Anti-Gun Groups Silent on Fast and Furious
The Brady Campaign, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and Mayors Against Illegal Guns have refused repeated requests by PJ Media for comment on the hundreds of Mexican citizens believed murdered with firearms provided by the Obama administration.
Operation Fast and Furious involved a coalition of federal agencies facilitating the sale of more than 2,000 firearms to known drug cartel straw purchasers. At times, federal agents ran interference for cartel weapon smugglers, thwarting local law enforcement. The operation collapsed when a number of agents came forward as whistleblowers following the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, dead following a shootout with a cartel group led by an FBI informant.
Mexico Attorney General Marisela Morales has stated that at least 300 murders can be attributed to weapons provided through Operation Fast and Furious, which would make it the deadliest scandal ever involving a U.S. administration.
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has been at the forefront of gun-control efforts. The organization was formed after Press Secretary Jim Brady was seriously wounded in John Hinckley’s assassination attempt on President Reagan. Per the opening paragraph of Brady’s mission statement:
We are devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.
The organization once questioned President Obama on his perceived lack of gun-control efforts, receiving a reply from the president that some contend was a reference to Fast and Furious: “I just want you to know that we are working on it. We have to go through a few processes, but under the radar.”
Since Operation Fast and Furious became public knowledge and the congressional investigation began, the Brady Campaign has been conspicuously quiet: they have made no public statement condemning the program and have released only two statements discussing it. One was an attempt to use the government-run smuggling operation to push for more gun-control laws; a later statement was a reiteration of the first with a reference to the government program:
We fully support efforts to determine the circumstances that led to the tragic death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. The wisdom of specific law enforcement operations against gun traffickers who funnel arms to Mexican drug cartels is worthy of close examination[.]
The Brady Campaign is arguably America’s most successful gun-control organization. It has helped advocate for successfully passed laws and has filed suits on behalf of victims of gun violence. Yet they have not issued a statement pressing the Obama administration for accountability in Operation Fast and Furious, and they have not stated if they support the appointment of an independent prosecutor to carry out an investigation.
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) is older and less successful than the Brady Campaign in terms of success in passing gun laws. They have participated in the controversial “cyberstalking” and “outing” of gun rights bloggers. Like Brady, CSGV has not issued any public statements castigating the Obama administration. The only related link on their site is to an October 2011 op-ed wherein CSGV Executive Director Josh Horwitz mentions the plot in an attack on the National Rifle Association.
PJ Media asked CSGV the following questions:
- Does CSGV support the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Operation Fast and Furious?
- Does CSGV hold the Obama administration responsible for implementing a gunwalking program that has led to 300-plus deaths so far?
If the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and the Brady Campaign really represented sincere efforts to end gun violence, then they should have been two of the organizations leading the charge for accountability here. Brady and CSGV should wage a public relations war, helping the House and Senate investigators, and demanding answers and accountability from the Obama administration.
Why the Obama administration was willing to facilitate these murders is an answer currently being obscured by the Department of Justice and an attorney general that may soon face charges of perjury and contempt of Congress for his role in the plot and it’s cover-up. There are several theories of why the Obama administration ran with this murder-dependent plot, but none dispute that the shootings of Mexican citizens was an inherent part of the plot.
These organizations remain graveyard silent as the bodies continue to fall. Far from fighting gun violence, they use their silence to enable it.
The newest of the three gun-control organizations, Mayors against Illegal Guns, recently attacked me on Twitter for criticizing gun-control advocates regarding their silence:
I offered Mr. Glaze a chance to post a rebuttal to my post on my site. He promptly passed. I pressed his organization for comment regarding the appointment of a special prosecutor or holding the Obama administration responsible for the hundreds of deaths resulting from Operation Fast and Furious. His organization declined to comment on these questions as well.
The anti-gun organizations that you mention will respond only when they feel that the public is informed of the Fast and Furious travesty and that there is is growing pressure for answers from all sides. This won’t happen as long as the major media ignores the story as they are purposefully doing. The need is for an answer from the major media outlets as to why they continue to bury the story. Their response, or documented lack of it, would be most revealing.
