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Micro Economics
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
ATF
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Although the constitution gives citizens various rights that allow them to use firearms, drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms make sure these rights are used in such a manner that will insure safety for the common good. The mission statement of the ATF outlines and reveals why the ATF exists and its purpose.
The Bureau of alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is a law enforcement organization of the United states of the Treasury with unique responsibilities dedicated to reducing crime, collecting revenue, and protecting the public. ATF enforces the Federal laws as relating to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives and arson by working directly and with others to
æ Suppress and prevent crime and violence through enforcement, regulation and outreach.
æ Ensure fair and proper revenue collection.
æ Provide fair and effective industry regulation.
æ Provide innovative training programs in support of criminal and regulatory functions. (Bureau of ATF- online).
To understand the responsibilities of the ATF it is helpful to look at earlier activities that led to its creation. In 171 the Whiskey Rebellion occurred which was a result of federal taxes levied on distilled spirits. To restore order Washington called on the militia who helped to establish the early Federal Government's authority to enforce such taxes. Taxes came and went on distilled spirits to meet revenue needs between the Whiskey Rebellion and the Civil War. Financing was needed for the Civil War so the Congress Act of 186 was passed which created the Office of Internal Revenue and imposed a tax on distilled spirits that has become a permanent part of the Federal revenue system. In 186 detectives were hired to find those who did not contribute to these taxes. These early laws were the foundation for the ATF and Internal Revenue Service.
The Civil Service laws were enacted in 1875 during the time of corruption of corruption with politicians and revenue agents. Millions of dollars of distilled spirit taxes had been taken from the Federal Government and laws were enacted as the result of these actions. This enforced the importance of the agents as well as the laws. The ratification of the 18th amendment introduced the Prohibition Era. Transportation, manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes was presided over by the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue. Any on hand alcohol was to be disposed at this time.
As a result of Prohibition the ¡§Roaring Twenties¡¨ gave rise to organized crime. Special squads of men were developed who went after these gangs and mobs. The best were known as the ¡§Untouchables¡¨. These men were the roots of the ATF agents of today. As the Prohibition Era ended with the passage of the 1st Amendment in 1, the responsibilities of those who would be the forerunners of the ATF started organizing their responsibilities with a now legal liquor industry. (Hawxhurst, p.15).
During the 140's different agencies were formed that were all contributing to the formation of the ATF today. In 14 because of the criminal violence, which was a result of the Prohibition Era, the Federal Firearms Act was created which established limited regulations of the firearms industry. The Alcohol Tax Unit or ATU, which was created in 140 to regulate the alcohol industry, was combined in 151 to include duties that had to do with tobacco taxes. The responsibilities of the not yet formed ATF were already being organized. In 168 when there was an upswing of violence stricter firearms provisions were enacted and new regulations included the regulation of explosives.
The renamed agency was called the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Division (ATFD) of the Internal Revenue Service. By July 1, 17 the ATFD separated from the Internal Revenue Service and was given full Bureau status in the Treasury Department. The ATF of today had begun. By 176 the new Bureau added a new responsibility to its others and that was the fight against arson-a new growing crime.
Through the 180's various bills and acts were passed that clarified and directed the ATF in its growing list of duties to insure the safety of American citizens. The Anti-Arson Act was passed in 18 which allowed for the destruction of property by fire to be considered a Federal violation. By 186 amendments were passed for the Gun Control Act which established mandatory sentences for armed drug traffickers and violent career criminals. President Reagan signed a federal law preventing the sale of plastic, undetectable handguns in 188 (Hawxhurst p. 115). This well-known Brady Act was passed on February 8th 14 which required a 5-day waiting period while law enforcement officers performed criminal background checks on each handgun purchaser before owning the gun. The Federal explosive laws were amended by the Anti terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act on April 4th 16 which made the possession of stolen explosives illegal. It also increased penalties for arson and certain explosive violations.
In 17 the ATF celebrated 5 years as an agency. It's responsibilities, in addition to the creation of the laws in the last 5 years that protect the average citizen, is that it also regulates some of the most important and controversial industries in America. ATF's responsibilities today take on more meaning as more and more militia groups are becoming known in the U.S. The agency monitors these groups to insure they are following federal regulations in their use of firearms. Because of the great demand for imported firearms a ban was placed on them in 18. The ATF was alarmed by the increase in foreign imports of semiautomatics from 4000 in 186, requests jumped to 40,000 in 187 to 44,000 in 188 (Time /7/8 p. ). This responsibility can also cause criticism as was seen in Waco, Texas and again at Ruby Ridge. Waco especially earned the ATF much criticism after four of its agents died along with cult members that occupied the Waco compound from which the agents were trying to extract them.
Besides enacting legislation and enforcing it, the ATF today makes periodic inspections of tobacco manufacturing plants, breweries and wineries. They make sure alcoholic beverages are packaged correctly and regulate the advertising of alcohol. The various excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol is monitored by ATF inspectors as well as monitoring any practices that could result in alcohol law violations or certain environmental programs. ATF also issues permits for small-scale and commercial production of alcohol fuels. Technical and scientific services allow for a variety of services to be offered such as gun tracing, ink analysis, explosive detection and analysis, along with other services.
The future of the ATF is very much an unknown at this time. Al gore requested that it be dismembered, its firearms division merged with the FBI and the remaining sections sent over to the IRS (Chua-eoan p.). Yet the ATF is a Bureau that is in constant demand in this complicated world. The expertise of those involved in this Bureau allows for the responsibilities given to it by the Federal government to be quickly and efficiently carried out. This in turn gives the American citizen more of a chance of security and safety in their everyday lives.
Works Cited
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms {on-line} 18 path http//www.atf.treas.gov/about/plan/plan
Chua-Eoan. ¡§Tripped up by Lies,¡¨ Time October 1 p.
Federal Regulations Directory Washington D.C., Congressional Quarterly. 186
Hawxhurst, Joan C. The American History of the Bill of Rights. New Jersey, Silver Burdett. 11
Lacayo, Richard. ¡§Beyond the Brady Bill¡¨, Time December, 1, p.8
Sherill, Robert. The Saturday Night Special. New York, Charterhouse. 17
Unlisted author, ¡§Gunning for Assault Rifles¡¨ Time 18. p..
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