Abuses of the BATF

Letter From Treasury Dept

               DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
                    WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNDER SECRETARY


                                   March 3, 1995

Ms. Tanya K. Metaska
Executive Director
Institute for Legislative Action
National Rifle Association of America
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030-7400

Dear Ms. Metaska:

     This week, The National Rifle Association, in a full
page advertisement in the Washington Post and USA Today
vilified the brave Treasury agents who serve the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). The ad profoundly
misrepresented ATF, its agents, and its mission -- even the
photo is of paid models and not ATF agents. ATF agents and
all of law enforcement carrying out crime fighting
legislation deserve public gratitude, not public contempt.

     The advertisement alludes darkly to ATF's "threat[s] to
civil liberties," "contempt for civil rights," and a
"tyrannical record of misconduct and abuse of power." Allow
me to provide the truth about ATF's record. Of the over
10,000 search warrants served by ATF agents in the last
decade, not one has led to any civil court to render any
adverse judgements for constitutional violations. Not one.

     While the NRA spends lavishly on ads to fight ATF, ATF
agents put their lives on the line to fight crime and to
protect our communities and our citizens' property from
armed criminals. Since 1986, the more than 6,000 armed
career criminals and armed drug traffickers ATF brought to
justice have been sentenced to more than 55,000 years in
prison. Taking these felons off our streets has, by some
estimates, prevented over 4 million crimes and saved
countless lives and dollars. ATF agents make America safer.

     Your true target, of course, is President Clinton's
landmark firearms legislation, including the Brady Law and
the Assault Weapons Ban. The great majority of Americans
stand with law enforcement in supporting sensible firearms
laws. The NRA should join them.

                    -2-

     The NRA leadership may choose to oppose moderate,
reasonable firearms laws. But it is wrong to single out for
abuse the courageous agents who enforce laws championed by
the President and duly enacted by the people's elected
representatives. Rather than casting about for villains, the
NRA should join the American public and a vast majority of
your members in recognizing and praising the men and women
who risk their lives to protect public safety.


                         Sincerely,

                         (signed)
                         Ronald K. Noble
                         Under Secretary
                         (Enforcement)