Changes

'''Operation Fast and Furious''' was an [[Obama administration]] program, approved at the highest levels of the [[White House]],<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706598.html White House delayed rule meant to stop gun flow to Mexico], Sari Horwitz and James V. Grimaldi, ''[[Washington Post]]'', December 17, 2010</ref> authorizing the illegal sale in the [[United States]] of high powered assault rifles and other firearms, to purchasers and intermediaries of Mexican [[drug cartels]].

'''Operation Fast and Furious''' was an [[Obama administration]] program, approved at the highest levels of the [[White House]],<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706598.html White House delayed rule meant to stop gun flow to Mexico], Sari Horwitz and James V. Grimaldi, ''[[Washington Post]]'', December 17, 2010</ref> authorizing the illegal sale in the [[United States]] of high powered assault rifles and other firearms, to purchasers and intermediaries of Mexican [[drug cartels]].

A joint strike force of the  [[United States Treasury Department]] [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms]], and the [[U.S. Justice Department]] was organized and funded to sell the [[guns used by Mexican drug gangs]] in the hopes criminal violence would spawn public support for the Obama administration's [[gun control]] policies.<ref>[http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2012-07-11.html#read_more]</ref> Thousands were killed – and continue to be killed – mostly in Mexico, by these weapons.

A joint strike force of the  [[United States Treasury Department]] [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms]], and the [[U.S. Justice Department]] was organized and funded to sell the [[guns used by Mexican drug gangs]] in the hopes criminal violence would spawn public support for the Obama administration's [[gun control]] policies.<ref>[http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2012-07-11.html#read_more]</ref> Thousands were killed – and continue to be killed – mostly in Mexico, by these weapons.

December 14, 2010, US Border Patrol agent Brian Terry and others were patrolling Peck Canyon, Santa Cruz County, Arizona 11 miles from the Mexican border. The group came across five suspected [[illegal]] [[immigrant]]s. When they fired non-lethal beanbag guns, the suspects responded with live fire. Agent Terry was killed. Four of the suspects were apprehended and two AK-47 type weapons.<ref name="Washington Post"/> [[Eric Holder]]'s office was immediately notified of the shooting incident by email.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/01/27/146010135/emails-show-how-fast-and-furious-ambush-news-unfolded-at-justice-dept Carrie Johnson, "Emails Show How 'Fast And Furious' Ambush News Unfolded At Justice Dept"]. NPR, January 27, 2012.</ref> The weapons were traced within hours to a purchase involved in the Fast and Furious operation.<ref name="Washington Post"/>

December 14, 2010, US Border Patrol agent Brian Terry and others were patrolling Peck Canyon, Santa Cruz County, Arizona 11 miles from the Mexican border. The group came across five suspected [[illegal]] [[immigrant]]s. When they fired non-lethal beanbag guns, the suspects responded with live fire. Agent Terry was killed. Four of the suspects were apprehended and two AK-47 type weapons.<ref name="Washington Post"/> [[Eric Holder]]'s office was immediately notified of the shooting incident by email.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/01/27/146010135/emails-show-how-fast-and-furious-ambush-news-unfolded-at-justice-dept Carrie Johnson, "Emails Show How 'Fast And Furious' Ambush News Unfolded At Justice Dept"]. NPR, January 27, 2012.</ref> The weapons were traced within hours to a purchase involved in the Fast and Furious operation.<ref name="Washington Post"/>

