Obama has expanded civil-forfeiture rules making it permissible for
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to seize
weapons from citizens without the hassle of due process.
This effectively gives Attorney General Eric Holder, of Fast
and Furious fame, extended power over guns and gun-related property.
The rules were broadened under the guise of giving the ATF authority
"to seize and administratively forfeit property involved in controlled
substance abuses." And if that doesn't strike you as extreme on first
glance, consider the fact that this expansion of civil-forfeiture allows
the ATF to fore-go almost all "due process" in making their seizures --
in effect, placing the burden of proof on the citizen instead of federal
agents.
Last year, even without these expanded powers, ATF confiscated more than 11,000 guns, and nearly four hundred
of them were taken from innocent citizens. With the expanded powers and
the ease of bypassing due process now in place, the number of
guns confiscated could rise exponentially.
We cannot view this expansion of civil-forfeiture without remembering Obama's May 2011 pledge to pursue gun control "under the radar." For
what could be more "under the radar" that quietly expanding federal
power to bypass due process and confiscate private citizens' guns?
Breitbart
Reports claim that Attorney General Eric Holder learned of the
investigation into CIA Director David Petraeus' affair with Paula
Broadwell during the summer of 2012 but said nothing.
Allegedly, Holder
and the rest of the DOJ, including the FBI, sat on the news of the
affair until election day, when officials finally informed Director of
National Intelligence James Clapper.
Clapper, in turn, immediately asked Petraeus to resign.
These reports only
give rise to new questions regarding Holder, who is already in the hot
seat over Operation Fast and Furious. Scrutiny of the controversial AG
could now focus on whether he contributed to a cover-up intended to put
Obama's re-election above everything else.
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) commented: "The FBI has a lot of explaining to
do, and so does the White House. I have a hard time accepting most of
the story we've heard so far. It doesn't add up."
Read More:
Big Government
The Espionage Act of 1917 was passed after the United States entered
World War I. The act states that a person cannot interfere with
military operations or help US enemies during war. But, there is
nothing in the Espionage Act about whistle blowing or leaking
information when the government is in the wrong. Yet, Attorney General
Eric Holder “has prosecuted more government officials for alleged leaks
under the World War I-Espionage Act than all his predecessors combined.”
