Audit: ATF lost 76 weapons, hundreds of laptops

[davepc]

WASHINGTON - The ATF lost 76 weapons and hundreds of laptops over five years, the Justice Department reported Wednesday, blaming carelessness and sloppy record-keeping.

Thirty-five of the missing handguns, rifles, Tasers and other weapons were stolen, as were 50 laptops, the internal audit found. Two of the stolen weapons were used in crimes.

The audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine found "inadequate" oversight of weapons and laptops resulted in "significant rates of losses" at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"It is especially troubling that that ATF's rate of loss for weapons was nearly double that of the FBI and DEA, and that ATF did not even know whether most of its lost, stolen, or missing laptop computers contained sensitive or classified information," he added.

In a Sept. 10 letter responding to the audit, ATF acting Director Michael J. Sullivan said his agency "agrees or partially agrees with most of the recommendations."

...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080917/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/lost_weapons

[tburnsten]

1. And they are the ones

"responsible" for firearm regulation. Fantastic.

[one-eyed fat man]

3. new ATF ruling

If you think an FFL doesn't have some serious record-keeping requirements. Look here:
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/rules/atf_ruling2008-2.pdf

If you go out of business you have to have your bound book and all records to ATF in Martinsburg within 14 days or its a felony.

The ATF holds a licensee to a much higher standard than it holds itself.

"Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

[slackmaster]

2. Who is watching the watchers?

:argh: