After using law abiding gun shop owners as a scape goat for their deadly Operation Fast and Furious, the Department of Justice has issued more regulations for gun shops operating near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Deputy Attorney General James Cole issued the following statement today regarding information requests for multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines in select states along the Southwest Border:
“The international expansion and increased violence of transnational criminal networks pose a significant threat to the United States. Federal, state and foreign law enforcement agencies have determined that certain types of semi-automatic rifles – greater than .22 caliber and with the ability to accept a detachable magazine – are highly sought after by dangerous drug trafficking organizations and frequently recovered at violent crime scenes near the Southwest Border. This new reporting measure -- tailored to focus only on multiple sales of these types of rifles to the same person within a five-day period -- will improve the ability of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to detect and disrupt the illegal weapons trafficking networks responsible for diverting firearms from lawful commerce to criminals and criminal organizations. These targeted information requests will occur in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas to help confront the problem of illegal gun trafficking into Mexico and along the Southwest Border.”
Keep in mind, during Operation Fast and Furious, gun shop owners reported suspicious sales to ATF and despite discomfort with the program, officials forced them to sell massive amounts of weapons to straw purchasers working for Mexican drug cartels. This is just the first step the Obama Administration is taking to implement more gun control despite failed judgement and enforcement from officials working within the Justice Department, further details are expected to be released later in the week. Deputy Attorney General James Cole is currently under investigation by Rep. Darrell Issa and the House Oversight Committee for his involvement with Operation Fast and Furious.