ATF Director Clarifies Trace Data

Yesterday, we talked about Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign renewing the group’s push to remove the Tiahrt Amendment. Michael Sullivan, director of the ATF, is running this editorial in several national papers.

Let me be clear: neither the congressional language nor ATF rules prohibit the sharing of trace data with law enforcement conducting criminal investigations, or place any restrictions on the sharing of trace data with other jurisdictions once it is in the hands of state or local law enforcement.

So why exactly are the Brady’s so against the Tiahrt Amendment, when law enforcement has said it’s not getting in the way of them catching criminals? Because being able to misrepresent trace data to the public was a great political tool for them to use.

Hat Tip: Dave Hardy