go look for flying pigs...

[Erik Latranyi]

For interested FReepers, do a search for “Project Gunwalker” and you will find plenty of information.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[In the follow-up letter to (Acting BATF director)Melson, Grassley said an ATF manager in Phoenix questioned an agent who answered questions posed by Grassley staffers about the agency's initiative to reduce the flow of firearms to Mexico.

The manager accused the agent of misconduct for his contacts with the judiciary committee, Grassley said.

“This is exactly the wrong sort of reaction for the ATF,” Grassley wrote. “Rather than focusing on retaliating against whistleblowers, the ATF’s sole focus should be on finding and disclosing the truth as soon as possible.”]

Considering BATF’s sordid history, this may have been a Machiavellian plot to put U.S. registered weapons in Mexico to help bolster Obama Justice Department and BATF claims that U.S. firearms dealers are the drug cartels’ prime source of assault rifles.

[Ghengis]

Bumping for future reference

[wita]

claims that U.S. firearms dealers are the drug cartels’ prime source of assault rifles.

A claim no one of sound mind would believe.

Remaining comments self censored.

[TigersEye]

Did anyone really believe that actual gun dealers were selling large quantities of “assault rifles” to “straw buyers?”

[USNBandit]

Compare the Phoenix operation to another operation in CA being investigated by the IG. Evidently ATF blew 1.8 million dollars and netted 7 arrests and 10 guns.

Something really wrong is happening here.

If this is true, I will be interested to see how Border Patrol reacts. I also wonder why this case is being done by ATF alone and not ICE. ATF would be missing key authorities to stop the delivery across the border without some Customs enforcement personnel.

This should pretty much end the Administration"s thoughts of pushing for more gun control. Oh wait, they are stupid. They will still press for new gun laws and get crushed.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Thanks for the info and your insight. If Grassley is serious all he has to do is put some of the key participants in the Arizona scam under oath. Somebody will talk.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Thanks for the info and your insight. If Grassley is serious all he has to do is put some of the key participants in the Arizona scam under oath. Somebody will talk.

Yep, exactamundo!

Thus, I'll reserve judgment and won't break out the bubbly quite yet.

Don't count out the Demo-Rats (who still control the Senate) to block Grassley's efforts (if he even has any such inclinations and that remains to be seen) to hold hearings.

If this is true, it is HUGE and could be the end of BATF as we know it, thus all the big guns (and knives) will be in play to include the anti-2nd Amend Zealots....of which Dear Leader is a "chartered member in good standing!"

[originalbuckeye]

Is Bloomberg trying to get in on this? Do you think his ‘straw buyers’ were out to bolster this point for Holder?

[Talf]

>hundreds of assault weapons to .suspected. straw buyers<

how is the ‘suspecter’ here?

gun store flunky
some BATF guy
somebody in Congress
?

[Travis McGee]

Gunwalker is getting MSM traction, finally!

[tacticalogic]

Did anyone really believe that actual gun dealers were selling large quantities of “assault rifles” to “straw buyers?”

It appears that the ATF tried to manufacture the evidence to convince them with.

[Mich Patriot]

"It appears that the ATF tried to manufacture the evidence to convince them with."

Sounds like a certain "global warming" or "climate change" (whatever the catch-phrase is this week) scam I've read about.

[Mich Patriot]

"Considering BATF’s sordid history, this may have been a Machiavellian plot to put U.S. registered weapons in Mexico to help bolster Obama Justice Department and BATF claims that U.S. firearms dealers are the drug cartels’ prime source of assault rifles."

I wouldn't put it past Obumbler and his cronies to try something so evil. This could get VERY interesting indeed, depending on how far up the food chain it goes. I wonder how the MSM will connect it to Bush? He conjured up 9-11, Katrina, The Great Depression, the Potato Famine, Scarlett Fever, the Haiti quake, and orchestrated Pearl Harbor, don'tcha know.

[FreedomPoster]

This is pretty interesting. I hope something comes of it, and the BATFE gets reined in pretty seriously.

[Joe Brower]

[Ron H.]

Bumping for future reading.

[DCBryan1]

. I hope something comes of it, and the BATFE gets reined in pretty seriously.

Heh...I hope Henry Bowman lives near the Phoenix, AZ ATF office and has some home addresses.