"If you're not cheating, your not trying hard enough." - Old adage

I have heard this phrase from several of my local PD. Even though I respect the department, police have a hard job, and I consider almost all of them to be of good character, punishment won't really solve this problem because the problem is they have too much to do, too many laws to enforce, too much power to do it.

Big fines? Phhf, not my money; I'm just doing my job.

Short of drawing down the Police-Industrial complex by drastically cutting federal funds and legalizing drugs, you'd have to start revoking pensions and get convictions for violating civil rights under color of law to put the fear of the law into them. We're going to end up with "none of the above" and more on top of it all.

Look at the ATF mandate: they're revenuers from the Prohibition era, for crying out loud. Why do they still exist?

Something is rotten in that house. Power is never surrendered willingly, and 75 years later I think the point has been established definitively. Best strategy would be to roll the enforcement mandate into the FBI, and shut the ATF down as a distinct entity.

Of course, I think that's the best strategy for the IRS as well. *cough*

Congress once tried to roll the ATF into the FBI but the FBI didn't want them and managed to squash it.

Don't roll the ATF into the FBI. The FBI does not want them.

Give the FBI authority over felons with guns and MG violations. Fire the ATF retards.

I'll second Kristopher: abolish the ATF, roll any necessary authority (not ATF's total current mission and attitude) to FBI but don't retain the ATF personnel. Which I realize would take a lot of political capital; the natural tendency in DC would be to retain the personnel. In an odd way I think we're best off with the status quo rather than re-booting (and re-legitimizing) the ATF, until there's a real chance of abolishing it completely.

Also! No argument with Jim D above, but I would add: an intermediate step would be to end asset forfeiture without a criminal conviction, and stop sending the funds to the seizing police agency in any case. Incentives matter.

Interesting stuff that will keep you up at night! It's no small wonder we are evolving into lawlessness; every new statute makes us more criminal!

Best regards,
Albert
Protect Yourself from Plagiarism: Part I

Wow, atf agents committing pergury aging. What a surprise, NOT!!!

Wow, atf agents committing pergury again(still?). What a surprise, NOT!!!