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Copyright 2003 Cox Enterprises, Inc.
Cox News Service
January 10, 2003 Friday
SECTION: Washington, General News
LENGTH: 1041 words
HEADLINE: ATF'S MOVE TO JUSTICE DEPT. WORRIES BOTH SIDES OF GUN DEBATE
BYLINE: EUNICE MOSCOSO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
A government plan to move the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) to the Department of Justice has both sides of the gun debate worried.
Some gun owners, already skeptical of the Bush administration's efforts to monitor the activity of citizens, fear that the change could increase surveillance and make big government even bigger. Meanwhile, proponents of gun control are concerned that Attorney General John Ashcroft's support gun rights will translate into a watered-down ATF.
"We are extremely concerned that he (Ashcroft) would bring his pro-gun ideology to bear on how ATF carries out its responsibilities," said Mathew Nosanchuk, litigation director for the Violence Policy Center, a gun control group in Washington. "If ever the fox would be guarding the hen-house." Nosanchuk said that the ATF is already "a toothless tiger" when it comes to regulating firearms and that giving Ashcroft a "license to meddle" would result in actions that are more favorable to the gun industry.
But many gun owners _ who have long felt contempt for the ATF's law enforcement role _ have a completely different perspective on Ashcroft because of his support for what they see as invasions of privacy and infringements on the rights of law-abiding citizens in the name of homeland security.
"Many of us hoped that Mr. Ashcroft would use the Constitution to interpret his mission as attorney general. We have been sorely disappointed," said Ken Bagby, a gun owner from Shelby, N.C.
The ATF, which regulates firearms and explosives, has been in the Department of the Treasury for decades, but will move to the Department of Justice as part of a massive government restructuring that includes the creation of a Department of Homeland Security.
ATF officials said that concerns about the agency's move are much ado about nothing.
"I can't see any change in policies and procedures," said Jim Crandall, a spokesman for the agency. "ATF has through the years enforced the law as it was given to us...the law and the regulations are not easily changed."
In fact, ATF employees will not move to another location when they switch departments, Crandall said.
In addition, he pointed out that gun owners are not on any national database that might be shared with the Department of Justice.
"We don't register guns. Congress has been specific on that," he said. "I don't know of anyone who would be arrogant or stupid enough to go against Congress when they've specifically said that there will be no national gun registration."
The bulk of ATF employees _ about 4,600 people _ will be transferred to the Department of Justice by the end of this month, including all those who work in the area of firearms and explosives. The move will split the agency in two, with about 500 employees remaining in a new Tax and Trade Bureau that will deal with regulation and taxation of the alcohol and tobacco industries.
Other law enforcement organizations within the Treasury Department, including the Secret Service, will soon move to the new Department of Homeland Security.
The new department, which will include nearly two dozen agencies, was established to better protect the nation's borders and infrastructure from terrorists, a task that has proved controversial.
Many security efforts since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks have found opposition on both sides of the political spectrum, including the outspoken and powerful National Rifle Association.
NRA Executive Director Wayne LaPierre blasted the administration in a major speech last year, saying that airport security efforts made "women cringe as security men let their wands linger between their legs."
In addition, LaPierre criticized government attempts to monitor citizens through developing technologies such as fingerprinting, optical scanners and security cameras that can scan and identify facial features.
"The danger isn't that Big Brother may storm the castle gates. The danger is that Americans don't realize that he is already inside the castle walls," he said.
In addition, conservative politicians have weighed in on the controversy, including strong supporters of President Bush, such as former Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia and former House majority leader Richard Armey of Texas.
In fact, Barr will be a consultant for the American Civil Liberties Union which shares his concerns about privacy. And Armey also considered working for the civil rights group before accepting a position with a large lobbying firm.
Barr and Armey represent a right-wing rebellion of sorts against Ashcroft and the Bush administration, who had enjoyed blanket support from conservatives prior to Sept. 11.
Of particular concern are new powers granted in the Patriot Act that allow the government broader discretion to monitor computer activity and phone conversations in criminal investigations. In addition, many on the right are worried about a Pentagon program that would collect large amounts of information on citizens _ including bank statements and credit card purchases _ in an effort to find patterns common to terrorists.
"Our government will use the 'protection angle' as an excuse to step all over the rights of the citizens," Bagby said, echoing a growing sentiment in the gun rights community.
But Ashcroft has also won praise from gun owners and the NRA for his stance on the Second Amendment.
He delighted gun rights advocates early in his term by sending a letter to the NRA, stating that the amendment's original intent protects the right of individuals to keep and bear arms.
The administration's stance on the issue _ which countered previous court rulings that favored a "collective right" of state military forces _ has fueled legal challenges against weapons bans and ire from gun control advocates across the country.
Meanwhile, the NRA, which once labeled ATF agents as "jack-booted thugs"_ has not weighed in on the ATF's move to Ashcroft's Department of Justice, saying only that it would monitor the situation.
"We're adopting a wait and see attitude," said spokesman Andrew Arulanandam (cq).
