Atlanta ATF & APD Gun sale sting nets 373 weapons, 49 suspects

[RamboLiberal]

Federal authorities and the Atlanta Police bought 373 guns from criminals in a sting operation based in a fake storefront in southwest Atlanta.

The cops also picked up some illegal drugs and stolen merchandise along the way while running "ATL Blaze" -- which purported to be a smoke shop on Campbellton Road but actually was a front for the operation run by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Authorities announced the results on Wednesday.

Undercover agents put out word that the owners of the business were interested in buying guns as well as drugs and stolen goods and ended up with weapons ranging from revolvers and scoped rifles to sawed-off shotguns and assault weapons.

Authorities said 49 people have been indicted on various federal and state charges: conspiracy to unlawfully deal in firearms, theft by receiving stolen property, drug trafficking and, the most common, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Twenty-seven had been arrested, and some had a federal court hearing Wednesday.

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/gun-sale-sting-nets-992540.html

[safeinOhio]

1. Cheers for the ATF.

Doing their job.

[spin]

2. Great news. The ATF is finally doing their job ...

and not allowing guns to be smuggled into Mexico in order to possibly promote another assault weapons ban.

I hope they continue doing good work. No honest gun owner wants to see guns smuggled into Mexico or illegally sold on the streets in America.

[aikoaiko]

3. Everybody likes it when criminals get gotten.

[Remmah2]

4. Meanwhile cities organize gun "buy back" programs and give criminals a free pass.

Plus a Wal-Mart gift card.



http://www.google.com/#hl=en&xhr=t&q=gun+buyback+program&cp=7&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbm=nws&source=og&sa=N&tab=wn&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=16e1b24999b49bbc&biw=1024&bih=658

[petronius]

7. I've always assumed that the value of those programs was that they bring in

firearms that are just lying around, perhaps improperly stored, that the owner otherwise doesn't know what to do with. A deceased parent's old rifle for example. I think that benefit outweighs the risk that a criminal might profit from it, especially as the reward is relatively low (the disposal opportunity may be as much a draw as the gift card)...

[Atypical Liberal]

5. Hooray! Laws targeting CRIMINALS!

Now this is the kind of law enforcement I can support. Targeting criminals instead of law-abiding citizens.

[Hoyt]

6. Shows it can be done. Now, lets go after other folks who sell guns w/o background checks.

[cleanhippie]

8. you want to go after people for conducting a legal activity?

How fascist of you. How expected.


As soon as you figure out a way to open the NICS to private sellers and can protect the right to privacy of individuals, you can.....nevermind. You have no interest in doing anything to deal with the actual causes of gun violence, do you?

[Hoyt]

9. "Legal" activities that bypass background checks are unethical, immoral, and need to be stopped.

Pass whatever laws are necessary. The way to do it is is so simple -- require sales to go through FFLs.

Sorry if it impacts your income. Too many folks make money off guns as it is. Might as well be part of MIC.

[Katya Mullethov]

10. Patience

There are processes that must be completed . Under the radar .

[friendly_iconoclast]

11. We've heard the same said about abortions and traveling by air

All for the good of society, of course...

[Hoyt]

12. Not quite the same as back alley gun deals.

[cleanhippie]

15. What is a "back alley gun deal" and would ANY law prevent it?

You are talking about a CRIMINAL transaction. You seem to be having great confusion differentiating between a criminal action and a legal private sale of goods between legal adults.

Let me know when you know the difference and are ready to have a conversation based on the facts.

[cleanhippie]

16. Funny, how when the questions move beyond mud-slinging and snark, hoyt is nowhere to be found.

And if he does return, it will be with some non-nonsensical bullshit response that has nothing to do with the questions posed to him.

[oneshooter]

17. He knows his limits, and won't go past them. n/t

[Straw Man]

13. So if I sell a gun to someone I've known for 15 years ...

... who is the member of the same gun club as I am and who has a valid state-issued handgun permit, I am guilty of unethical and immoral conduct for not conducting a background check that I am legally barred from conducting? Even though state and federal law allow me to make this sale and I am 100% sure my friend is not a "prohibited person"?

What a pile of nonsense.

[DWC]

14. Anyone who thinks morals or ethics can be legislated

or regulated has no concept of human nature. I would suggest remedial education but I don't think it will help.

Kudos to the ATF and APD for a job well done.

Semper Fi,