Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Encyclopedia : B : BU : BUR : Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Organizational history
The BATFE was formerly part of the United States Department of the Treasury, having been formed in 1886 as the "Revenue Laboratory" within the Treasury Department's Bureau of Internal Revenue. The history of BATFE can be subsequently traced to the time of the "Revenuers" and the Bureau of Prohibition. This name was retained by the agency until the repeal of the Volstead Act in 1933. Special Agent Eliot Ness and his band of "Untouchables" were members of BATFE's predecessor organization. In the early 1950s, the name of the Bureau of Internal Revenue was changed to "Internal Revenue Service" (IRS) and, in July of 1972, the ATF was effectively separated from the IRS.
On November 25, 2002, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 split the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms into two different parts.
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms was renamed the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives" and was moved from the Treasury Department to the Justice Department. The Bureau remains known by the acronym "ATF."
- The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) remained within the Treasury Department and continues to operate most of the tax collection side.
Criticism of the Bureau
Two incidents in the early 1990s brought criticism to the agency, as well as to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.), specifically the F.B.I.'s so called "hostage rescue team," and U.S. Marshals (USM).
The first incident involved the Branch Davidian raid in Waco, Texas, which ended in the fiery deaths of nearly one hundred men, women, and children. The disastrous raid took place because it was alleged that certain individuals had not paid a tax on certain firearms the group allegedly possessed.
The second incident was the Ruby Ridge incident, where a young boy was shot in the back and killed with a machine gun by a federal agent, and a woman holding her baby at her doorway was shot in the head by a highly skilled federal sniper. This raid stemmed from an alleged violation involving a shotgun that was 1/4 inch too short.[[Citing sources citation needed]] U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno under the direction of President Bill Clinton ordered the raid of the Branch Davidian complex, and the incident at Ruby Ridge.
The Jewish gun-rights organization JPFO accuses the ATF of manipulating evidence in the case of competition shooter John Glover and sells a video that allegedly proves the ATF "supports a culture of cruel ineptitude."[link]
More recently, the ATF raided gun parts manufacturer Richard Celeta of Dillon, Montana.[link]This case is notable as Celeta sells "80% Complete" guns, which are uncompleted firearms that require more labor to be functional.[[Citing sources citation needed]]
External links
- [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives website]
- [Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau website]
- [JFPO Articles Concerning BATF Potential Abuse of Power]
| Alcoholic beverage authorities of the United States | |
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| Federal authorities: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Defunct: Federal Alcohol Administration | |
| State authorities: Alabama*: Alcoholic Beverage Control Board | Alaska: Alcoholic Beverage Control Board | Arizona: Department of Liquor Licenses and Control | Arkansas: Alcoholic Beverage Control Division | California: Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control | Colorado: Liquor Enforcement Division | Connecticut: Liquor Division | Delaware: Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission | Florida: Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco | Georgia: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Unit | Idaho*: Alcoholic Beverage Control and Idaho State Liquor Dispensary | Illinois: Liquor Control Commission | Indiana: Alcoholic and Tobacco Commission | Iowa*: Alcoholic Beverages Division | Kansas: Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control | Kentucky: Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control | Louisiana: Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control | Maine*: Bureau of Liquor Enforcement | Maryland: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Bureau | Massachusetts: Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission | Michigan*: Liquor Control Commission | Minnesota: Liquor Control Division | Mississippi*: Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control | Missouri: Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control | Montana*: Liquor Licensing | Nebraska: Liquor Control Commission | Nevada: Department of Taxation | New Hampshire: State Liquor Commission | New Jersey: Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control | New Mexico: Alcohol and Gaming Division | New York: Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, State Liquor Authority | North Carolina*: Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission | North Dakota: Alcohol Beverage Control | Ohio*: Department of Liquor Control | Oklahoma: Alcoholic Beverage Law Enforcement Commission | Oregon*: Liquor Control Commission | Pennsylvania*: Liquor Control Board | Rhode Island: Liquor Control Administration | South Carolina: Alcoholic Beverage Licensing | South Dakota: Special Tax Division | Tennessee: Department of Revenue | Texas: Alcoholic Beverage Commission | Utah*: Department of Alcohic Beverage Control | Vermont*: Department of Liquor Control | Virginia*: Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control | Washington*: Liquor Control Board | West Virginia: Alcohol Beverage Control Administration | Wisconsin: Department of Tax and Revenue | Wyoming: Department of Revenue | |
| Territorial authorities: District of Columbia: Alcoholic Beverage Control Board | |
| Local authorities: Hawaii County, Hawaii: Office of Liquor Control | City and County of Honolulu: Liquor Commission | Kauai County, Hawaii: Department of Liquor Control | Maui County, Hawaii: Department of Liquor Control | Montgomery County, Maryland*: Department of Liquor Control An * indicates an alcoholic beverage control state or county.
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