Posted on 03/05/2015 3:30:52 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) has reintroduced legislation to do away with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Sensenbrenner, a senior Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, said the policies under ATF's jurisdiction could be easily incorporated into other agencies. Moreover, he argued, the ATF has become embroiled in too many controversies in recent years, like the botched "Fast and Furious" gun-tracking operation.
The ATF has drawn the ire of Republican lawmakers for its proposed ban on an armor-piercing bullet used in AR-15 rifles. Republicans say that hunters frequently use the bullets. The bureau says it initiated the regulation to help protect law enforcement officers from bullets that can pierce armored vests.
Sensenbrenner's bill would transfer the ATF's functions related to guns, explosives and violent crime to the FBI. Meanwhile, responsibilities regarding alcohol and tobacco laws would fall under the Drug Enforcement Administration's jurisdiction.
The ATF director would have 180 days, or about six months, to submit a plan to Congress on how to wind down the agency.
Dissolving the ATF hasn't always been a priority for just Republicans, who generally oppose gun restrictions. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, previously introduced a bill in 1993 to turn over the ATF's duties to other parts of the Justice Department.
No, BATFE IS a problem. A major problem. They are not called F-Troop for nothing.
The Oval Office is a problem as well. But so is BATFE. They can both be problems.
It’s like saying the EPA isn’t the problem, the oval office is. Both are.
We have an executive that is a problem that is separate from the BUREAUCRATIC layer of government which is its own problem. Like the EPA, IRS, BATFE, DEA, NSA, etc. etc.
The Republicans should consider a legislative equivalent to the legal metaphor of “the fruit from the poisonous tree”.
The legal concept is that if the police conduct an illegal search, not just the evidence gathered during the search itself is tainted, but any evidence of other crimes gained (the “fruit”) from it is tainted as well, and inadmissible.
But in this case, if the BATF&E is abolished, with the stated reason that it has engaged in unlawful conduct, then *all* the personnel within the BATF&E should be considered as “tainted”, so they cannot be kept in government employ.
That is, no “lateral transfers” to other agencies, a lifetime ban from other federal employment from top to bottom.
In effect an agency “death penalty” as a deterrent to other bureaucrats in the future that if they obey the orders of some political hack and break the law, it is their collective rear ends on the line.
Right now, at least a dozen government agencies and organizations should be under the threat of such a death penalty, for criminal acts, even unindicted ones, that were committed while they were there.
The IRS, the EPA, NASA’s GISS, NOAA, and a bunch more should be having nightmares of being fired permanently.
I’ve been told that the Kevlar “armor” is no good against knives or swords either, guess they are next on the ban list.
Janet Reno? That would have been worse, now I see Conyers angle.
so the fed gov will just send the little tin god incompetents to the DHS. I suggest they be sent to the congressional and presidential security teams
At least the F part of ATF is patently unconstitutional and so should be the easiest thing imaginable to abolish. If congress can’t even accomplish this, congress should be abolished as an over- priced Potempkin Village or useless farce of a “representative part of government”
How much of the federal government would I NOT abolish?
Very little
Lordy, where did I put that jar of Facepalm.
Dear Everyone
NOTHING is going to happen.
This gang couldn’t even put a few hundred DHS employees at home for a week or two much less close an agency.
It’s a nice thought but its DOA with the cowards in charge.
ATF, IRS, hell get them all. Start all over!!!
Oh would a smoking crater where GISS used to be warm the cockles of my heart. Maybe NASA could transform GISS into a religion of peace welcome center.
Sounds like a good plan. Too bad it won’t happen.
Perhaps Congress should be abolished, and any remaining utility they serve given to all the agencies they created over the years.
We would still get 10,000 pages or more of regs and new law per year, as we get now from the regulatory agencies. We would not though have the expense of congress and all its staffers and boondogles.
If congress unconstitutionally has given away all this power to reg agencies, then let these agencies take over Article 1. An amendment could rephrase it:
“All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in the Regulatory Agencies of the United States.”
Any agency that can be used to bypass the intended separation of powers stated in the Constitution is the problem.
It will dry up and blow away......
BS! Every year about this time the ATF shows up with their folding tables so they can get a big photo shoot with a load of "legal" fire arms. "It is budget time!" Grab that Jr MSM reporter and lets make some headlines! No more! take away their funding.
Whhhhhat? The ATF has always been a loose cannon under numerous admins. Get rid of it.
And, while there is a giant sucking sound when it is evaporating....get rid of Obama tooo.
He by far the most corrupt traitorous Muslim to ever occupy our White House. We do not have to be stuck with him
“- - and we’re stuck with it (obama)for a while.”
Boy!!! That is one huge understatement. Think of Bill Clinton, we still got his mouth in high gear years after he left office, fortunately most people ignore him.
Now consider obama, assuming he voluntarily leaves office after the next election. His mouth will continue to stir up his fellow blacks and all the illegals he let in. It’s what he does best.
He will be the left’s de facto president for life! The media will always be turning to him for his opinion and give him a louder voice no matter who the next elected president is.
ATF is also a problem, and it will be here after Buckwheat is history (that can’t come soon enough), assuming it doesn’t get disbanded by Congress.
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