These organizations will never speak out against the facilitators of this travesty because it would be counterproductive to their gun grabbing agenda. They would, then, have to admit that leftist policies create more gun violence than it prevents. Holder should be investigated and, if enough evidence can be amassed, procecuted for his actions involving this case. I do not believe that it matters who wins the election, this year. Very few Republicans have been willing to take a public stance on F&F. It will be swept under the corruption rug with so many other national disgraces.
“I do not believe that it matters who wins the election, this year.”
Possibly as it relates to Fast and Furious. With the weenies that form the Republican congressional leadership you may have a point. But if you are saying that it matters not if Obama is re-elected then I say WOW! Surely you don’t believe that.
Their lack of response is easily explained: they’re waiting for their talking points from the DOJ.
uh, like duh-uh-uh
Are the pro-gun groups hiding under their desks like John Bonehead and Mitch McMumbles? Out of sight, out of mind.
John and Mitch are just being John and Mitch. Going along to get along. That’s why they both need to go. But I can assure you that the firearms publications and especially the NRA (Life Member) have publicized this considerably. The NRA will be holding their national convention very soon and I am sure that you will hear about Fast and Furious aplenty. But this is one story the MSM knows that they cannot dribble out just enough to make the pro-second amendment crowd look like a bunch of loony zealots. They know that even the slightest mention of the story and the whole thing explodes all over the Obama administration. There is nothing about Fast and Furious that can be made to look good for Obama and his cronies because it is too big of a crime and too well documented. This episode is like a rape caught on tape from start to finish and there is no way to make it look like something harmless. So Brian Williams and the like have lips that are sealed. They can’t spin this one and they know it so they won’t even touch it.
The NRA saw a parade and after considerable time, determined where it might be going and decided to jump out in front of it.
You might be correct. Admittedly, the NRA has even pirated pro-gun causes that were initiated by others and created the impression that they were the first on the scene. That said, no other organization has done more to lobby effectively for the Second Amendment. Remember when Bubba Clinton declared war publicly and directly on the NRA and it cost him control of the Congress and possibly a later bid by Algore for president? The NRA isn’t perfect but it is a powerhouse for our freedoms. I have a friend who is a Life Member who has no interest in firearms and doesn’t own a gun and doesn’t wish to. His reason for belonging is because he feels that if the Second is nullified the whole Bill of Rights goes down with it.
I hope that you are not using some irritation with the NRA as an excuse to not be a dues paying member.
Yooper
Life Member, NRA
Second Amendment Foundation, Citizens Committee on the Right to Keep nd Bear Arms, National Rifle Association, and the John Birch society have all written considerably on the matter.. early on called Project Gunwalker. John Longenecker, on his blog, was incredibly faithful in reporting anything that came along, mostly the writings of David Codrea, Gun Rights Examiner. buckeye Firearms Association and Washington Arms Collectors have also written regularly on the scandal. So, there is no excuse for the standard lame media NOT GETTING IT. The information was out there, since it first squeaked open about January 2011. NorthWest Firearms and Cal Guns each maintain a forum, both of which have also had etensive coverage, as any member of those fora can post.
Why is it that there is such a huge outcry about the killing of the teen, Trayvon Martin, but these same voices are singularly silent about the murder of Brian Terry?
Skin tone is everything.
Amen.
http://www.colorofcrime.com/colorofcrime2005.pdf
Then they shouldn’t be foregetting Jaime Jorge Zapata (May 7, 1978 – February 15, 2011), killed in an ambush on a Mexican highway while his partner was severely wounded.
this man is the SECOND Federal Agent killed by a Fast and Furious weapon, but somehow even the media pressing this matter have been strangely silent on his death. Most will say, at times, “at least one”, meaning Brian Terry and (possibly) one other… meaning Mr Zapata. His death should be every bit as noteworthy as is Mr. Terry’s. Both were federal agents, both served to make the border safe, both were killed in the line of duty by Gunwalker weapons, both are dead, and both leave behind grieving family and friends. The fact that one is of Mexican descent and fell on the south side of the imaginary line is insignificant. Or should be.
