The odious Tiahrt Amendment must not be allowed to remain as part of the Justice Department spending bill. It keeps police officers from doing their job.
From the Journal Sentinel
July 12, 2007
The House Appropriations Committee has a chance today to show that it can think straight despite the mind-addling effects of the cash and power of the gun lobby. We urge the committee, led by Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.) to do just that by rejecting the noxious Tiahrt Amendment.
The amendment - named for Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), who originally sponsored it - prohibits the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from releasing analyses of data it has mined by tracing the history of guns used in crimes. The amendment has been attached to the Justice Department's budget every year since 2003.
Without such gun-trace information, it becomes much harder to track illegal firearms carried between states, which contributes to gun violence in cities like Milwaukee. Mayor Tom Barrett, along with 224 other U.S. mayors, and numerous law enforcement officials, including Milwaukee Police Chief Nannette Hegerty and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, are fighting to block the amendment.
The House amendment isn't as bad as its cousin in the Senate. That one would put police officers in prison if they used gun-trace data for any purpose other than a specific investigation. Use it to identify a questionable gun dealer? Sorry. Go directly to jail. Nevertheless, the House amendment is bad enough.
What sense does this make? That's just it. It makes no sense...
Supporters cling to the thin reed that the amendment keeps sensitive information out of the hands of politicians and special interest groups. They argue that undercover operations and other investigations could be endangered.
Funny thing, though, is that many police officials and prosecutors don't buy that. Criminal justice experts see this charade for what it is.
We urge Obey and other members of the committee, as well as the House leadership, to take on the gun lobby and to use a little common sense. Law enforcement needs this information.