After Agent Terry's killing the first public disclosures about Operation Fast and Furious occurred on January 25, 2011. Obama and Holder's Justice Dept. denied that guns had been deliberately allowed to walk into Mexico.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-on-gunwalking-serious-mistake-may-have-been-made/</ref> Altogether, about 2,000 firearms were bought by straw purchasers during Fast and Furious.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref>Department of Justice report</ref> These included AK-47 variants, Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifles, .38 caliber revolvers, and FN Five-sevens.<ref name=staffrep072611>{{cite web |title=The Department of Justice’s Operation Fast and Furious: Fueling Cartel Violence |url=http://oversight.house.gov/images/stories/Reports/FINAL_FINAL.pdf |publisher=United States Congress |accessdate=|format=PDF}}</ref> 389 had been recovered in the US and 276 had been recovered in Mexico. The rest remained on the streets, unaccounted for.<ref name=miher1>{{cite web |last=Yost |first=Pete |title=2007 Justice memo mentioned gun-walking probe |url=https://news.yahoo.com/2007-justice-memo-mentioned-gun-walking-probe-194543784.html |publisher=Yahoo! News |accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref> The total number of recovered firearms was 710.<ref>Department of Justicebreport</ref> Most of the guns went to the Sinaloa drug cartel, while others made their way to El Teo and La Familia Michoacana crime organizations.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref name="Christian Science Monitor">Christian Science Monitor</ref>

After Agent Terry's killing the first public disclosures about Operation Fast and Furious occurred on January 25, 2011. Obama and Holder's Justice Dept. denied that guns had been deliberately allowed to walk into Mexico.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-on-gunwalking-serious-mistake-may-have-been-made/</ref> Altogether, about 2,000 firearms were bought by straw purchasers during Fast and Furious.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref>Department of Justice report</ref> These included AK-47 variants, Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifles, .38 caliber revolvers, and FN Five-sevens.<ref name=staffrep072611>{{cite web |title=The Department of Justice’s Operation Fast and Furious: Fueling Cartel Violence |url=http://oversight.house.gov/images/stories/Reports/FINAL_FINAL.pdf |publisher=United States Congress |accessdate=|format=PDF}}</ref> 389 had been recovered in the US and 276 had been recovered in Mexico. The rest remained on the streets, unaccounted for.<ref name=miher1>{{cite web |last=Yost |first=Pete |title=2007 Justice memo mentioned gun-walking probe |url=https://news.yahoo.com/2007-justice-memo-mentioned-gun-walking-probe-194543784.html |publisher=Yahoo! News |accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref> The total number of recovered firearms was 710.<ref>Department of Justicebreport</ref> Most of the guns went to the Sinaloa drug cartel, while others made their way to El Teo and La Familia Michoacana crime organizations.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref name="Christian Science Monitor">Christian Science Monitor</ref>

==Efforts to scuttle Congressional oversight==

==Efforts to scuttle Congressional oversight==

While the [[United States Congress]] was conducting an investigation into why the [[Executive Branch]] allowed high-powered guns to be illegally "walked" to drug cartels, the [[Liberal bias|liberal Media]], [[Democrat]] politicians, and the [[White House]] attempted to cover-up the facts.<ref>Mark Hemingway. [http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-admin-seals-records-murdered-border-patrol-agent-implicated-fast-and-furious_610783.html Obama Admin Seals Records of Murdered Border Patrol Agent Implicated in Fast and Furious], ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'', November 30, 2011.</ref> The Obama administration has been reported to have intimidated witnesses into not testifying to Congress.<ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/26/issa-atf-warns-witnesses-to-limit-testimony/</ref>   

While the [[United States Congress]] was conducting an investigation into why the [[Executive Branch]] allowed high-powered guns to be illegally "walked" to drug cartels, the [[Liberal bias|liberal Media]], [[Democrat]] politicians, and the [[White House]] attempted to cover-up the facts.<ref>Mark Hemingway. [http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-admin-seals-records-murdered-border-patrol-agent-implicated-fast-and-furious_610783.html Obama Admin Seals Records of Murdered Border Patrol Agent Implicated in Fast and Furious], ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'', November 30, 2011.</ref> The Obama administration has been reported to have intimidated witnesses into not testifying to Congress.<ref>https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/26/issa-atf-warns-witnesses-to-limit-testimony/</ref>   