Yeah , I asked myself that same question . I guess some kid is more important than a Border Guard and family man . It is tragic in both cases but it seems the boy of color gets all the mourning . As for the anti-gun crowd , they haven’t got their marching orders from Eric and Hillery yet .
Brian Terry wasn’t black.
F&F guns were bound directly to criminals. Gun control groups WANT criminals to have guns, they just don’t want law abiding citizens to be able to defend themselves. WE have to be totally reliant on our government to protect us!
The Tayvon Martin story is their new “under the radar” crisis to force new gun laws. Ever wonder why it took nearly a month for this story to hit, and then all the protests and professional offence was already in place ready to go?
Gun control: To the unwashed Americans clinging to their weapon, and Bible gun control is watch your breathing, a prone position with a knee bent under your weapon for stability, earth tone clothes, and a few family members on line to intersect your fire. Squeez the trigger slowly, do not pull.
Weapons should be BZO’ed already. If not, that will mean more gun control.
Dude, I wanna see your knee under your weapon in the prone position. Ever fired a gun?
As you lay down, your knee is forward on the ground toward the arm you are shooting with. Is that more understandable? If not, I would have to show you.
As a matter of fact I was an instructor at SOI in Camp Giger. Have you ever been there? Eight of ten of my shots bullseyed at 500 meaters. Yes, I do know what I am talking about.
Thanks for asking.
Meaters- pun intended?
In most combat situations there is more air than meat, so accuracy is of critical import.
Lavoisier was executed by guillotine, and his last science experiment was to blink as long as he could after the blade fell. It took 16 seconds for that head to die, and another thousand years will not produce another like it.
“a prone position with a knee bent under your weapon for stability”
It is perfectly reasonable to think that someone who describes the prone position this way doesn’t know what it is; you’re right to be embarrassed after posting something like that.
“As you lay down, your knee is forward on the ground toward the arm you are shooting with.”
This description still only manages to describe, roughly, what the prone looks like, not what it actually is. Though there’s more to it than I can cover in a blog post, two main points: One, it’s about stability, as with all firing positions, in getting your entire body low to the ground and wide. The second aspect is repeatability, which is key to effective shooting, meaning being able to get down quickly and comfortably, the same way every time, to get the same sight picture every time. For some people it’s best to have their knee cocked, others shoot better with their legs splayed and their ankles down.
“Eight of ten of my shots bullseyed at 500 meaters. Yes, I do know what I am talking about.”
How many bullseyes you hit doesn’t make you a good instructor, it’s how many people you taught to shoot who couldn’t shoot before. And, in fact, I found that guys who were naturally good shots were the worst instructors because they couldn’t grasp how someone couldn’t, for instance, reliably get the same sight picture. I’m naturally only an average shooter, but I was always able to get the “hard-core” cases to qualify after other NCOs gave up on them because I never made those assumptions and went by the book, step by step.
Perhaps they have been tipped off about something- or even fully informed in some way…
What’s so prominently evident here is the philosophical difference that has reached an impenetrable impasse. The conservative minds vs. the national socialist mind. Such as they are.
I speak in favor of the conservative mind. Generally skeptical of grandiose claims, even of oneself. Seldom believing in quick-fixes or cheap and easy answers.
The national socialist mind however, believes in government power over all things. Except, of course if that government power is in the hands of anyone conservative. This is the oddity which I cannot fully wrap my brain around.
Summed up it’s “Bush coming up with and idea that has all Americans getting frisked before walking on an airplane=bad while Obama having the exact same idea=good”.
However, and with overwhelming evidence, when the left screams “tyranny” and “unconstitutional” you can bet your sweet bippy that the opposite is true while the conservatives meanwhile observe actual, real usurpation of the Constitution, the left remains silent as if to imply they’re all for it.
But at the end of the day, the left reveals itself as lacking. Quick fixes, inaccurate accounting, lying, cover-ups, news-media gloss-overs, false analyses, more lies, etc etc.
One who has been raised as I have, with the education and experience I have can only assume that the left lives in a false bubble of security. Clearly they cannot reason and their emotional quotient is a thousand times more powerful than their intelligence quotient. This is a recipe for disaster. This is what happens when you leave the house and the keys to the ‘Vette and the liquor cabinet are left out for the sixteen-year-old to find.
