The Dept. of Justice has issued a press release announcing that it will begin requiring dealers in Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico to file multiple sales reports on the sale of certain rifles. Supporters say the new rule will help put a stop to the flow of guns from border states to drug cartels in Mexico, while opponents maintain that the new rule unfairly punishes citizens in the southwestern states and limits gun dealers ability to communicate with the ATF.


The new rules mandates that licensed gun dealers in the border states report sales of two or more assault weapons to the same buyer within five work days. A similar mandate has applied to handgun purchases for more than 40 years.


Affected guns must be semi-automatic, must carry ammunition larger than .22-caliber, and must feature a detachable ammunition clip – characteristics favored by the Mexican drug cartels.

 

In response to the announcement, the NRA promptly released a statement calling it “blatant effort by the Obama administration and ATF to divert focus of Congress and the general public from their gross incompetence in the Fast and Furious scandal.” The statement, issued by exceutive director Chris Cox, went on to say “…This scheme will unjustly burden law-abiding retailers in border states. It will not affect drug cartels and and it wont prevent violence along our borders. ATF and the Administration lacks the statutory authority to do this and the NRA will file suit as soon as ATF sends the first demand letters.”

Cox’s mention of the Fast and Furious scandal is a reference to the ATF’s “Fast and Furious Operation,” which was originally engineered to trace and stop the trafficking of illegal guns but instead resulted in thousands of guns being funneled into the hands of Mexican cartels.


Kenneth Melson, the acting director of the ATF, stepped down recently amidst allegations that he severely mishandled the operation.