Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
Although the ATF is tasked with tracing guns used in crimes, the agency was virtually left out of the Navy Yard shooting investigation, CBS News reports.
That task was given to the FBI, which located the store where the gun was purchased within a few hours of the shooting.
It was unusual to leave out the ATF, CBS News reported.
“I have never seen an instance where ATF had not been relied upon to trace the gun,” said Mike Bouchard, a former ATF assistant director for field operations. “I have never heard of a situation like that.”
ATF spokeswoman Ginger Colbrun was vague in a statement.
“ATF is the sole federal agency that is authorized to conduct firearms tracing,” Colbrun stated. The ATF’s National Tracing Center “is authorized to trace a firearm for a law enforcement agency involved in a bona fide criminal investigation.”
It takes no skill and little intellect to “trace” a firearm….as the FBI has figured out. Atf’s last vestige of proprietary function has been exposed and only a mule would be surprised. The fat lady has sung. Besides, it has also been realized that the tracing function lets atf management leak self serving and unwarranted accolades while exploiting tragedy.