Although, interestingly enough, my parents could leave the house for extended periods with both in plain view and I would touch neither. Why then, does the left feel compelled to do otherwise? It’s a mystery to me and forever shall be. I mean, I understand the clinical answers to my question but still…
Great comments Jay. I think the term you are looking for, and for which this country has lost is discipline. Over the years, I have notice the incredible loss of the concept of discipline, both with individuals (Clinton) and society, allowing Clinton to be championed as some hero, when he should have been put in jail with hundreds of other Democrats. I have also witnessed the pop-culture type fo mentalities completely erase this concept. I have even picked up books by Mental Health “experts” who are writting specifically about discipline, yet they have no idea what it even means. Simply put having a disciplined person is a person who does the right thing because it is the right thing to do. As oppossed to doing the right thing only because you might get caught if you don’t. Our current administration is doing whatever they want with no fear of “getting caught” about anything. So they will continue to attempt to do anything they want as they have certainly no discipline, nor do they fear any punishment. Just like am immature child, we have an entire democrat party of spoiled children with no sense of right or wrong.
Reading Greek history, the phrase, “Excellence for Excellence Sake” is constantly referred to. It was and is a way of life and as obtained, is the essence of pleasure. I had a wonderful sales call this morning where I exactly understood what the client would want, could deliver it, and do so in a way that was profitable to both sides. It puts steam in your stride!
However, to the progressive mind, this concept is not only foreign, it is devious. This was not true until our collective university leadership lost their friggin’ minds over drivel and drugs. Now, “thought leadership” is “get that Obama stash of money”. Corruption is thy way progressives.
Discipline is the essence of excellence. I applaud your comments and welcome dissenters, then I can see their lack of excellence.
Onward Conservative Subversives, Breitbart is Here…
I like excellent rice liqueur too.
I believe the word everyone’s looking for is “Integrity”. Saying that word to “Progressives” is like showing the cross to vampires. “Discipline”, however, merely brings to them visions of black leather boots, studded dog collars and fishnet stockings.
“Integrity (or character) is how you act when no one is looking.”
It is certainly true that major political organizations have lost all integrity, particularly in the last generation. When facts do not comport with their ideology, they simply ignore reality. There is a powerful faction within the US who want to destroy the 2nd Amendment to our Constitution. Knowing that they lack the political constituency to achieve their goal, they fudge and twist any situation to their advantage. It works because vast numbers of Americans do not critically think.
F&F has not played out. However, after the Clinton impeachment, I would strongly argue against a Special Prosecutor in this disaster. In our separation of powers, the three branches, there is no place for a Special branch, to prosecute crimes in another branch. The sole remedy is an alert and focused electorate, “Throw the bums out!”, and a rejection of “Yeah, he’s a crook, but he’s my crook.” The alternative is the loss of our nation. America can not survive without the trust of her people. DoJ can not survive if citizens see it as a nest of crooks, and liars. It must clean its own house.
Maybe they think its ok to kill a lot of Mexicans, if it results in the passage of tighter laws.
This, and they think F&F is what was under the radar.
It was never about safety, it is about control, Societal Control.
Societal Control by Liberal Elites.
Ditto for “Climate Change”
I know a Cornell/Columbia educated far leftist. Unlike many of his cohorts, he is able to engage in debate without throwing temper tantrums. We have had many interesting philosophical conversations about man’s ability to govern himself.
One thing that is clear to me, is that he views the majority of Americans as requiring a ruling elite to make decisions for them. We discuss the participants of the modern day side shows of The “Learning” Channel, and it’s tough to disagree at times (Toddlers & Tiaras, Dance Moms), but I believe I have struck some points for the libertarian view of “how do their poor choices impact you personally?”.
I also made it perfectly clear that we “bitter clingers” will die fighting before that comes to pass.
“President Obama weighed in Friday on the shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, calling it a national tragedy.”
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/03/obama-i-had-a-son-hed-look-like-trayvon-118439.html
Where is the President’s leadership in dealing with Fast and Furious which is a far more serious matter resulting in the killings of many people?
