perhaps we should professionalize the agency

[gejohnston]

that is supposed to enforce federal gun laws, in addition to adding "common sense" to current ones, before we discuss more regulations.

They were undercover agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives running a storefront sting aimed at busting criminal operations in the city by purchasing drugs and guns from felons.

But the effort to date has not snared any major dealers or taken down a gang. Instead, it resulted in a string of mistakes and failures, including an ATF military-style machine gun landing on the streets of Milwaukee and the agency having $35,000 in merchandise stolen from its store, a Journal Sentinel investigation has found.

When the 10-month operation was shut down after the burglary, agents and Milwaukee police officers who participated in the sting cleared out the store but left behind a sensitive document that listed names, vehicles and phone numbers of undercover agents.

http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/atfs-milwaukee-sting-operation-marred-by-mistakes-failures-mu8akpj-188952581.html?abc=Ct5vpWpS

[Puha Ekapi]

1. Freaking Keystone

Cops. Replacing them with well trained and well led agents that implement effective operations to enforce existing laws would go a long ways towards keeping guns out of the hands of the bad guys.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

2. I had been wondering...

...what happened to the Keystone Cops!

[Downwinder]

3. One must bear in mind that Waco was an ATF operation.

[dballance]

5. I Know Waco was a Disaster but I'm Not Sure There Was any Other Outcome Possible Outcome

Given the "Jim Jones" kind of control Koresh had over his followers and their absolute refusal to really negotiate I don't see how it could have turned out differently. They were all ready and willing to meet their maker because Koresh told them that's what was going to happen. So I don't think dying was that big a concern for them since they were certain they were going to a "better place."

When robbers get pinned down and there is a hostage situation the criminal's first thought is probably not that he or she wants to go out in a blaze of glory. I believe they generally want to live. That motivates them to negotiate.

Just my opinion. Please feel free to disagree.

[Downwinder]

6. Could have picked up Koresh on the street, but it would

not have had the same PR impact.

[SailorMike]

4. IF

If they are not professionals, perhaps the ATFE should transfer them to the TSA.

[friendly_iconoclast]

7. What a clusterfuck:

...The sting resulted in charges being filed against about 30 people, most for low-level drug sales and gun possession counts. But agents had the wrong person in at least three cases. In one, they charged a man who was in prison - as a result of an earlier ATF case - at the time agents said he was selling drugs to them.

...One of the suspects hid the machine gun under a bed and took the handguns with him. He was questioned by police and refused to talk. He was released. No one has been charged in the burglary of the ATF guns, according to Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Karen Loebel. She declined to say if charges would be coming.

And they still haven't recovered the stolen machine gun...