Posted on 01/06/2018 7:26:07 AM PST by Simon Green
Government Accountability Office employees posing as sketchy buyers tried and failed in 72 attempts to purchase firearms on the internet, part of a failed investigation called for by a trio of Congressional Democrats.
While the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) insisted in its most recent strategic plan, as cited by the GAO, that "the privacy of the Internet makes it an ideal means for gang members, violent criminals, terrorists, and juveniles to traffic and obtain illegal firearms," the new report released by the (GAO) could not corroborate any of it.
The GAO did not fare much better on the so-called "Dark Web." Agents made 7 attempts and were successful just twice, purchasing an AR-15 and an Uzi.
There's not much in the report for Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland) and Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) from which to demand stricter internet gun laws, but it may not stop Democrats from trying to impose new laws anyway.
It's unclear what kind of internet-specific gun laws there could be other than a blanket ban (LOL trying to enforce that) or enhanced sentencing (a dubious legal tool to say the least).
In all, 56 sellers refused to complete the requested transactions; 29 said they wouldn't ship the requested firearms and 27 refused after the agents disclosed they were prohibited from purchasing firearms. One five separate occasions, the GAO trolls were also banned from the websites where they were inquiring about murky purchases.
"The results of our testing are for illustrative purposes only and are not generalizable," the GAO wrote in a letter to the three Congressional Democrats about the results of the report.
The GAO was also asked to assess how ATF was enforcing firearms laws on the internet, since Cummings, Schatz, and Warren say they worry there are no specific laws about firearm sales on the internet. (As the GAO report notes, a bevy of laws on the book apply to firearm sales that happen to be made on the internet)
Nevertheless, the GAO found that ATF does coordinate investigative work on internet sales through an Internet Investigations Center to "ensure they have the necessary training to operate online in an undercover capacity."
According to the GAO, the ATF center, founded in 2012, uses free open-source software "to analyze online content for investigations," claiming that this allowed "analysts to glean information from public websites without violating users' privacy rights."
In any case, the technology that makes all kinds of commerce easier, including firearms-related commerce, isn't going anywhere. So-called e-commerce continues to grow while other technology, like 3D printing, promises to make government attempts to control all kinds of products, including firearms, even harder.
It's a bright future.
Throw easy internet purchase on the pile of democrat lies.
“Straw” purchases are illegal for me but not for thee?
Didn’t one of these posers attempt to buy a gun from you a while back?
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How can you tell someone from the government is lying?
Their lips are moving.
So the citizens themselves enforce common sense gun sales restrictions, while the elected representatives attempt to illegally purchase and illegally ban gun ownership. Also illegally smuggle arms to terrorists and known gang members across national lines.
I see who is the criminal class here. Perhaps we need Democrat Bans?
The street thugs in Chicago, Baltimore, Memphis, LA, Detroit and other urban areas, who are responsible for much of the gun violence in this country, do not rely on the internet or regulated gun retailers for their weapons. The Democrats in Congress can pass all the laws they want and only law abiding citizens, who are not committing gun violence, will be affected. As terrorist attacks around the world have demonstrated, even if the federal government eliminates the 2nd Amendment, bans firearms, and requires citizens to turn in their weapons, there will be gun violence. Perhaps the anti-gun advocates should consider why all of the gun restrictions enacted over the past 50 years are not working.
Let’s have a public debate on the 2nd Amendment. The NRA and the pro second amendment advocates should dare the gun control lobby to put forward a measure in Congress for an amendment to the Constitution repealing the second amendment. Let Ryan and McConnell bring it to the floor. It will not get the 2/3 majority required to send it on to the states for ratification. It will not even get a 50% majority and will be a clear signal to the federal judiciary the citizens are against repeal and reinterpretation of the 2nd Amendment. With repeal defeated in Congress, going forward attorneys will be able to cite the repudiation of repeal in gun control cases.
I think I would pose as a seller, then send them a plastic gun.
Just to prove how stupid these idiots are.
“...part of a failed investigation...”
Actually, part of a SUCCESSFUL investigation. It seems the system worked.
All the sketchy buyers had to do was contact Obama and Holder.
Heck, all they have to do is contact Eric (the crook) Holder. He was really good directing his corrupt minions on selling weapons to folks who shouldn’t buy them.
Yup. I wonder if I am in the numbers.
I can’t see how you wouldn’t be in the numbers. It was obvious that they were trying to pull a fast one. I thought at the time you handled it superbly—still do.
In other words, your (Congressional Democrats) premise was faulty, and we proved it, but please don't fire us. We love working for the government and don't want to have to get real jobs.
And it would show Americans which Congressmen would gladly take their guns away if they could.
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Everyone in the pro-gun community already knew it was a lie.
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