USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) head, Thomas Brandon, tells CBS SUNDAY MORNING that the agency’s job isn’t to take away firearms from people and that the agency is hampered by not having necessary technology.
“It’s not to take people’s guns. It’s to, you know, regulate firearms that can be misused,” Brandon says of the ATF’s mission in an interview with Richard Schlesinger, to be broadcast Sunday, July 31 (9:00 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. “We’re a small agency with a big job.”
The roots of the current ATF were planted in 1791 by Alexander Hamilton, when he decided to collect taxes on whiskey. Over time, the agency morphed into today’s ATF, which now pursues illegal gun traffickers and also handles arson and explosive investigations. The agency has played key roles in the Pulse nightclub shooting investigation, the World Trade Center bombing and the attack on the Oklahoma Federal building.
Yet, it’s also an agency that is targeted by gun advocates and members of congress, who see the agency as a threat to legal gun ownership.
“I think we ought to get rid of the ATF,” says Wisconsin Congressman James Sensenbrenner. Sensenbrenner opposes the AFT having a searchable database of gun manufacturing and gun sales because it amounts to “de facto gun registration.” He also maintains the agency often fails in its mission.
Yet, Brandon says, not having the database hurts. Indeed, after the San Bernardino shootings, it took 12 hours to find out who owned the guns used in the attack. A computer database would have helped, Brandon says, adding that not having one simply doesn’t make sense.
“There’s a lot of things that don’t make sense in this town,” Brandon tells Schlesinger. “You know? And, so, yeah, would it be efficient and effective? Absolutely. Would the taxpayers benefit with public safety? Absolutely. Are we allowed to do it? No.”
CBS SUNDAY MORNING is broadcast Sundays 9:00-10:30 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Rand Morrison is the executive producer.
Follow CBS SUNDAY MORNING on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and CBSNews.com. Listen to CBS SUNDAY MORNING podcasts at Play.it.
Really ? Fast and furious wasn’t their job either, but they did it anyway. We can’t trust any of these govt. hacks !
Yeah, and we can keep our medical insurance too. And the Weimar guaranteed the registry would never NEVER be revealed. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
“(ATF) head, Thomas Brandon, tells CBS SUNDAY MORNING that the agency’s job isn’t to take away firearms from people.” Of course not! Neither the SCOTUS to enable taking your doctor and your plan and “tax” if you don’t comply! That worked well, didn’t it? Noticing what the US gov’t “says” and what it actually does is the key to the survival of American Freedom as outlined in the Constitution. And, unfortunately, with a 50/50 split in the consciousness of the American Spirit, I think we have passed the turning point to a political solution to the problem. Whichever way it… Read more »
When ATF says their job is to “regulate” they mean to gradually “regulate” your guns out of existence. Step 1 will be reinstatement of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban with more ‘makes and models’ added to the list. To quote an old hand at stirring things up, Al Sharpton, “Resist We Much” or more properly stated ‘Resist We Must’.
Why do we even need an agency, a rogue agency at that, to regulate “Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms”? Those are already regulated by the states. The same group of criminals running guns into Mexico and then trying to blame the 2nd amendment for it, is the same group you have to “ask for permission” to have a short barrel rifle, suppressor, etc and pay an extortion fee oops I meant to say a “tax” to own and possess. I don’t see anything about having to pay that BS fee and the registration and groveling that comes with it anywhere in… Read more »
” Brandon says, not having the database hurts. Indeed, after the San Bernardino shootings, it took 12 hours to find out who owned the guns used in the attack. A computer database would have helped, Brandon says, adding that not having one simply doesn’t make sense.”
And how did knowing who owned the guns help anything? Did this bring relief to the families who were torn with loss and sorrow or head the wounded or dead?
All the federal government adgencies are a plague and most are not allowed under the constitution and should be abolished.
The notion of the government/ATF coming to your home and confiscating your guns is probably not a realistic scenario, although is possible. More likely, the government/ATF will regulate, tax, and make nearly impossible to buy or own a gun; which will serve the same purpose. It may not be the ATF’s job to take away our guns, but it has been and will be their job to regulate them into extinction.
It’s not their job today, but should Heller fall will it then be their job ? I think Hilary will answer that if elected.
I say abolish the ATF! Govt enforcers are always a problem they never stay in their place. The best way to prevent govt abuse is by disarming it. They won’t pass stupid laws if they don’t have thugs to enforce them.
“The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, & government to gain ground.”
–Thomas Jefferson
Repealing the NFA is a great idea. Let’s not forget repealing the Nazi Gun Control Act of 1968 & the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act too.
That’s such a relief knowing that it’s not the ATF’s job to take our firearms ! Esp. since they would never get them even if it was their job to take our firearms.