Senate Unanimously Votes to End Fast and Furious-Style Gun Program
- Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:12pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The Senate voted Tuesday to effectively block the Justice Department from undertaking gun-smuggling probes like the flawed “Operation Fast and Furious” aimed at breaking up networks running guns to Mexican drug cartels but that lost track of hundreds of the weapons, some of which were used to commit crimes in Mexico and the United States.
The 99-0 vote would block the government from transferring guns to drug cartels unless federal agents “continuously monitor or control” the weapons. The amendment’s sponsor, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called the vote “just the first step towards ensuring that such a foolish operation can never be repeated by our own law enforcement.”
The Justice Department has already stopped the program.
A Justice Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Congress did not ask the department for its views, said the amendment essentially reflects DOJ policy.
In an interview Tuesday with ABC News, President Barack Obama said “we will find out who and what happened in this situation and make sure it gets corrected.”
The vote came as the Senate debated a $128 billion spending measure that would fund Justice Department operations and those of several other Cabinet agencies for the 2012 budget year already under way.
Operation Fast and Furious was a gun-smuggling investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives aimed at tracking small-time illicit gun buyers up the chain to major traffickers in an effort to take down arms networks. In the process, ATF agents lost track of many of the weapons.
Fast and Furious came to light after two assault rifles purchased by a now-indicted small-time buyer under scrutiny in the operation turned up at a shootout in Arizona where Customs and Border Protection agent Brian Terry was killed.
The operation has caused something of a firestorm in Washington and is the focus of an investigation by House Republicans, who have questioned whether Attorney General Eric Holder has been candid about all he knows about the botched operation.
Holder already has called a halt to the practice of allowing guns to “walk” in an effort to track them to arms traffickers, saying in a recent letter to lawmakers that “those tactics should never again be adopted in any investigation.”
The operation was designed to respond to criticism that the agency had focused on small-time gun arrests while major traffickers had eluded prosecution.
As recently as 11 months ago, the Justice Department’s inspector general criticized ATF for focusing “largely on inspections of gun dealers and investigations of straw purchasers, rather than on higher-level traffickers, smugglers and the ultimate recipients of the trafficked guns.”
The IG said some ATF managers discourage agents from conducting complex conspiracy investigations that target high-level traffickers.
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Comments (58)
Cold War Vet
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 8:54pmAlready? Wow that was fast.
Too little too late. The damage is already done. Time to fire and prosecute Eric Holder and others. Even if they are in the White House.
Report Post »obama-mecca-me-sick
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 9:03pmYes already, so they can say they took care of it and everyone moves on from Fast and Furious so Holder can keep his job. They need him in that position for the upcoming election fraud, beatings and intimidation by SEIU , Black Panthers and the 99 %.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 10:10pmHelp a paperboy out here, even if fhis was wildly sucessful, the upside of arming both sides now , of a mexican civil war is………the federalvovt has truly become the enemy of the american people, and apparently the mexican people also, i never thought id say this but, i now realize why the world hates us …………..
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 8:59amThose involved should be arrested and handed over to the mexican authorities for prosecution and imprisonment in a mexican jail. Though a US border agaent was killed, they aided mexican drug cartels…so they should get first bite.
Besides, when Obama is packing his bags in 2012, he won’t be able to pardon them if they are jailed in mexico.
Report Post »republitarian
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 8:37pm” In the process, ATF agents lost track of many of the weapons.”
Oh yeah? HOW MANY? This whole article sounds like it was written by the administration.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 12:10amHow can they lose track of what they aren’t tracking to begin.And, shouldn’t many be ALL, or do they figure the ones found at scenes of crimes are right where they expected them to be?
Report Post »Latter-Day-Soldier
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:59amI’d like to see a report from Mexico about weapons found at crime scenes coming from other Latin American countries that are fully automatic and were made in Russia or China or whatever country the weapons were manufactured in.
Report Post »Has anyone heard anything from our mainstream news media concerning R.P.G.s, mortars or any other military grade weapons being used south of the border that could not come from U.S. gun shops?
tankyjo
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 8:21pmNice wallpaper.
Report Post »conservative czar
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 10:22pmYes it is.
Report Post »TRILO
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 8:09pmThere is more to this than has been disclosed. One thing that really ticks me off is they are only investigating this program under Obama. I heard Issa the other day saying they did not believe the same thing was going on under Bush. Of course, Republicans will not investigate their own. The ENTIRE program needs to be investigated from the beginning to the end.
