Changes

On January 31, 2010 in Villas de Salvárcar massacre, Juárez, Mexico,<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2211289/Operation-Fast-Furious-Guns-failed-gun-program-used-2010-Mexico-massacre.html</ref> a birthday party attended by  high school students was intruded upon by a group of 20 La Línea drug cartel hitmen. 15 teenage boys and girls were killed and 12 received injuries.<ref>Reyes, Gerardo and Santiago Wills. "[http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/fast-furious-scandal-details-emerge-us-government-armed/story?id=17352694#.UGmiKqpfr4- Fast and Furious Scandal: New Details Emerge on How the U.S. Government Armed Mexican Drug Cartels]." ''[[ABC News]]''. September 30, 2012. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref><ref>"[http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/835001.2010-ocurre-en-juarez-la-masacre-de-salvarcar-15-jovenes-fueron-asesinados.html 2010: Ocurre en Juárez la 'Masacre de Salvárcar'; 15 jóvenes fueron asesinados]." ''El Siglo de Torreón''. Thursday January 31, 2013. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> The brutality of the crime outraged people both in and outside Mexico.<ref>Martínez-Cabrera, Alejandro. "[http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20185715/villas-de-salvarcar-massacre-suspect-tortured-by-mexican-army Official: Villas de Salvarcar massacre suspect tortured by Mexican army]." ''El Paso Times''. March 16, 2012. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> The weapons used came from President Obama's Fast and Furious program.

On January 31, 2010 in Villas de Salvárcar massacre, Juárez, Mexico,<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2211289/Operation-Fast-Furious-Guns-failed-gun-program-used-2010-Mexico-massacre.html</ref> a birthday party attended by  high school students was intruded upon by a group of 20 La Línea drug cartel hitmen. 15 teenage boys and girls were killed and 12 received injuries.<ref>Reyes, Gerardo and Santiago Wills. "[http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/fast-furious-scandal-details-emerge-us-government-armed/story?id=17352694#.UGmiKqpfr4- Fast and Furious Scandal: New Details Emerge on How the U.S. Government Armed Mexican Drug Cartels]." ''[[ABC News]]''. September 30, 2012. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref><ref>"[http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/835001.2010-ocurre-en-juarez-la-masacre-de-salvarcar-15-jovenes-fueron-asesinados.html 2010: Ocurre en Juárez la 'Masacre de Salvárcar'; 15 jóvenes fueron asesinados]." ''El Siglo de Torreón''. Thursday January 31, 2013. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> The brutality of the crime outraged people both in and outside Mexico.<ref>Martínez-Cabrera, Alejandro. "[http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20185715/villas-de-salvarcar-massacre-suspect-tortured-by-mexican-army Official: Villas de Salvarcar massacre suspect tortured by Mexican army]." ''El Paso Times''. March 16, 2012. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> The weapons used came from President Obama's Fast and Furious program.

==ATF role==

==Scale of the operation and violence==

The ATF named their operation Fast and Furious, but some say it was an [[Obama administration]] recreation of a defunct Bush-era program known as "Gunwalker."<ref>[http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-definitive-scandal-gunwalker-much-worse-than-iran-contra/ The Definitive Scandal: ‘Gunwalker’ Much Worse Than ‘Iran-Contra’], ''Pajamas Media'', July 8, 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]]. [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>

The ATF named their operation Fast and Furious. Congressional  Democrats claimed  it was an [[Obama administration]] recreation of a defunct Bush-era program known as "Gunwalker,"<ref>[http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-definitive-scandal-gunwalker-much-worse-than-iran-contra/ The Definitive Scandal: ‘Gunwalker’ Much Worse Than ‘Iran-Contra’], ''Pajamas Media'', July 8, 2011.</ref> however the Bush administration's program allowed a few sales in a reverse sting operation and nothing on the scale of an inter-agency, cross-border joint strike force with additional funding. There is evidence the Obama administration operated the program in several border states, however Congressional investigators were unable to pierce the Obama administrations layers of secrecy outside Arizona.

 

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>

By June of 2010 Operation Fast and Furious suspects purchased 1,608 firearms at a cost of over $1 million at [[Phoenix]]-area gun shops. ATF was aware of 179 of those weapons found at crime scenes in [[Mexico]], and 130 in the United States.<ref>CBS</ref> As guns traced to Fast and Furious began turning up at violent crime scenes in Mexico, ATF agents stationed in Mexico voiced opposition to the program.<ref name="Washington Post">Washington Post</ref>

By June of 2010 Operation Fast and Furious suspects purchased 1,608 firearms at a cost of over $1 million at [[Phoenix]]-area gun shops. ATF was aware of 179 of those weapons found at crime scenes in [[Mexico]], and 130 in the United States.<ref>CBS</ref> As guns traced to Fast and Furious began turning up at violent crime scenes in Mexico, ATF agents stationed in Mexico voiced opposition to the program.<ref name="Washington Post">Washington Post</ref>