Home • Links • LTC/Course • Events • Archives • Politics

Sullivan is now in confirmation hearings for BATFE Director; and he is after your guns

If you’re still with me, ask yourself, why do Bloomberg, Schumer, Kerry and Kennedy want MORE gun tracing data?  Oh, yeah, they just want to send you a card on your birthday…yeah, that’s it, because they will have that data and oh, where you live.  When, in the history of mankind, have the despotic powers that be, have the information where the guns are (or other primary means of citizen defense) AND they don’t eventually come and confiscate them or ‘encourage’ the owner to turn them in?  I would love to be wrong on this.  Tell me.  When has it not happened?

You had better contact your Senator TODAY and ask them not to confirm Sullivan.  Then keep after your Senator until we get a Director who believes that the proper function of government is to ensure the liberty of the citizens, not usurp it.  Otherwise, kiss your AR and ‘06 good-bye.  In my opinion, this is the real thing people.

Oh, and in case you forgot, it was the SOB who appointed Sullivan in the first place.

Confirmation hearing report follows: 

U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan fielded some tough questions about gun laws, but he also won praise at a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday to become director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Sullivan, a former Republican state legislator and district attorney, was nominated by President Bush for the job in March. He has been acting director of the agency for more than a year.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, lauded Sullivan’s “distinguished career in public service.”

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., introduced Sullivan at the hearing, praising both his professional abilities and his character.

“It is a job that he’s proven more than qualified and capable of performing,” said Kerry.

Sullivan also faced some grilling from Kennedy and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., about whether the ATF would be willing to release more gun tracing data, a move the senators said could help state and local law agencies fight gun crime.

The ATF frequently refuses to share gun tracing information with local law enforcement investigating trends in gun crime, according to Schumer.

A provision in the Justice Department’s spending plan for next year prohibits ATF from releasing case-specific information to the public.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has pushed for the information that he says will help local officials uncover dealers who sell guns that disproportionately end up in the hands of criminals.

But gun rights advocates such as the National Rifle Association, who successfully fought for the ban, said mayors want the data to sue out-of-state gun dealers. Gun rights supporters also say easing the ban could lead to the disclosure of police officers’ identities to criminals.

Sullivan said there has been past confusion about what data ATF could share. But he said he hopes ATF will provide more data.

“I’m optimistic that there will be even more information available than provided in the past,” he said.

The restrictions on gun tracing data began almost four years ago when Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., succeeded in limiting the ATF from publicly revealing information from its gun trace database.

Sullivan was appointed U.S. attorney just one week before two planes hijacked from Boston’s Logan International Airport were used in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He led the prosecution of would-be airplane shoe bomber Richard Reid when the international flight carrying Reid was diverted to Boston later that year

As U.S. attorney, Sullivan has been known for a tough stance on drug and gun cases. One judge criticized him publicly for burdening the federal system with cases that could be handled by state prosecutors.

Michael Loucks, a prosecutor who has been working as acting U.S. Attorney during Sullivan’s time in Washington, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Kelly, head of the office’s public corruption unit, are among the names that have been floated as possible replacements for Sullivan.

Copyright © 1997-2006 Western Missouri Shooters Alliance. All rights reserved, but all you have to do is ask. 
In accordance with Title 17 Section 107 of the United States Code, all material contained herein is distributed,  
not for profit, for educational purposes, and for other fair use purposes including, but not limited to, criticism, 
comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research.