Move to Justice Dept. Brings ATF New Focus

Washington Post ^ | 01/23/03 | Dan Eggen

[Pokey78]

Under Security Reorganization, Agency Will Stress Firearms Probes

After more than two centuries of history with the Treasury Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on Friday will report to a new boss: the Justice Department.

The move means that the ATF will no longer be responsible for collecting taxes and fees on tobacco and spirits. Instead, it will be devoting itself full time to investigating firearms violations, explosives thefts, cigarette smuggling and other crimes.

ATF and Justice Department officials say the shift will give the ATF a tighter focus on law enforcement, and will allow it to coordinate more closely with the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies. The move is part of a broader reshuffling after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

"Suddenly it was clear that something different needed to be done," said ATF Director Bradley A. Buckles, who has been with the agency since 1974. "This will help make sure we are on the same page in how we interact and work together."

But the move has been met with resistance from some in the FBI, which has had a rocky relationship with the ATF and which historically has sought to gain more control over firearms and explosives cases.

[Sparta]

Get ready for the more improved ATF. Even more jackbooted than the original.

[dead]

This is great news!

The Justice Department is much better equipped than the Treasury Department for burying the screw ups and dead civilians that litter the trail of this incompetent, bloodthirsty group of idiots.

[Sparta]

Jackboot ping

[Mulder]

, it will be devoting itself full time to investigating firearms violations....

Thanks W.

[Mulder]

bang

[gitmo]

Enforce the Second Amendment. /sarcasm

[coloradan]

After more than two centuries of history with the Treasury Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on Friday will report to a new boss: the Justice Department.

Interestingly, the ATF itself celebrated its 30 anniversary just a short while ago.

[Skibane]

Great...So now that the ATF is officially a "law enforcement" agency, does that mean they'll stop collecting taxes?</rhetorical question>

[harpseal]

Check out the full article regarding naming of ATF/BATF/BATFE

[DoughtyOne]

Amen. The AFT is should change it's name to the SS. Why not be out in the open about it?

[Travis McGee]

The agency will remain in its current leased offices near the MCI Center, awaiting a move to new headquarters in Northeast Washington in about two years.

The bureau will also get a name change -- to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives -- but will stick with the well-known ATF moniker.

Don't these morons know how hard this is making it for a guy who is just trying to finish a novel about the BATF right now? Anybody know where their new HQ will be?

[rolling_stone]

Just stick with JBT that hasn't changed...

[Squantos]

First Street Northeast and New York Avenue in DC.......tick tick tick.......:o)

[Travis McGee]

What a pain in the neck this is for me! I am writing about the (B)ATF(E) a few years in the future when this is all settled business, and I have to guess! Probably I will stick with ATF all through EFAD and drop the B and the E. But I still don't know where their various offices and HQs will be, I have heard that a giant "homeland security pentagon" will be built somewhere in N. Va, but MD is bitching for a piece of it. Gees, what's a writer supposed to do?!

[Squantos]

That's why they call it Fix's un Travis :o)

Try and not let such distract yer great story too much.

[Lurker]

ATF Director Bradley A. Buckles,

Remember that name....

L

[meadsjn]

From the Post:

Officials said the ATF will retain about 4,600 employees after Friday's move, leaving behind about 550 others to continue collecting revenue for Treasury.

The agency will remain in its current leased offices near the MCI Center, awaiting a move to new headquarters in Northeast Washington in about two years.

[Travis McGee]

Sounds like a real studly hero. Not.

[Travis McGee]

From the article it sounds like about 1/4 of the 4,000 ATF guys going to Justice will be in that new ATF building on 1st and NY.

I wonder how many floors it will have? I have some scenes in the senior executive offices, I can make that up, but it's nice to mention the floor they are on and some details about the building.