If the Republicans believe having more guns make us safer, then why are they concerned about operation Fast and Furious which provided guns to Mexico?
Strange NRA and Republican Response to Gun Providing Operation Fast & Furious
Republicans have ramped up their attacks on democracy with their current investigation of the Obama Administration over Operation Fast and Furious
Paraphrasing from Wikipedia, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) decide to embark on a decidedly strange sting operation. As a follow on to an earlier investigation into illegal gun trafficking, they permitted otherwise-suspected straw purchasers to buy assault weapons—legal under US law and illegal under Mexican law. The ATF suspected that these weapons would then be taken to Mexico. The ATF hoped to build a bigger case against Mexican criminal organizations suspected of being the ultimate buyer. The operation started in the fall of 2009. The ATF ended its program in late 2010 after Brian Terry, a US Border Patrol Agent, was killed using one of the weapons. Apparently, 2000 or more weapons were tracked. By June, 2011, the guns were linked to some 179 crime scenes in Mexico.
What’s strange is why the NRA and Congressional Republicans criticize the ATF operation at all. After all, they consistently argue guns make people safer. They vigorously oppose any gun control legislation. According to their “studies,” people are safer with more weapons. That is one underlying justification for their change of the 200 year old rules which allowed states the right to regulate weapons.
If the Republican logic on guns was correct, their complaint about Operation Fast and Furious should be that more than 2000 guns should have been released by the ATF. If their "studies" were correct, then everyone would be safer. As would Mr. Terry and whoever was present at the other 179 Mexican crime scenes.
Mexico has a legitimate complaint. But not the NRA or anyone supporting its current anti-regulation policies, which include Mr. Issa.
But Mr. Issa and other Republicans have taken a different stance. Instead of questioning the stupid assumptions underlying their positions, they are using Operation Fast and Furious as another tool to attach the administration.
Once again, Republicans demonstrate bad policy ideas, a bizarre world view, coupled with arrogance and partisan bias. The NRA, one would expect, should be strongly supporting the ATF’s operation. Because the straw buyers who bought the guns did so lawfully and by NRA logic Mexico would be safer if flush with assault weapons.
A more rational viewpoint would be that the results from Operation Fast and Furious confirm that some forms of gun control are a logical necessity to protect the safety of US citizens as well as their neighbors.
Not only were Justices Roberts, Alito, Thomas and Scalia dishonest when they overruled 150 years of legal precedent while writing the words “well regulated” out of the Constitution’s 2nd Amendment, they endorsed a poorly considered government policy.
If Mr. Issa were honest and concerned with the safety of US citizens and its neighbors, he would questioning the NRA's worldview, he would be asking to see their "studies," and he would be calling for impeachment of the RATS on the Supreme Court.
Instead, he questions a sting operation enacting policies he endorses. And does so as a tool to embarrass the ATF and White House, detracting them from important duties.