Cut the ATF instead of cutting national security budgets, say officials

by JIM KOURI on SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

During his speech on Monday, President Barack Obama eluded to the very real possibility of a “government shutdown” if lawmakers do not raise the nation’s so-called debt limit. Obama said there would be problems throughout the government, especially within law enforcement, intelligence agencies and the nation’s armed forces as a result of drastic cost-cutting measures.
“I do believe we should cut our programs that we don’t need. We need to fix ones that aren’t working the way they’re supposed to or have outlived their initial mission. We’ve got to make government faster and more efficient,” said the President during his speech in the South Court Auditorium on the grounds of the White House .
With that in mind, a number of well-regarded law-enforcement officials and gun-rights activists on Monday strongly suggested that President Barack Obama and lawmakers get rid of the scandal-prone Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) instead of cutting national security agencies and budgets including the U.S. military’s already drastically reduced coffers.
“Instead of increasing its budget, the House of Representatives should slash the budget of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or simply eliminate the agency,” gun rights expert John M. Snyder said from his office in Bethesda, Md.
“This would be a good first step as sensible U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators work to curtail expenditure of the irresponsible federal establishment,” the formerSnyder stated.
As a constitutional matter, financial expenditure bills originate in the House of Representatives. This would be an appropriate place for Speaker John Boehner and House members to cry ‘Halt’ to the out-of-control federal government, said Snyder, who also serves as an advisory board member of the National Association of Chiefs of Police.
“If there was ever an agency that outlived its usefulness as far as enforcement, it’s the ATF which appears to be on the road to becoming just the ‘F’ for firearms enforcement,” said a former Marine and police detective, Sidney Franes.
The ATF has been on a collision course with the House of Representatives for months. Attorney General Eric Holder remains under a contempt resolution from the House for his refusal to cooperate with the House in the production of documents associated with the ATF Fast and Furious international firearms scandal, according to a report.
Snyder said that, “ATF figures in schemes of political panderers and monsters of the media who are on a binge of hate. They use murderous acts by criminals as an excuse for proposals to undermine the individual Second Amendment civil right to keep and bear arms of millions of law-abiding American citizens. These gun-grabbing bingers don’t want citizens to be able to defend themselves against these murderers and they want ATF to do their dirty work.”
“The recent introduction in Congress of anti-gun owner bills surely will be met with deep and hard opposition by millions of [America's] law-abiding gun owners,” Snyder said.
Snyder noted that, “President Barack Obama, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Reps. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and other political hacks are conspiring to take away American gun rights. It is time for the House of Representatives to slash the ATF budget or eliminate the agency.”
A decorated New York police detective, Sid Franes, believes the ATF is a corrupt and unnecessary organization with a history of lawlessness.
“Look at the ATF’s actions during the Waco [Texas] attack on the Branch Davidian [cult's] compound. And let’s not forget the ATF’s Fast and Furious gun-smuggling scandal is still being uncovered slowly, but hopefully, surely,” said Franes.
Snyder added, “It is time for the House of Representatives to slash the ATF budget or eliminate the agency.”
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Tagged as: abolish the ATF, atf, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, debt ceiling, defund the ATF, Jim Kouri


About Jim Kouri

Jim Kouri, CPP, is founder and CEO of Kouri Associates, a homeland security, public safety and political consulting firm. He’s formerly Fifth Vice-President, now a Board Member, of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, an editor for Conservative Base, and a columnist for the Examiner.

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