ATF tactics flawed in highly touted undercover Oregon operation aimed at guns, drugs

The Oregonian ^ | 1/25/2014 | Les Zaitz

[Rio]

The 25-year-old meth addict stepped into Squid's Smoke Shop toting a wadded sweatshirt concealing a pistol.

She probably gave little attention to the hundreds of students streaming out of nearby H.B. Lee Middle School, excited for a weekend that promised snow.

She was intent on trading with "Squid," the long-haired man behind the Gresham smoke shop's counter, or his crew. They paid her $520 in cash and two cartons of Marlboros for the Makarov semi-automatic pistol.

Roughly a month later, in March 2011, she learned Squid was no underworld buyer of guns and drugs. He was a special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

[Rio]

Hidden camera captures ATF gun buy sting

Is a Makarov worth $520?

ATF criticized because they set up their operation next to a school, luring their customers into the school's proximity... and because apparently the crooks that they caught were not very bright.

[gaijin]

Busting or killing church people, addicts, retarded people...

Take ATF out of the equation and THE CRIME DISAPPEARS.

Taxpayers finance CRIME CREATION?

Yes.

[Mastador1]

Is a Makarov worth $520?

Hell no! I bought one at a gun show six or seven years ago for $110, that pay out would have tipped anyone with a functioning brain that there was something wrong. I guess there is no limit to how stupidly and freely the government will use our tax dollars.

[SampleMan]

Only a fed would pay $520 for a Makarov. Clue #1

[Iron Munro]

[43north]

ATF and e is where “law enforcement” types who can’t make the grade in other agencies of fedgov wind up. It has always been so. It could be said that they may TSA look pretty good.

Lately the FBI has been trying to crawl into the swamp with them but they have to get DHS out of their way first.

[RC one]

Glover said agents told them they would become lifetime members of the store if they had the store's logo tattooed on them.

Glover said they agreed. "Okay, we'll do it," he recalled telling the agents.

They convinced this dipshiite to tattoo the "store" logo, a cigar smoking squid, on his body. That's actually pretty funny.

[CIDKauf]

Believe it or not, there is a demand and supply of crime...

[gaijin]

We agree there is a “market for crime”.

Markets WORK.

Why the need to subsidize it, then?

[CIDKauf]

Liberalism is a disease that the initial symptom is close-mindedness. It’s amazing, but leaving an unlocked door or keys in the ignition is “demand” and the guy who comes into your house or steals your car is the supply! I live in Colorado where we have make my day law, you come into my house I shoot you with 10-guage dbl barrel. :)

[Robert357]

“...They paid her $520 in cash and two cartons of Marlboros for the Makarov semi-automatic pistol...” That is way too much money for a Makarov. $250 to $400, but not $520 for an obviously illegal purchase, which is usually heavily discounted.

It would be nice to see someone arrest the ATF agents for failing to fill out the Oregon State required firearm transfer paperwork. In Oregon even private transfers are required to go through the paperwork. Of course the ATF is above the law, just ask them.

[xp38]

[SWAMPSNIPER]

ATF makes their own laws as needed!

[Sicvee]

I have to agree with the liberals at The Oregonian that creating crimes to secure convictions is a disgusting tactic. I don’t know of any solution other than disbanding the ATF. Along with several other federal agencies.

[Milton Miteybad]

From the linked article: "He and his team ended their elaborate eight-month undercover sting in March 2011 by arresting 48 people who sold drugs and guns to Squid's. But now the $150,000 operation -- which recovered only 10 stolen guns, none traced to a crime -- is itself being investigated for its methods, including targeting mentally impaired individuals."

Total cost: $15,000 per gun recovered, none of which were linked to any criminal activity whatsoever.

Who came up with the idea for the operation, anyway? Barry Soetoro? Sounds like something he'd think up.

[1malumprohibitum]

Actually, if the transaction is between two private parties, both of whom are legally allowed to purchase guns and both are residents of Oregon, there is no paperwork required.

[Rio]

I liked the tattoo bit, as well. You know those agents had lots of good laughs over than one.
I tried to find a pic of the logo or tat, but no luck so far.

[Lattero]

There is one in the article. It’s the first pic in the article’s slideshow, which is about a third of the way into the article.

[TigersEye]

Still, the operation was "extremely successful" at getting guns out of circulation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin told The Oregonian. He led the federal prosecution team.

"When ... people are selling sawed off shotguns, you want those out of the community," Kerin said. "You have this violence just waiting to happen."

Right, Scott, guns are just 'violence waiting to happen.' You're a mind-numbed politically correct robot, Scott.

[Robert357]

Thank you, I didn't know that, as member of the Washington Arms Collectors, I have avoided Portland gun shows & other Oregon gun shows, because I had been told background checks were mandatory. I guess I read too much into the warning.

http://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-laws/oregon.aspx

“... Any person who transfers a firearm at a gun show is required to request a criminal background check before completing the transfer. Any person who transfers a firearm at any location other than a gun show may voluntarily request a criminal background check before completing the transfer...”