The policy suggested for adoption by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) can address the crucial issues pertaining to non-compliance with handling of guns. The Mexican drug cartels present massive predicaments within the American territory. They endanger the lives of many American citizens through their activities in the region. However, addressing their threat remains one of the easiest practices. Tightening the existing loopholes at ATF and proper collaboration with Mexican authorities provides the right basis for the approach. The proposed policy has diverse provisions on how the ATF should tighten the loopholes. It also has the framework for collaborating with their Mexican counterparts.
The proposed policy has the right mix of approaches that will enable the agency deal with the threats presented by “gun walking” problems. The Mexican drug cartels cannot defeat the American police forces. The ATF will address the matter and reduce the number of guns getting into wrong hands. The policy has clearly defined the strategies that the ATF shall employ to realize the new goals. The ATF also recognizes their contribution to the predicament by originally failing to use the right approach to manage the situation. Therefore, much as people argue that the ATF helped the drug lords, the agency only failed to close its internal operation loopholes. The new policy makes it possible to address the loopholes so that Americans can have the opportunity to enjoy life on their land.
The policy also provides for how to monitor the movement of licensed gun holders particularly in the regions where the Mexican drug dealers operate. The notion that licensed gun holders further sold their rifles to the Mexican drug dealers was an oversight. The agency recognizes that their strategy to follow the guns movement failed because of their internal weaknesses. Although, one may not be aware of how licensed gun holders would turn against Americans, the agency has taken caution to improve future issuance of licenses to new gun holders. It is always hard to determine how a licensed gun holder intends to use their rifles.
The reason for not reviewing the proposed policy is that the real concerns that created loopholes are addressed by the proposed guidelines. Furthermore, the problem of drug cartels owning the high tech rifles on an American soil happens because of third party activities. This is where the licensed gun holders decide to give out their guns to the drug dealers. Therefore, the issues that hindered the control of guns remain the most common problem that the agency has experienced repeatedly.
The new policy mandates the agency to restrict controlled “gun walking” activities. The agency shall develop strategies to ensure that the initiatives of people planning to escalate “gun walking” do not prosper. The agency shall strictly follow a regulatory and enforcement approach that focuses directly on the culprits. The Mexican drug cartels are the greatest threat in the region and focusing on their activities beginning from monitoring gun movements from the licensed gun holders shall work for the agency. Furthermore, the agency shall take greater caution in issuing licenses to the suspected gun holders. The agency shall work to break the link between the Americans gun holders and Mexican drug cartels.
It is notable that the agency’s investigative priorities shall focus on the drug cartels and their associates. The strategy for dealing with the drug cartels should make their stay in America unbearable. The U.S. laws provides for a compulsory and improved jail term for armed narcotic traffickers. The proposed policy has given the agency express authority to restrict controlled “gun walking”. The agency shall therefore focus on arresting the Mexican drug cartels so that they can go to jail.
The proposed policy has also called for collaboration with the Mexican authorities. This is the best way to enhance the process of restricting activities of the deadly Mexicans so that arresting them can be easier.
The proposed policy also resonates well with the original mandate of ATF. The ATF is mandated to curb the illegal use of rifles through the enforcement of the relevant Federal firearms regulations. Therefore, it should enhance its approach to the process of conducting gun holders’ qualification and compliance inspections. This is the source of the problem because most of the gun holders undergo the background checks.
The adoption of this policy without further review does not generate any challenges. The agency shall implement the policy in its entirety. The tradeoffs associated with the proposed policy include the need to enhance ATF’s internal strength. The agency requires support from other enforcement branches in order to enhance its operations. This entails proper monitoring of suspected gun holders. This is aimed at establishing their activities. The agency should focus on monitoring licensed gun holders to understand how they handle the guns. This is also crucial to knowing genuine holders and criminals. The compliance inspection activities conducted by ATF must identify genuine gun holders interested in redirecting their guns for use in criminal initiatives.
The policy requires ATF to enhance its relationship with Mexican authorities in the response to criminal activities. This strategy may encounter unforeseen challenges. The Mexican authorities may not cooperate in criminals profiling. They may not participate in arresting their compatriots running the drug cartels. This is a potential challenge to the ATF. However, the agency should first ensure that Americans are safe. Consequently, the can focus on following the Mexicans running the drugs business.