FLEOA OPPOSES CONGRESSMAN SENSENBRENNER'S PLAN TO ABOLISH ATF
Washington, DC – Today, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers
Association (FLEOA) announced its strong opposition to Representative
Sensenbrenner's proposal to have dissolve the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and have it absorbed into other
law enforcement components. FLEOA disagrees with Rep. Sensenbrenner's
assertion that "ATF has been plagued by decades of high‐profile
blunders," and therefore should be abolished. During current volatile
times of rapidly escalating violent crime and active shooter massacres,
Congress should be prioritizing its resources towards strengthening ATF,
not dismantling it.
In response to Rep. Sensenbrenner's proposal,
FLEOA National President Jon Adler stated, "Violent gangs, gun
traffickers and active shooters will not take pause while Congress
attempts to engage in an unwarranted bureaucratic maneuver that would
waste taxpayer dollars and leave the public at risk. Any bill that calls
for dismantling ATF would simultaneously dissolve a critical layer of
enforcement and protection for the American public. We cannot afford to
diminish ATF's Frontline Strategy, nor the dedicated Special Agents and
Inspectors who enforce it."
FLEOA references ATF's formidable enforcement statistics from 2013 to
illustrate the critical importance of the agency's work. The dedicated
efforts of ATF law enforcement professionals resulted in 9,901 criminal
convictions. Among those convictions, 93 criminals received life
sentences, and eleven received death sentences. Additionally, ATF
successfully worked 1,737 arson investigations, 21,852 firearms cases,
927 explosives cases and 28 alcohol and tobacco investigations. All of
these commendable enforcement results have a direct impact on public
safety.
Adler added, "In light of the escalating violent crime in our
country, now is not the time to disarm ATF and hand their holsters and
diverse critical mission to other agencies. I respectfully ask that
Congressman Sensenbrenner reconsider his proposal and the immediate dire
consequences it would have on public safety."