Report Post »southernORcobra
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 8:40pmThats because I don’t belive under the Bush admin they were stupid enough to let the guns walk over the border.
Report Post »cloudsofwar
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:57pmregarding this story……….. oh good grief folks it’s over. the senate is sweeping Fast and Furious under the rug. soon to be droped. they will rally around Obama.
Report Post »tarbush
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 8:10pmHave no fear. Obama has vowed that he will hold those responsible accountable.
I also heard OJ was still looking for the perps. Probably why he got arrested so he could look for them in jail. Makes sense.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 12:41am@tarbush
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 8:10pm
Have no fear. Obama has vowed that he will hold those responsible accountable.
I also heard OJ was still looking for the perps. Probably why he got arrested so he could look for them in jail. Makes sense
Report Post »***
I’m with you, and right after impeachment VERY WILLING to see BO get about 100 yrs to look for them among all his other crooks in jail.
Don’t forget to support our vets at the Veterans Memorial in DC on 11*11*11.
Git-R-Done
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:33pmThis program not only needs to be eliminated, those in charge need to be prosecuted.
Report Post »bigdave54
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 8:21pmRight on, right on!!
Report Post »Tparty2012
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:16pmObama gave the ATF 42mil for the fast and dumb
Report Post »Project. From the stimuls funds.
Obama needs to be brought up on conspiracy charges .
chazman
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:39pm… good Gawd! Stupid, moronic and CORRUPT! But, it’s the underlying motive of Fast and Furious, however, that I find extremely disturbing. The long and short of this is is this was a bald faced effort to discredit the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America! I see this little ‘operation’ as an act of TREASON! I know what constitutes TREASON, and this ‘act’ is TREASON! This can be PROVEN!!
Report Post »ares338
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:07pmJust as usual. After all the damage has been done the Reid led senate takes swift and decisive asction. Bwaaaaahahaha! About the only people our government doesn‘t want to have guns are it’s own citizens!
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:06pmUhm, Congressed passed a law banning the “Justice” Department from selling weapons to drug cartels.
Isn’t it already illegal to sell weapons to the drug cartels? What else is our “Justice” Department selling to “track” and capture criminals?
This is stupid. Instead of passing a law banning something already illegal Congress should get off the golf course and throw the dirty crooks in jail!
If you and I as citizens can’t sell weapons to the cartel then the stupid “Justice” Department never could have either regardless of their reasoning. This is insane!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:11pmThat’s my first thought .. you are going to stop something that is already illegal??? Yay?
To h e l l with that … find all that were in on this .. and send them to prison.
TEA!
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:48pm@CatB
This infuriates me…. Seriously how stupid are we and do they think we are? If our own “Justice”, and I don’t know what that word means these days, Department can not follow the LAW why would they expect us to or anyone to respect law. Glad to see I was not the only one!
TEA!!!!!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:04pmWhy doesn’t the “senate” try and convict osamabinladen’s nephew obamadonehadus for TREASON?
After reading the headline on DRUDGE today where the noman stated, “We’re on your side” to the riff raff in NY on the street called WS, I would say that he took a very public stand AGAINST AMERICA and against our entire system.
It is passed time to haul his shaggy, lying’ self before the system of justice we obey.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 12:51am@kickagrandma
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:04pm
Why doesn’t the “senate” try and convict osamabinladen’s nephew obamadonehadus for TREASON?
After reading the headline on DRUDGE today where the noman stated, “We’re on your side” to the riff raff in NY on the street called WS, I would say that he took a very public stand AGAINST AMERICA and against our entire system.
It is passed time to haul his shaggy, lying’ self before the system of justice we obey
Report Post »***
Just a few more weeks, our Veterans organizations are with you so PLEASE, EVERYONE WHO IS PHYSICALLY ABLE, JOIN THEM AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL IN DC ON 11*11*11 TO “PEACEFULLY ” DEMAND EITHER RESIGNATION OR IMPEACHMENT OF MANY…
Go to the following for details: http://patriotsforamerica.ning.com/forum/topics/just-this-minute-launched-a-declaration-to-restore-the-constituti
Omnivore
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:48pmThus the Senate washes its hands in a meaningless jesture. I’m not impressed.
Report Post »netmail
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 7:09pmBut this is the most work they have done in 3 years.
Report Post »libertytreecaretaker
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:33pmI can hear it now I(Obama) signed this legislation to prevent the illegal selling of weapons to the proxies of drug cartels.
(Reality)
congress unamously votes in favor stopping cold Obama’s DOJ from knowingly selling American weapons to drug cartels. And trying to blame the sale of guns to cartels on law abidding Americans in an attempt to infringe the 2A!
