Opinion by Larry Keane
The Department of Justice launches Project Guardian to enforce and prosecute gun laws.
USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- As the firearms and ammunition industry, we care deeply about Real Solutions to the problems of criminal misuse and unauthorized access to our products. We take action every day through our programs to promote safe, healthy use of firearms by law-abiding citizens. But we know more can be done to enforce existing laws and to prosecute those who break them.
That’s why NSSF applauds the U.S. Justice Department’s (DOJ) announcement this week launching Project Guardian a nationwide strategic plan to reduce the criminal misuse of firearms and to enforce existing federal firearms laws. Project Guardian will “further strengthen” and build on the Trump Administration’s DOJ’s ongoing efforts to combat gun violence.
Project Guardian
Project Guardian complements existing programs to enforce federal laws and facilitate close coordination with state, local and tribal partners and is based on five principles:
- Coordinated prosecution: “Federal prosecutors and law enforcement will coordinate with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to consider potential federal prosecution for new cases involving a defendant who: (a) was arrested in possession of a firearm; (b) is believed to have used a firearm in committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime prosecutable in federal court; or (c) is suspected of actively committing violent crime(s) in the community on behalf of a criminal organization.”
- Enforcement of federal firearms laws and background checks: “For all cases involving false statements on ATF Form 4473 (including lie-and-try, lie-and-buy, and straw purchasers), unlicensed firearms dealers, and other individuals involved in the illegal trafficking of firearms, the guidelines must place particular emphasis on: (a) violent persons, such as individuals convicted of violent felonies or misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, individuals subject to protective orders, and individuals who are fugitives where the underlying offense is a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; (b) individuals suspected of involvement in criminal organizations or of providing firearms to criminal organizations; and ( c) individuals involved in repeat denials.”
- Improved information sharing: “… on a regular basis, and as often as practicable given current technical limitations, ATF will provide to state law enforcement fusion centers a report listing individuals for whom NICS has issued denials, including the basis for the denial, so that our state and local law enforcement partners can take appropriate steps under their laws.”
- Coordinated response to mental health denials: “United States Attorneys should consult with relevant district stakeholders, including ATF and state or local law enforcement and mental health departments, to assess the feasibility of adopting disruption and early engagement programs to address mental-health-prohibited individuals who, attempt to acquire a firearm and to counter the threat of mass shootings.”
- Crime gun intelligence coordination: “Federal, state, local, and tribal prosecutors and law enforcement will work together to ensure effective use of ATF CGICs, and all related resources, to maximize the use of modern intelligence tools and technology, such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and Firearm Tracing, to investigate and prevent gun crime.”
Commitment to Real Solutions
We are strongly encouraged by the Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing the laws that will contribute to public safety while respecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners. These are the common-sense answers we seek that hold criminals accountable for their actions and keep faith with our communities to be safeguarded against those who prey on the most vulnerable.
About National Shooting Sports Foundation
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 10,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. www.nssf.org
Wasn’t Barr in charge of the Ruby Ridge disaster?
It’s time to abolish ATFE. Democrats and Republicans who think they control our right to keep and bear arms need to be put on notice that illegal gun laws will not be tolerated. It’s that simple. No tracking. No registration. no more illegal restrictions. And hearing protection in the form of suppressors should be purchased with the former ATFE budget for all shooters who want them. This wouldn’t come close to the decades of intimidation, confiscation, and outright murder this unaccountable, illegally funded alphabet agency has committed against We The People with impunity. But it’s a start. Holding the agents… Read more »
Every new gun “control” law is an admission prior laws, even though promoted as necessary, are/were absolute failures.
The very government, which has failed at every level, continues to seek more control, to fail at every level.
We should not forget AG Barr supports the bump stock ban “retroactive “ to day one when legal to sell, purchase, possess and use and criminal penalties now attach for that legal exercise of commerce!
Poobah!
AG Bill Barr supported portions of the Brady Bill, said he’d be OK with banning semiautomatic firearms and “high-capacity” magazines,and has said America needs to implement a “Red Flag” gun confiscation scheme. Which, he wrote one and submitted it to Congress. Bill Barr is not a friend of the 2nd Amd. Oppose Barr. Why are so many so called Pro-2A Org support these people and more of their authoritarian and totalitarian actions? With glee!
This is going to be Abused badly Bill Barr Should never of been elected a G, President Trump sold us out by making him the AG he is a serious anti-gunner and having as the chief law-enforcement officer of the country is a sad day for us. So much for Trump and protecting our Second Amendment rights I’ll this is bah blah,blah blather. Next time you see a 4473 if you get a chance read read down to the part about addicted to drugs, ATF in their infinite wisdom has added doctor prescribed prescription drugs to the list of reason… Read more »
Anti Second Amendment William Barr is at it again, not enough work for him to do? He is afraid to go after people who have the money to defend themselves? What about Hillary and the Clinton Foundation, destruction of property at the State Department, selling 25% of our Uranium to Russia? Didn’t want to and chose to let criminal James Comey free? He has been in office 9 months and I’m not seeing any accomplishments except but to intrude Second Amendment Rights.
Apparenty NSSF couldn’t care less about SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.
Government must always be watched with wariness when it makes laws and when it purports to enforce them. However, there is a narrow range of laws and principles that are actually just and good. (All too often, laws are created, and enforced, that specially serve the interests of particular groups rather than all citizens, that persecute human rights rather than assure them, and that simply burden people for no reason – ever wait at a stop light that would never change, no matter how deserted the streets, and yet one is still legally liable for disobeying it? That is not… Read more »
Yet another reason I will never support the NSSF. This organization is applauding an administration that has enacted more gun control in its first to years than the previous two administrations combined. They’re applauding an anti gun scumbag who defended the murderers at Ruby Ridge and Waco. They’re applauding the government for enforcing unconstitutional laws.
Here we got all the technical firepower in the world available to us, and yet we still whine. Even knowing that they are coming for us, all we do is whine. Surely there came a day when the all the Patriots decided that now was the time? What I’m looking for, as with all things of this nature, is for an incident acting as an incendiary that will motivate kick off. Taxing their tea in 1773 was one thing, but states are now looking at hyper-taxing ammo and firearms without due process, or even proper representation? Maybe what Sleeping Beauty… Read more »