The ATF rented a building in an neighborhood in Milwaukee that was trying to reduce crime and set up a storefront. Its agents then proceeded to purchase guns at outrageously inflated prices, causing profiteers to resell stuff they'd just bought at Gander Mountain and other outlets. They also dealt in drugs. They trashed the building (with some help from the burglars), leaving the lessor with thousands in damages, neglected to connect the phone to have the alarm system turned on, left guns in the back of a truck, from which they were promptly stolen, and had their store burglarized of just about anything that had any resale value—including the drugs and guns. When they left, and left the owner in the lurch for damages and unpaid rent, they also left behind sensitive documents revealing the identities and home addresses of agents. They also managed to misidentify some of the people that they meant to arrest, and screwed up evidence and charges, including fingering a dealer who happened already to be in prison. When the owner tried to get them to pay him for damages and rent, they threatened to have him prosecuted for harassing federal officers.
They got three sawed off shotguns off the street, and some weapons with serial numbers removed . . . at least until they were stolen from them. A weapon stolen from the ATF undercover truck was promptly resold to the ATF. In the burglary, an ATF machine gun was stolen.
Fortunately, they did arrest the folks that their inflated prices induced to buy guns at retail and sell them to them for a significant profit.
They're really outraged that anyone would think they did anything wrong. So, shut up, because you're, like, harassing them. (via @Miss_Wisconsin)