Acting on a [[Whistleblower Statutes|whistleblower]] tip, Grassley wrote a letter to the ATF Acting Director on January 27, 2011 requesting information about the ATF-sanctioned sale of hundreds of firearms to straw purchasers. The letter mentioned a number of allegations that walked guns were used in the fight that killed Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.<ref name=azre1>{{cite web |last=Wagner |first=Dennis |title=Phoenix-area gun store, ATF sting may be linked to shootout |url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/2011/02/01/20110201phoenix-gun-store-atf-sting-border-shootout.html |publisher=The Arizona Republic |accessdate=}}</ref> A second letter from Grassley on January 31 accused the ATF of targeting whistleblowers.<ref name=fox020211>{{cite news |last=Lott |first=Maxim |title=Senator Calls ATF on Allegations Agency Is Allowing Guns Into Mexico |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/02/senator-calls-atf-allegations-agency-allowing-guns-mexico/ |publisher=Fox News |accessdate=|date=February 2, 2011}}</ref>

Acting on a [[Whistleblower Statutes|whistleblower]] tip, Grassley wrote a letter to the ATF Acting Director on January 27, 2011 requesting information about the ATF-sanctioned sale of hundreds of firearms to straw purchasers. The letter mentioned a number of allegations that walked guns were used in the fight that killed Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.<ref name=azre1>{{cite web |last=Wagner |first=Dennis |title=Phoenix-area gun store, ATF sting may be linked to shootout |url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/2011/02/01/20110201phoenix-gun-store-atf-sting-border-shootout.html |publisher=The Arizona Republic |accessdate=}}</ref> A second letter from Grassley on January 31 accused the ATF of targeting whistleblowers.<ref name=fox020211>{{cite news |last=Lott |first=Maxim |title=Senator Calls ATF on Allegations Agency Is Allowing Guns Into Mexico |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/02/senator-calls-atf-allegations-agency-allowing-guns-mexico/ |publisher=Fox News |accessdate=|date=February 2, 2011}}</ref>

On February 4, 2011 the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the US Attorney's Office in Phoenix, and ATF Headquarters,<ref>Department of Justice Inspector General report</ref> Ronald Weich sends a response to Sen. Grassley regarding his two January letters. Weich said claims "...that (the) ATF ‘sanctioned’ or otherwise knowingly allowed the sale of assault weapons to a straw purchaser who then transported them to Mexico [are] false. ATF makes every effort to interdict weapons that have been purchased illegally and prevent their transportation to Mexico.”<ref name=bloom120211>{{cite news |last=Salant |first=Jonathan |title=Erroneous Gun Letter Based on U.S. Attorney, Documents Show |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-02/erroneous-gun-letter-based-on-u-s-attorney-documents-show.html |publisher=Bloomberg |accessdate=|date=}}</ref><ref name=weich020411>{{cite web|last=Weich |first=Ronald |title=Letter dated February 4, 2011, from U.S. Department of Justice to Senator Charles E. Grassley |url=http://www.grassley.senate.gov/about/upload/Judiciary-ATF-02-04-11-letter-from-DOJ-deny-allegations.pdf |publisher=United States Senate |accessdate=|format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508031440/http://grassley.senate.gov/about/upload/Judiciary-ATF-02-04-11-letter-from-DOJ-deny-allegations.pdf |archive-date=May 8, 2011 |dead-url=yes |df=mdy }}</ref>

On February 4, 2011 the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the US Attorney's Office in Phoenix, and ATF Headquarters,<ref>Department of Justice Inspector General report</ref> Ronald Weich sends a response to Sen. Grassley regarding his two January letters. Weich said claims "...that (the) ATF ‘sanctioned’ or otherwise knowingly allowed the sale of assault weapons to a straw purchaser who then transported them to Mexico [are] false. ATF makes every effort to interdict weapons that have been purchased illegally and prevent their transportation to Mexico.”<ref name=bloom120211>{{cite news |last=Salant |first=Jonathan |title=Erroneous Gun Letter Based on U.S. Attorney, Documents Show |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-02/erroneous-gun-letter-based-on-u-s-attorney-documents-show.html |publisher=Bloomberg |accessdate=|date=}}</ref><ref name=weich020411>{{cite web|last=Weich |first=Ronald |title=Letter dated February 4, 2011, from U.S. Department of Justice to Senator Charles E. Grassley |url=http://www.grassley.senate.gov/about/upload/Judiciary-ATF-02-04-11-letter-from-DOJ-deny-allegations.pdf |publisher=United States Senate |accessdate=|format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508031440/http://grassley.senate.gov/about/upload/Judiciary-ATF-02-04-11-letter-from-DOJ-deny-allegations.pdf |archive-date=May 8, 2011 |dead-url=yes |df=mdy }}</ref>

