U.S. urged dealer to continue gun sales despite concerns, inquiry finds The Arizona gun dealer repeatedly raised red flags about weapons ending up in the hands of Mexican drug cartels as part of Project Gunrunner, but his concerns were brushed aside, congressional investigators say.
The investigation into a federal operation that allowed Mexican drug cartels to acquire U.S. weapons escalated Thursday with new revelations that an Arizona gun dealer repeatedly expressed fears that his guns were falling into the "hands of the bad guys" but was encouraged by federal agents to continue the sales.
A series of emails released by congressional investigators showed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives encouraged the gun dealer against his better judgment to sell high-powered weapons to buyers he believed were agents for the drug cartels.
Employees of the dealer videotaped gun buyers — suspected "straw purchasers" who could legally buy the guns, though cartel members could not — exchanging money with other individuals on the dealer's premises.
The aim of the ATF program, called Project Gunrunner, was to gather intelligence on suspicious weapons sales and arrest senior members of international trafficking chains.
In an eerie case of premonition, the gun dealer expressed fears that the guns he was selling could be used against U.S. border agents.
Poster Comment:
Appears as though traitors/saboteurs from within the US goobermint purposely "botched" a sting in order that guns would fall into hands of Mexican cartel thugs - who would then use them IN THE US. How sloppy. How convenient.
When the murderers' weapons are confiscated and BP agents and innocent Americans are murdered, guess who takes the fall? American gun shop owners, manufacturers, and gun owners will be blamed. This is an outrageous calculated attack upon the 2A, folks - we're being sabotaged from within.
"Project Gunrunner" should be renamed, "Project Treasonous Bullsh*t."