We need to unamously vote Obama’s ass out asap!
TEA
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:36pmIndeed, and now the fact is that with the history of Mr Obama bypassing Congress whenever he wishes to do so, these kind of known operations, and God alone knows how many other secretive ones will continue to happen or are happening now.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:40pmNo kiddin’? that “fast”?
How these idiots can sleep at night is beyond me. Further, I can‘t believe the morons Americans elect into ’service’. REJECTS!
Report Post »chips1
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:33pmSome government USPS worker probably stole mine. I never got it. In fact, none of my American friends got theirs either. Racist Dems.
Report Post »majorsco
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:32pmObama said those responsible would be held accountable. Well, his best buddy Holder is responsible. Let’s see how quick Obama lives up to his rhetoric? He’ll find some fall guy to pin it on in stead of providing real accountability. No accountability, no justice.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:30pmHow about voting for the termination of all Czars?
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 1:11am@NOBALONEY
Report Post »Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:30pm
How about voting for the termination of all Czars?
****
It’s in the Declaration!!!! Plus a whole lot more culprits from the Cabal. Again check out the link then support the Veterans who’ve taken an oath to protect our Constitution.
http://patriotsforamerica.ning.com/forum/topics/just-this-minute-launched-a-declaration-to-restore-the-constituti
capitalismrocks
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:29pmSomeone’s head needs to roll for this…. I don‘t think it’ll make it up to Obama, but Holder’s office will definitely be the center of the arrests… This was done for political reason’s — they were inventing a crisis and coming out and publicly saying about how gun violence was increasing — why yes it was, because the US Govt was supplying the weapons to step up the violence, so then the US Govt could come in and enact draconian gun regulations…
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:37pmInvent a crisis for the solution you have ready to take place; just as they are with Iran now that their Wag the Dog moment is being made more clear with each day.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:29pmWow!……They finally got something right on a, ‘no brainer’!
Report Post »Am I supposed to be impressed?
Why was it done in the first place?
Silversmith
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:54pmIt was intended to create an emergency that would cast the 2nd amendment in a bad light. Too bad they got caught lying about when and how much they knew….yeah really too bad…;-)
Silversmith
Report Post »sister1_rm
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:27pmPresident Barack Obama said “we will find out who and what happened in this situation and make sure it gets corrected.”
Uh, YOU Mr. Obama happend. It was under YOUR administration that this travesty happened and YOU owe a a very public apology to Mexico and the US and every person’s family that had someone die as a result of this fiasco. Do us a favor Mr. Obama, fire everyone responsible for this and resign! Only then will I call you a man and refer to you as a one time president!
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:26pmThats not enough.. Eric Holder must face the music.. he is accessory to the murder of Brian Terry!! If you won’t file charges then he must step down.. we the people have had enough of the lying Obama administration!
Report Post »paulusmaximus
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:23pm“Justice Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Congress did not ask the department for its views, said the amendment essentially reflects DOJ policy”= Hand in the cookie jar must coverup!.
Report Post »“Holder already has called a halt to the practice of allowing guns to “walk” in an effort to track them to arms traffickers,” When? Halted something he didn’t know about!?! Amazing!!!!
Dustyluv
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:27pmThe REAL question is this…Who the F is going to prison for this? Holder needs to fry along with our @hit for brains President!
Report Post »AmericanLass
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:23pmWell duh !
Report Post »ACLUHater
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:27pmAnd I am sure that it was a quiet vote.
Report Post »W@nd@
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:23pmwow they were still involved in this ? or is this a formality?
Report Post »What a shamefull chapter in our history!
Naram-Sin
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:22pmWell, now Obama will claim the program a success because it has been stopped and any thing that happened before it ended was the fault of George Bush and the Rebuplicans.
Report Post »elosogrande
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:21pmDidn’t Fast & Furious come to light in May? How could they possibly take five months to get this done? The only answer in incompetence on both sides of the aisle. Vote them all out, starting with the first 34 or so in 2012. We can rid the country of the rest of them by 2016 and get our country back on track.
Report Post »Banter
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:18pmSad that we even need a law for this unconscionable act. Brian Terry’s family paid the ultimate price, but I doubt holder even cares.
Report Post »RoboZiggy
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 6:40pmOf course Holder doesn’t care.
Report Post »Terry was WHITE!
If he had been Black or Hispanic, things would have been handled differently, instead of just pushing the closest crap pile over it to cover it up.