Obama eases restrictions on gun trace data

[ericire12]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/0509/Obama_picks_fight_on_alien_jail_funds_dodges_on_gun_tracing.html

Meanwhile, the administration is steering away from another politically-sensitive fight by proposing only minor changes to a legislative language, known as the Tiahrt Amendments after Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kansas), which limit the use of gun tracing data maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Obama’s budget would slightly ease restrictions on the use of the data. The changes would allow the tracing data to be shared with state and local officials even outside the context of a  investigation of a specific crime. Localities could use the data to identify gun dealers who sell lots of guns traced to crimes, but rules prohibiting the use of such data for civil suits would remain in place.

“By making these changes, ATF will be able to share more crime gun trace data with federal, state, local or tribal law enforcement and prosecutors. This will help law enforcement to better pinpoint the source of guns used in crimes and to target illegal gun trafficking,” a White House official said.

Gun control advocates complained that Obama was backtracking on a campaign promise. “We are profoundly disappointed that President Obama has failed to follow through with his promises for openness by affirming much of the so-called Tiahrt Amendments,” Brady Campaign president Paul Helmke said in a statement. “Congress should delete the proposed language and do what the Obama-Biden ticket called for last year when their campaign said they ‘would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment.’”

Helmke asserted that Obama had actually made the amendment language “worse" by proposing a gag order on any officials who receive the gun trace data from ATF.

Mayors who had pushed for repeal of the amendment were more conciliatory towards Obama. "While other unnecessary, anti-police Tiahrt Amendment restrictions remain in place in this budget, President Obama deserves credit for removing the most egregious and harmful restriction," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement.

Bloomberg jumped the gun a bit, if you'll excuse the phrase, since Congress has to approve any of these changes before they take effect. It's still possible, likely even, that the NRA and others will oppose the limited loosening Obama's advocating, but it will be a smaller fight than if Obama had done what the Brady folks recommended and sought to dump the limits altogether.

[twyacht]

When I turn around,....

Please pull the knife out of my back....

This is window dressing 1 piece of a larger pie.

[MikeBjerum]

Just like our public institutions argue in budget times, this is and expansion in cut's clothing.  When education asks for 10% and only gets 9% it is a 10% cut.  Obama is reeling in controls while expanding use of information.

Many of "us" will think this is a victory, when in fact it is a loss.  It is another wedge being driven into the cracks.  How many have either seen or done stone cutting with feathers and wedges.  A small hole, small metal pieces and light taps with a little hammer and you can split huge stones.  This is a light tap of the hammer.

[Hazcat]

It certainly opens up fishing expeditions for the antis.