On July 26, 2011, during a hearing on the operation, ATF Special Agent Bill Newell told Congress he discussed the case with a White House National Security staffer as early as September 2010.<ref>[[Sharyl Attkisson]]. [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20083772-10391695.html ATF Manager says he shared Fast and Furious Info with White House], ''[[CBS News]]'', July 26, 2011.</ref>

On July 26, 2011, during a hearing on the operation, ATF Special Agent Bill Newell told Congress he discussed the case with a White House National Security staffer as early as September 2010.<ref>[[Sharyl Attkisson]]. [https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20083772-10391695.html ATF Manager says he shared Fast and Furious Info with White House], ''[[CBS News]]'', July 26, 2011.</ref>

==Death toll==

==Death toll==

==Cover up==

==Cover up==

New details of Operation Fast and Furious are still being uncovered. The [[Department of Justice]] inspector general investigated the crime.<ref>Bob Owens. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/doj-inspector-general-cant-be-trusted-to-investigate-gunwalker/ DOJ Inspector General Can’t Be Trusted to Investigate Gunwalker], ''Pajamas Media'', July 8, 2011.</ref> Barack Obama intended to use the violence and death caused by the covert program as a means to implement stricter [[gun control]].<ref>[http://tarpon.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/11166/ Obama’s Assault On The Second Amendment: Project Gunwalker], ''Tarpon's Swamp'', March 4, 2011.</ref><ref>Roger Hedgecock. [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=44246 Obama's the Target of Mexico Gunrunning Probe], ''Human Events'', June 17, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://2ndamendmentright.org/2011/03/15/obama%E2%80%99s-latest-%E2%80%98gun-control%E2%80%99-proposal-will-not-close-%E2%80%98gunwalker-loophole%E2%80%99/ Obama’s Latest ‘Gun Control’ Proposal will not Close ‘Gunwalker Loophole’], Posted on March 15, 2011 by 2ndAmendmentright.org.</ref> A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives whistleblower stated that the Obama Administration obstructed justice by covering up any link between Operating Fast and Furious and Brian Terry’s death.<ref>Price, Bob (June 24, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/06/24/atf-whistleblower-obamas-doj-obstructed-justice-fast-furious-investigation/ ATF Whistleblower: Obama’s DOJ Obstructed Justice in ‘Fast and Furious’ Investigation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 25, 2017.</ref>

New details of Operation Fast and Furious are still being uncovered. The [[Department of Justice]] inspector general investigated the crime.<ref>Bob Owens. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/doj-inspector-general-cant-be-trusted-to-investigate-gunwalker/ DOJ Inspector General Can’t Be Trusted to Investigate Gunwalker], ''Pajamas Media'', July 8, 2011.</ref> Barack Obama intended to use the violence and death caused by the covert program as a means to implement stricter [[gun control]].<ref>[http://tarpon.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/11166/ Obama’s Assault On The Second Amendment: Project Gunwalker], ''Tarpon's Swamp'', March 4, 2011.</ref><ref>Roger Hedgecock. [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=44246 Obama's the Target of Mexico Gunrunning Probe], ''Human Events'', June 17, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://2ndamendmentright.org/2011/03/15/obama%E2%80%99s-latest-%E2%80%98gun-control%E2%80%99-proposal-will-not-close-%E2%80%98gunwalker-loophole%E2%80%99/ Obama’s Latest ‘Gun Control’ Proposal will not Close ‘Gunwalker Loophole’], Posted on March 15, 2011 by 2ndAmendmentright.org.</ref> A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives whistleblower stated that the Obama Administration obstructed justice by covering up any link between Operating Fast and Furious and Brian Terry’s death.<ref>Price, Bob (June 24, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/06/24/atf-whistleblower-obamas-doj-obstructed-justice-fast-furious-investigation/ ATF Whistleblower: Obama’s DOJ Obstructed Justice in ‘Fast and Furious’ Investigation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 25, 2017.</ref>

