The White House budget office has rejected a proposal by the U.S. Bureau of Alocohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to require gun stores in four border states to report sales of certain long guns, according to multiple reports.
The proposal was introduced by the ATF as a means to curb the flow into Mexico of certain long guns – especially Ak-47s -favored by Mexican cartels, was called “unfounded and misguided” by one opponent. The ruling came four days after 17 U.S. senators criticized the proposal in a letter to the budget office.
The decision to reject the proposal by the budget office is seen as a serious blow to the ATF, which has been without a permanent director for more than four years and has rountinely faced a lack of support by President Obama and Congress. Meanwhile, advocate groups like the National Rifle Association, which has been vocal in its opposition to the proposal, view the ruling as a significant victory.
