Federal agents hunt for guns, one house at a time

[Felix The Assassin]

The writing is on the walls folks.
By DANE SCHILLER Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

June 30, 2009, 9:36PM

In front of a run-down shack in north Houston, federal agents step from a government sedan into 102-degree heat and face a critical question: How can the woman living here buy four high-end handguns in one day?
The house is worth $35,000. A screen dangles by a wall-unit air conditioner. Porch swing slats are smashed, the smattering of grass is flattened by cars and burned yellow by sun.
“I’ll do the talking on this one,” agent Tim Sloan, of South Carolina, told partner Brian Tumiel, of New York.
Success on the front lines of a government blitz on gunrunners supplying Mexican drug cartels with Houston weaponry hinges on logging heavy miles and knocking on countless doors. Dozens of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — sent here from around the country — are needed to follow what ATF acting director Kenneth Melson described as a “massive number of investigative leads.”
All told, Mexican officials in 2008 asked federal agents to trace the origins of more than 7,500 firearms recovered at crime scenes in Mexico. Most of them were traced back to Texas, California and Arizona.
Among other things, the agents are combing neighborhoods and asking people about suspicious purchases as well as seeking explanations as to how their guns ended up used in murders, kidnappings and other crimes in Mexico.
“Ever turning up the heat on cartels, our law enforcement and military partners in the government of Mexico have been working more closely with the ATF by sharing information and intelligence,” Melson said Tuesday during a firearms-trafficking summit in New Mexico.

Firearms dealers visited
The ATF recently dispatched 100 veteran agents to its Houston division, which reaches to the border.
The mission is especially challenging because, officials say, that while Houston is the number one point of origin for weapons traced back to the United States from Mexico, the government can’t compile databases on gun owners under federal law.
Agents instead review firearms dealers’ records in person.
People who are legally in the United States and have clean criminal records, but are facing economic problems are often recruited by traffickers to buy weapons on their behalf in order to shield themselves from scrutiny.
Knocks at the door of the shack that looked to be the definition of hard times went unanswered.
“I am out of here,” Sloan said a few moments later, as a pit bull
lazily sauntered from the back yard. “I don’t like pit bulls walking up behind me.”

Best information source
On second thought, Sloan switched to Spanish and interviewed a neighbor.
The neighbor said the woman left a month ago after a fight with her husband or boyfriend, who still lived there with what she called “other degenerates.”
“An angry ex-girlfriend or wife is the best person in the world, the greatest source of information,” Sloan said.
The night before, the duo were in a stakeout where they watched a weapons sale.
They also combined efforts with the Drug Enforcement Administration for an aircraft to stealthily follow traffickers to the border.
On this day, agents weren’t wearing raid jackets or combat boots and weren’t armed with warrants.
Guns were hidden under civilian shirts.

Another tip took agents on a 30-minute drive from the shack to a sprawling home with a pool in the back and an American flag out front.
It turned out two handguns, of a type drug gangsters prefer, were bought by a pastor for target practice.

Some stories, they say, are hard to believe.
The lamest so far came from a police officer: He said he bought a few military-style rifles, left them in his car and — on the same night — forgot to lock a door. He couldn’t explain why he didn’t file a police report or why he visited Mexico the day after the alleged theft.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6505651.html

[Firestormalpha]

So, what writing are you seeing Felix. In this particular article, all I see is the Gov't try to stop a line of illegal guns going into Mexico.

Now, if the article said, Gov't searching for guns one house at a time, for no particularly good reason, where there is no problem of gun running. Then there might be an issue.

(NOTE: I just woke up, so yes, the grammar is horrible. Especially that last part.)

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally Posted by Firestormalpha So, what writing are you seeing Felix. In this particular article, all I see is the Gov't try to stop a line of illegal guns going into Mexico. Now, if the article said, Gov't searching for guns one house at a time, for no particularly good reason, where there is no problem of gun running. Then there might be an issue. (NOTE: I just woke up, so yes, the grammar is horrible. Especially that last part.)

Just a little blurb.

The mission is especially challenging because, officials say, that while Houston is the number one point of origin for weapons traced back to the United States from Mexico, the government can’t compile databases on gun owners under federal law.

In case you have never heard anything about the current administrations gun control wants, research HR 45 (the Blair Holt bill).

[Firestormalpha]

I'll look in on it a little later, but I'm gonna guess it has to do with tracking the purchasing habits of licensed gun owners, or something similar?

[Chewbacca]

*Gasp* They are actually gonna track who/where buys a dangerous item which is easy to conceal, transport, and use? ZOMMMMFFFGG!!!! Whats next, warning labels on tanks of flammable gas/liquid? Doctors note for prescription-strength drugs? Requiring proof you know how to drive before being provided a license? THE INSANITY!!!!!!!

[Firestormalpha]

I never said it was a bad thing.

Personally it wouldn't affect me, I don't own guns. I do have two swords, but no guns.

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca *Gasp* They are actually gonna track who/where buys a dangerous item which is easy to conceal, transport, and use? ZOMMMMFFFGG!!!! Whats next, warning labels on tanks of flammable gas/liquid? Doctors note for prescription-strength drugs? Requiring proof you know how to drive before being provided a license? THE INSANITY!!!!!!!

They already do Chewy, at the state level. Now however, they are attempting federal programs, assistance, and bureaucracies to boot. If it fails, the back-up plan is too legislate ammunition.

The only small problem with all of this is minor. It will only affects law abiding citizens! We already know that drug dealers and "gansta's" have been forced to make their purchases at the legalized, registered, certified, and monitored federally recognized gun store, right? And they will conduct the head count for the waiting lines to receive their very own visit to the station where they will be printed, photographed, and cataloged into the bill, right?

About that driving quote, I've heard they are actually going to implement that next year!

[Firestormalpha]

Well, there is a benefit to the flaw you mentioned Felix. If the criminal element is found with firearms and checked against the filing system. There name will not be there. Instant conviction, no? Certainly would give law enforcement more time to hold them and build a case for something bigger.

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally Posted by Firestormalpha Well, there is a benefit to the flaw you mentioned Felix. If the criminal element is found with firearms and checked against the filing system. There name will not be there. Instant conviction, no? Certainly would give law enforcement more time to hold them and build a case for something bigger.

True. However, I might ask, when was the last time you read, saw, or heard of said menance to society caught with a gun in their possesion?

[ElfBane]

Originally Posted by Felix The Assassin True. However, I might ask, when was the last time you read, saw, or heard of said menance to society caught with a gun in their possesion?

Damn, Felix! Read the newspapers, crooks are caught all the time with guns in their possesion.

I know you are concerned about our precious 2nd amendment rights, but let's not confuse a personal right with Gun-Running. Gun-Running should be reserved for approved Government agencies......you know, Iran-Contra...that sort of thing! Love you Felix!