On the Web:
National Rifle Association: www.nra.org
Department of Justice: www.usdoj.gov
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms: www.atf.treas.gov
Cox News Service
January 10, 2003 Friday
SECTION: Washington, General News
LENGTH: 1041 words
HEADLINE: ATF'S MOVE TO JUSTICE DEPT. WORRIES BOTH SIDES OF GUN DEBATE
BYLINE: EUNICE MOSCOSO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
A government plan to move the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) to the Department of Justice has both sides of the gun debate worried.
Some gun owners, already skeptical of the Bush administration's efforts to monitor the activity of citizens, fear that the change could increase surveillance and make big government even bigger. Meanwhile, proponents of gun control are concerned that Attorney General John Ashcroft's support gun rights will translate into a watered-down ATF.
"We are extremely concerned that he (Ashcroft) would bring his pro-gun ideology to bear on how ATF carries out its responsibilities," said Mathew Nosanchuk, litigation director for the Violence Policy Center, a gun control group in Washington. "If ever the fox would be guarding the hen-house." Nosanchuk said that the ATF is already "a toothless tiger" when it comes to regulating firearms and that giving Ashcroft a "license to meddle" would result in actions that are more favorable to the gun industry.
But many gun owners _ who have long felt contempt for the ATF's law enforcement role _ have a completely different perspective on Ashcroft because of his support for what they see as invasions of privacy and infringements on the rights of law-abiding citizens in the name of homeland security.
"Many of us hoped that Mr. Ashcroft would use the Constitution to interpret his mission as attorney general. We have been sorely disappointed," said Ken Bagby, a gun owner from Shelby, N.C.
The ATF, which regulates firearms and explosives, has been in the Department of the Treasury for decades, but will move to the Department of Justice as part of a massive government restructuring that includes the creation of a Department of Homeland Security.
ATF officials said that concerns about the agency's move are much ado about nothing.
"I can't see any change in policies and procedures," said Jim Crandall, a spokesman for the agency. "ATF has through the years enforced the law as it was given to us...the law and the regulations are not easily changed."
In fact, ATF employees will not move to another location when they switch departments, Crandall said.
In addition, he pointed out that gun owners are not on any national database that might be shared with the Department of Justice.
"We don't register guns. Congress has been specific on that," he said. "I don't know of anyone who would be arrogant or stupid enough to go against Congress when they've specifically said that there will be no national gun registration."
The bulk of ATF employees _ about 4,600 people _ will be transferred to the Department of Justice by the end of this month, including all those who work in the area of firearms and explosives. The move will split the agency in two, with about 500 employees remaining in a new Tax and Trade Bureau that will deal with regulation and taxation of the alcohol and tobacco industries.
Other law enforcement organizations within the Treasury Department, including the Secret Service, will soon move to the new Department of Homeland Security.
The new department, which will include nearly two dozen agencies, was established to better protect the nation's borders and infrastructure from terrorists, a task that has proved controversial.
Many security efforts since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks have found opposition on both sides of the political spectrum, including the outspoken and powerful National Rifle Association.
NRA Executive Director Wayne LaPierre blasted the administration in a major speech last year, saying that airport security efforts made "women cringe as security men let their wands linger between their legs."
In addition, LaPierre criticized government attempts to monitor citizens through developing technologies such as fingerprinting, optical scanners and security cameras that can scan and identify facial features.
"The danger isn't that Big Brother may storm the castle gates. The danger is that Americans don't realize that he is already inside the castle walls," he said.
In addition, conservative politicians have weighed in on the controversy, including strong supporters of President Bush, such as former Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia and former House majority leader Richard Armey of Texas.
In fact, Barr will be a consultant for the American Civil Liberties Union which shares his concerns about privacy. And Armey also considered working for the civil rights group before accepting a position with a large lobbying firm.
Barr and Armey represent a right-wing rebellion of sorts against Ashcroft and the Bush administration, who had enjoyed blanket support from conservatives prior to Sept. 11.
Of particular concern are new powers granted in the Patriot Act that allow the government broader discretion to monitor computer activity and phone conversations in criminal investigations. In addition, many on the right are worried about a Pentagon program that would collect large amounts of information on citizens _ including bank statements and credit card purchases _ in an effort to find patterns common to terrorists.
"Our government will use the 'protection angle' as an excuse to step all over the rights of the citizens," Bagby said, echoing a growing sentiment in the gun rights community.
But Ashcroft has also won praise from gun owners and the NRA for his stance on the Second Amendment.
He delighted gun rights advocates early in his term by sending a letter to the NRA, stating that the amendment's original intent protects the right of individuals to keep and bear arms.
The administration's stance on the issue _ which countered previous court rulings that favored a "collective right" of state military forces _ has fueled legal challenges against weapons bans and ire from gun control advocates across the country.
Meanwhile, the NRA, which once labeled ATF agents as "jack-booted thugs"_ has not weighed in on the ATF's move to Ashcroft's Department of Justice, saying only that it would monitor the situation.
"We're adopting a wait and see attitude," said spokesman Andrew Arulanandam (cq).
On the Web:
National Rifle Association: www.nra.org
Department of Justice: www.usdoj.gov
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms: www.atf.treas.gov
