Conservative Libertarian Outpost

Abuse by one particular government agency is legend. It would appear that finally some real reform might come to the folks that brought you the Ruby Ridge entrapment fiasco, and the American Holocaust known as Waco. During the Clinton era, explosives were added to the bureau’s name in an effort to legitimatize the mission that was at that time under the administration of the Internal Revenue Service. Explosives? As a tax issue?  For some reason arson was also added to the sphere. While those things should come under the wing of the F.B.I. The changes made little if any difference in the day to day practice of Agents. It should be remembered that every single one of the people that work at B.A.T.F.E. have sworn to uphold the Constitution, and that these very same people do their very best to deny people of their unalienable rights. That friends, is treason, defined.

Don’t get me wrong, not all agents are evil people. I have actually known one that was a decent person. One…

SPACE’S ATF REFORM LEGISLATION GAINS SUPPORT OF 100 DEFENDERS OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT

07/09/09

– Cosponsor List Crosses 100 in This Congress –

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hailing a major milestone in the effort to protect law-abiding gun dealers from excessive and overzealous actions on the part of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE), Congressman Zack Space (OH-18) today announced that his BATFE reform legislation has gained the support of over 100 Members of Congress. While the size of a cosponsorship list does not guarantee a vote on the bill, gaining 100 bipartisan cosponsors shows widespread support and momentum.

“My colleagues are waking up to the assault on the Second Amendment being perpetrated by a culture within the ATF that rewards agents for denying gun licenses,” Space said. “I applaud their willingness to stand up to protect law-abiding citizens from overzealous federal agents.”

“Every day that goes by without action on this issue is another day of lost liberty. ATF reform cannot wait. Crossing this milestone will only redouble my efforts to show House leadership that we are serious about this bill,” Space continued.

The bipartisan BATFE Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009, which Space introduced with Rep. Steve King (IA-05), would replace the all-or-nothing rules for punishment with a graduated system, remove promotion guidelines that reward agents for the quantity of arrests and citations, and it would require the BATFE to establish intent behind minor violations. BATFE regulations now are so restrictive that if a person writes “y” instead of “yes” on a gun purchase form, the application is frequently rejected.

• Create a system to provide more flexibility in punishing those who are found to have violated gun sales laws.
• Establish a solid legal requirement for determining the willful violation of the law.
• Create specific sentencing guidelines for dangerous felons convicted of a gun offense.
• Set limitations on the availability of electronic gun owner information to protect the privacy of law-abiding citizens.
• Allow security companies and ammunition manufacturers to purchase machine guns for product testing and international security personnel training.
• Ease the restriction on the importation of replacement parts for semiautomatic rifles.
• Direct that a suspension or fine be vacated if a court determines a licensee did not willfully violate the law with attorney’s fees awarded to a cleared defendant.
• Direct that the number of warnings, amount of fines, or suspensions or revocations shall not be a factor in firing, promoting, or transferring agents.

Although not identical, this legislation is similar to a bill Congressmen Space and Steve King (IA-05) introduced during the 110^th Congress.

Congressman Space has represented Ohio’s 18th Congressional District since 2007. He is working to restore integrity to the office and create the conditions to bring new industry and jobs to Ohio.

SOURCE

Tags: B.A.T.F.E., BATFE Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009, Gun Control, News, Politics, ruby ridge, waco

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