===News===

===News===

[[Conservapedia|Conservapedia's]] ''[[Conservapedia:In the News|In the News]]'' featured story on July 7, 2011:

[[Conservapedia|Conservapedia's]] ''[[Conservapedia:In the News|In the News]]'' featured story on July 7, 2011:

:''The [[Department of Justice]] was running [[guns]] into [[Honduras]] eight months ago''', as well as into [[Mexico]]. It's beginning to add up to an attempt to justify another [[United Nations]] [[attack]] on the [[sovereignty]] of the [[United States]].''<ref>[http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2011/07/07/news/fast-and-furious-unraveling/]</ref>

:''The [[Department of Justice]] was running [[guns]] into [[Honduras]] eight months ago''', as well as into [[Mexico]]. It's beginning to add up to an attempt to justify another [[United Nations]] [[attack]] on the [[sovereignty]] of the [[United States]].''<ref>[http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2011/07/07/news/fast-and-furious-unraveling/]</ref>

As [[Hot Air]] noted, ''"...before Congressional investigators, [[Kenneth Melson]], acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ([[ATF]]), revealed important new details of Operation Fast and Furious..."''<ref>[http://hotair.com/archives/2011/07/06/atf-director-melsons-secret-fourth-of-july-fireworks-and-the-post-testimony-fallout/ ''...the post-testimony fallout...'']</ref>

As [[Hot Air]] noted, ''"...before Congressional investigators, [[Kenneth Melson]], acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ([[ATF]]), revealed important new details of Operation Fast and Furious..."''<ref>[https://hotair.com/archives/2011/07/06/atf-director-melsons-secret-fourth-of-july-fireworks-and-the-post-testimony-fallout/ ''...the post-testimony fallout...'']</ref>

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

* The ATF isn’t the only agency to bear some responsibility for the botched operation that sent guns to Mexico. The [[Federal Bureau of Investigations]] and the [[Drug Enforcement Agency]] seem to have possessed information that could have had a material impact on Fast and Furious (i.e. info that could have eliminated or reduced the ostensible ‘need’ for the operation in the first place). Or, as the letter puts it, “We have very real indications from several sources that some of the gun trafficking ‘higher-ups’ that the ATF sought to identify were already known to other agencies and may even have been paid as informants.”

* The ATF isn’t the only agency to bear some responsibility for the botched operation that sent guns to Mexico. The [[Federal Bureau of Investigations]] and the [[Drug Enforcement Agency]] seem to have possessed information that could have had a material impact on Fast and Furious (i.e. info that could have eliminated or reduced the ostensible ‘need’ for the operation in the first place). Or, as the letter puts it, “We have very real indications from several sources that some of the gun trafficking ‘higher-ups’ that the ATF sought to identify were already known to other agencies and may even have been paid as informants.”

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/a-journalist-s-guide-to-project-gunwalker A journalist's guide to 'Project Gunwalker'-Part One]

*[http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/a-journalist-s-guide-to-project-gunwalker A journalist's guide to 'Project Gunwalker'-Part One]

*[http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/02/death_in_the_desert_project_gu.html Death in the Desert: Project Gunwalker and the ATF Cover-Up]

*[https://www.americanthinker.com/2011/02/death_in_the_desert_project_gu.html Death in the Desert: Project Gunwalker and the ATF Cover-Up]

*[http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=1145029 ATF Gunwalker (Grassley/Issa letter timeline links)]

*[http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=1145029 ATF Gunwalker (Grassley/Issa letter timeline links)]

*[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=316457 Could Gunwalker be Obama's Watergate?]

*[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=316457 Could Gunwalker be Obama's Watergate?]