Barack H. Obama, the middle initial does not stand for Hussein but HYPOCRITE.
Maybe the anti-gun groups are simply condemning the murders in Mexico “under the radar”.
What astounds me is even with the hard facts that we do know, no one has been charged with a crime based on this operation. At the absolute minimum we know that people in this administration were negligent in their duties, no arguing that in the least. So to draw an analogy. I am driving home from a party and had one too many. I cause an “accident” and someone dies. I can be charged with negligent vehicular homicide. I never intended for anyone to die, but me being negligent in my responsibilities and acts led to a death. Hmmm, my question is, we have an office as important as the AG and the AG isn’t accountable and responsible for what happens on his watch? So if we say yes that position is accountable, then he is at minimum responsible for negligent homicide. If we say no I contend that the position is useless and should be done away with.
Exactly my point and has been for a while.
Some on has to pay for Brian’s death but it seems the DOJ can’t find a patsy they “like” enough yet.
I’m curious, perhaps you’ve kept track, but I don’t recall a hew and cry from the Hispanic or Black caucus regarding Fast and Furious? I suspect it’s rather like their selective application of the slut syndrome; you’re only a slut if you’re a conservative split tail objecting to mandatory contraception flying under the rubric of a “cure” for a “disease” while hiding that value judgement under the guise of science.
Not surprising. Animal rights groups were silent on John Effin’ Kerry’s goose-shooting photo op.
These groups are very passionate … until a Democrat is exposed and then they go underground.
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The situation is exactly as I have thought for years. These organizations have never been about gun safety or violence. There is only one reason the government doesnt want the citizens to be armed. They fear what will happen to them when enough of us figure out what they have been up to.
All the violence at Va Tech could have been prevented by armed individuals on scene.
What none of you understand is that they don’t want to stop gun violence, they want more of it so they can convince people to give up the means of self-defense and throw ourselves on their mercy.
I saw a lot of these jerks at Hopkins, who bought medical deferments to avoid personal discomfort: smug pompous judgmental twerps to the man.
F&F is radical gun control at it’s best. A Machevellian plot to justify more pointless gun control. And since the anti-gun movement is mostly from the left, they are about control and regulation, not safety. Many years ago rabid anti-gun Sen Howard Metzenbaum was caught on camera telling a pro-gun witness who wondered about protection and the 2nd Amendment (and I paraphrase):”It’s not about rights, it’s about disarming the publc”. At least he was being honest.
“We are devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.”
I’m devoted to an America where I have the right to defend myself, and access to the tools that I need to effectively do so.
The Brady Bunch doesn’t have the power to keep me safe at home or anywhere else, nor does the government, as they’ve proved time and time again, so I’m going to take care of that one myself, insofar as I’m able to.
Besides, I wouldn’t trust either the Brady Bunch or the government to protect me even if they did have the power to do so, because I don’t think attempting to protect me is exactly at the top of their agenda.
Bottom line: I have guns, and I’m going to keep having guns, whether the Brady Bunch, or our various governments like it or not.
Out of my cold, dead hand, baby.
Yes sir, I share your sentiments EXACTLY. The Second Amendment IS my gun permit.
RE: Mark Glaze comment refusal
Mr. Mark Glaze = ChickenSh1t.
of course not. these groups are about govt control not safety. if their stated goals about gun safety were real they (as you stated) should be at the forefront of why this admin has done what it has done. but no, these groups are about getting rif ofthe 2nd amendment or at the very least make obtaining a gun by any citizen near impossible. a disarmed citizenry is a controllable one. I would love to hear a reply from a gun control advocate on how he can justify this administration actions and what their end goal really was.
Congressional hearings stalled when Rep Darrle Issa (R-Ca) found out that F & F actually began as “Operation Gunrunner” in 2005 under baby bush. The program was so anemic that the ATF agents in charge nicknamed it “Operation Gunwalker”. Holder took over the same staff, then doubled-down, changing the name to F & F and adding “Operation Castaway” out of Tampa to supply Central American gangs. THIS IS BI-PARTICAN TREASON….expect a bi-partican cover up.