Attorney General Holder Announces Plans to Send 7 Additional ATF Agents to Chicago

New Resources Continue Federal Partnership with Local Law Enforcement.

ATF
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Washington, DC –-(Ammoland.com)- Following his recent visit to Chicago where he participated in a roundtable discussion with Mayor Emanuel on recent reductions in youth violence, Attorney General Eric Holder today announced plans to send seven additional Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), agents to the field division office in Chicago.

The new ATF agents will coordinate efforts with U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon, as well as federal, state and local law enforcement and community partnerships to advance proven strategies to reduce illegal gun trafficking and gun crime. There are currently 45 ATF agents assigned to Chicago.

“The Department of Justice will continue to do everything in its power to help the city of Chicago combat gun violence,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These new agents are a sign of the federal government’s ongoing commitment to helping local leaders ensure Chicago’s streets are safe.”

The deployment of new ATF agents represents the latest step in strengthening the partnerships with the Chicago Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies. In early June, ATF opened the Chicago Crime Gun Intelligence Center. The Center combines the gun enforcement efforts of the Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police and ATF to provide additional leads that otherwise might go unnoticed and further addresses the illegal sales and possession of firearms in the State of Illinois.

In addition, U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon announced a restructuring of the Criminal Division in his office and in doing so named a team of prosecutors who will work specifically to reduce violent crime in the city. The FBI currently has over 100 agents in Chicago assigned to curb gang and violent crimes. During the summer months, the city temporarily assigned an additional 20 agents to supplement crime reduction efforts. Under the 12 current grants administered by our Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention alone, the City of Chicago and Cook County has access to more than $6.6 million to further these efforts to address youth violence.

Gun crime is the primary driver of homicide in Chicago, and sixty percent of the guns recovered in violent crimes in Chicago were originally sold in other states and trafficked into the city. Given the interstate nature of these crimes, it is critical that federal and local law enforcement work together to identify traffickers and enforce federal gun laws. ATF will continue to concentrate its criminal enforcement on firearms trafficking throughout the region while curbing the supply of illegal guns that end up in the hands of gang members and other violent criminals.

“ATF’s commitment to targeting traffickers and trigger pullers in Chicago is bolstered by these additional resources,” said ATF Director B. Todd Jones. “These resources, combined with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center, will strengthen and build on our outstanding partnership with the Chicago Police Department and other local, state and regional law enforcement to bring safety and justice back to the community.”

“We have enjoyed an ever-improving and increasingly productive relationship with our federal partners,” said Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. “We look forward to continuing that relationship and welcoming additional personnel in our ongoing efforts to ensure everyone in Chicago enjoys the same sense of safety.”

The Justice Department will continue to build on this work in the months ahead through initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods; the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention; and innovative community oriented policing tools in the neighborhoods across Chicago.

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jamie

The problem is gang violence.

Jeffie

The problem is not that criminals can get guns from other states. Criminals will always find ways to get things they are not allowed to have. The real problem is that innocent people have no access to guns for protection.

Targeting trigger pullers after the crime serves no purpose except for law enforcement to cash in on a cycle of violence through more funding and overtime instead of empowering citizens to defend themselves.

Barack

Uhhhh, we didn’t expect that,uhhh,these underprivleged youths would,you know, be
able to get any guns! I mean,we made it hard.
REAL hard in fact, to uhhhh, to uhhhh get
any guns legally. So uhhh, I’m not gonna rest until I’m satisfied that there are no more guns to be had. I mean, those Republicans that want to make my Attorney Gemeral Eric Holder look bad, why,they’re – they’re handin out Saturday Nite specials to these fine young men
of African descent, and these young fellows, well, they just want a better life for themselves! Who can blame them?

SweetOlBob

Whaddya wanna bet that their meeting was held at Obama’s Chicago “Boys Club”.

Eric

And Holder wants to release 46000 felons early .
Did the crime do your time.

Drew

As usual, politicians insist on treating the symptoms. Why not address the underlying problem that fosters the violence? Undereducated citizens and nearly destitute people crowded into a small area. It’s Lord of the Flies writ large.

Guns are the tools of violence, that’s all. The violence itself is a symptom of the desperation that inner city Chicago faces.

Dr. Strangelove

Seven, huh? Oh, that should take care of it.

Herb

Increased staffing: 45 ATF agents plus seven more; over 100 FBI agents plus 20 more; an unspecified number of Chicago and State Police personnel. Wow! Sounds like, smells like and looks like prohibition in a different form. But hey, everybody knows this is going to be successful. Look at the success they have with illegal drugs – oops! Didn’t Holder just turn a bunch of convicted drug dealers and users loose? Nothing like success, I always say. Duhhhhhh

MaxEffectUSA

They should follow Detroit’s lead and allow more law abiding citizens to have firearms. Crime has decreased in Detroit since the first of the year when Chief Craig took over. Placing more ATF agents is just the Dems way of throwing more money at a problem expecting it to help when it hadn’t in the past.

TSgt B

“ATF’s commitment to targeting traffickers”, Gracie?

That would mean they’d have to arrest and prosecute themselves.