Tom Horne
Arizona Attorney GeneralRe: ATF Fast and Furious
Dear Mr. Horne
As you are aware, ATF ran a program called “Fast and Furious” out of their Phoenix office whereby the let assault rifles “walk” into the hands of the Mexican drug cartels and various border bandits.
Two of those ATF “walked” guns, which were sold by a Phoenix area gun shop with the knowledge of ATF, were found at the murder scene of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry.
While various investigations are on-going at the federal level, there appear to be important state law issues involved in this situation.
I specifically call your attention to Arizona Revised Statutes Title 13 Section 1201 “Endangerment”
13-1201. Endangerment; classification
A. A person commits endangerment by recklessly endangering another person with a substantial risk of imminent death or physical injury.
B. Endangerment involving a substantial risk of imminent death is a class 6 felony. In all other cases, it is a class 1 misdemeanor.
Evidence is mounting that field agents within the Phoenix office of ATF warned their superiors that the “walking” of guns could lead to the deaths of, among others, federal agents.
The warnings of these dedicated and honorable law enforcement officers were ignored by their superiors. The end result was Border Patrol agent Brian Terry died as a result of these “walked” guns.
Arguably senior officials in ATF are chargeable for endangerment under state law.
I would urge you and your staff to look into the record that has been developed so far by the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the sworn testimony by various ATF employees with an eye on what, if any, state criminal laws were violated in the course of the “Fast and Furious” project.
Excellent idea. Let the states do what the Fed refuses to. That's the way it should be, anyway.
ReplyDeleteYes, great news.
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