Ok, back to Gunwalker

I'm going to use links here to original stories, for those who have reason not to go to Sipsey Street or Examiner; but it should be remembered that these people have dug/are digging out a LOT of stuff that's led to these stories; if you can, check them regularly for updates and new stuff.

It appears Hoover is talking. A lot. Like Melson, there's an emphasis on "I tried to save things!" and/or "I didn't realize how bad it was!", which- considering other things that've come out- has to be taken as ass-covering; it's still information coming out to add to the pot. For instance,
Worse, the weapons had turned up at crime scenes in Mexico and the ATF official was worried that someone in the United States could be hurt next.
Which sounds to me like "People getting whacked in Mexico is ok, but we'll be in real trouble if these guns are linked to people getting hurt or killed here." Combine this with that one supervisor being delighted that Gunwalker guns were being found at crime scenes in Mexico...
Then there's this:
The memo did not suggest agents purposely allow illegal purchasers to walk away with guns, and Justice Department officials insist they never approved the "operational" concept for Fast and Furious. Nevertheless, the ATF viewed the memo as marching orders.

Kenneth E. Melson, the ATF acting director, told investigators that his subordinates took the memo and came up with "tactical strategies" that created Fast and Furious. "We have to go after the cartels to stop the flow of guns," he said.

William D. Newell, then the special agent in charge of the ATF field office for Arizona and New Mexico, said "the memo fitted into how we were going to address this" problem. Fast and Furious was launched the following month, November 2009, and was run out of Newell's field office.
Consider: A: this is despite the fact that they KNEW there was no 'iron river' flowing to Mexico, they KNEW there were no bigtime gun smugglers. B: Melson, YOU WERE THE DIRECTOR OF ATF, yet you still claim you didn't know about a lot of this? And for some reason, when you found out, didn't actually do anything about it? Really? C: The DoJ is claiming "We didn't know about THIS part!", but we're expected to believe that this agency AND THE OTHERS INVOLVED started doing this without having something concrete from above on it? Bullcrap.


Connected: on BP Agent Terrys' death, and his family being further crapped on:
The family asked to intervene as victims in the case against Jamie Avila, the 23-year-old Phoenix man who purchased the guns allegedly used to kill Terry. Such motions are routinely approved by prosecutors, but may be opposed by defense attorneys.

Agent Brian A. Terry, 40, was killed on Dec. 14 near Rio Rico, Ariz., according to a statement released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. (FNC)

However in this case, U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke argues because the family was not "directly or proximately harmed" by the illegal purchase of the murder weapon, it does not meet the definition of "crime victim" in the Avila case. Burke claims the victim of the Avila's gun purchases, "is not any particular person, but society in general."
Sipsey's referring to Burke as "Mr. Banality of Evil himself", which seems, from this, to be a pretty good description. A member of your family is murdered in this mess, but you can't be considered a 'crime victim'; however, society in general' can... Can you say 'corrupt lawyer trying to help give cover for things'?
I knew you could.


And Sen. Cornyn is demanding answers about gunwalking actions in Texas.
Cornyn today sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder requesting information about any gun walking operations in Texas.

“Unfortunately, the Department of Justice has been less than forthcoming during congressional investigations into the failed ‘Operation Fast and Furious,’” Cornyn wrote. “I believe it is important that you promptly disclose the details of any past or present Texas-based ATF ‘gun-walking’ program similar to ‘Operation Fast and Furious.’ My constituents deserve a full accounting of any such activities in Texas.”
Makes you wonder which Obama will consider more important: keeping Holder as AG so as to help try to cover things up and protect Obama, or throwing him out to take the blame for everything.



Now, as to the Feds playing "Let's have everybody watch for PC terrorists instead of actual ones:
“An FBI Denver Joint Terrorism Task Force handout being distributed to Colorado military surplus store owners lists the purchase of popular preparedness items and firearms accessories as ‘suspicious’ and ‘potential indicators of terrorist activities,’” an exclusive report by Oath Keepers reveals.

Essentially, the government is conflating Americans who believe in being prepared for disruptions in normal circumstances with potential domestic enemies who bear scrutiny, and are recruiting those they patronize to spy and snitch on their customers. As potential terrorists. For such suspicious activities as buying storable food. And paying in legal tender.
Buy a case of MREs for emergency food? You'd be on the list. Find magazines on sale and buy a few? You're on it. Pay cash? Ooooh, why would anybody non-suspicious do that? Etc.

The FBI handout, entitled “Communities Against Terrorism: Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities Related to Military Surplus Stores” also instructs surplus store owners to:

“Require valid ID from all new customers.

Keep records of purchases.

Talk to customers, ask questions, and

listen to and observe their responses.

Watch for people and actions that are out of place.

Make note of suspicious statements, people, and /or vehicles.

If something seems wrong, notify law enforcement authorities.”
First question: where the hell does the EffingBI get the authority to 'instruct' people to do this? Second, notice the 'new customers'; is this a "Don't worry about old customers", or is this a "See, we didn't ask you to fink on EVERYBODY who does something we think suspicious!" escape clause?
The handout also instructs surplus store owners to consider as “suspicious” anyone who “demands identity ‘privacy’” or anyone who expresses “extreme religious statements” and those who “make suspicious comments regarding anti-US, [or] radical theology.”
...
Some of the activities, taken individually, could be innocent and must be examined by law enforcement professionals in a larger context to determine whether there is a basis to investigate. The activities outlined on this handout are by no means all-inclusive but have been compiled from a review of terrorist events over several years.
"Don't try to think for yourself, you need to give everything to The Professionals to determine if your customer is a Bad Guy." Yeah, we're really going to trust that.

As Bob G pointed out, if they try this in Utah they're liable to have a bunch of stores tell them to go to hell; lots of Mormons in Utah and they're very big on disaster preparation(any other place with a bunch of Mormons either). And with the economy being as bad as it is, lots of people who really didn't worry about things before are buying some 'just in case' supplies; think most of them will like the idea of being put on a list to hand over to the Feds? Add to the general 'just in case' you have people looking at the riots in Greece and Britain, and the gang attacks on people here in the US and deciding "Maybe I'll get that CCW permit after all, and a few extra magazines" and you've got a lot more people who aren't going to be real happy about being considered terrorism suspects, or being on a list to be 'examined by law enforcement professionals'.
Be it noted, lots of semi-auto pistol magazines, the standard size- sometimes from a long time back- are now considered 'high-capacity' by the clowns, which means buying a regular mag- or a few, you found a sale- for your Glock or Springfield or Hi-Power would put you on the list.

I do have to wonder, will they decide that people buying a few gallon jugs of water(let alone the bigger jugs) are 'buying in bulk' and suspicious? How about a couple of jars of peanut butter, or cans of stew or meat, when you don't have a large family?