[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E494-E495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    IN SUPPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ATF

                                 ______


                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, March 2, 1995

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms 
and its professional law enforcement agents have come under vicious, 
unfounded attack in recent weeks.
  These attacks are driven by those who oppose the programs that this 
Congress has enacted into law and directed ATF to administer. Foiled by 
their inability to repeal or block those programs, these forces have 
directed their blind rage against the thousands of men and women at ATF 
who risk their lives to do their duty loyally, faithfully, and lawfully 
every day.
  I would ask that the following statement of the Director of ATF, John 
Magaw, be entered into the Record to help add some semblance of balance 
and fairness to this tragic, ongoing slander:
                     Statement From Director Magaw

       In the last few months, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and 
     Firearms has endured more than its usual share of controversy 
     and criticism. One radio talk show host, who calls himself 
     his listener's ``favorite convicted felon'', talks up 
     shooting our agents in the head. The debate prior to a recent 
     vote by the House of Representatives on the exclusionary rule 
     was set up to make the vote look like a vote of fealty to the 
     National Rifle Association.
       Today (March 1) the NRA ran a full-page ad in the 
     Washington Post accusing ATF of ``abuses that range from 
     intimidation and harassment to confiscation or destruction of 
     property, entrapment, fabrication of criminal charges, even 
     deadly assault.''
       The NRA may speak as it wishes and how it spends their 
     money is between its leadership and its members. However, 
     absolute respect for their right to do something does not 
     include respect for what is said. Nor should the use of the 
     ``Big Lie'' technique go unanswered.
       ATF has a long and proud history of working effectively in 
     some of the most controversial areas of public policy and law 
     enforcement. A by-product of that experience is an openness 
     to all parties, and a willingness to listen to fair criticism 
     while letting defamation pass us by.
       The America public gets a 35 to 1 return on every dollar it 
     spends on ATF--just in revenue collections. For that dollar, 
     they get an entirely integrated enforcement effort that 
     collects taxes, regulates major industries and enforces 
     criminal statutes. Each function provides skills, knowledge 
     and abilities that directly promotes the efficiency of the 
     others. In just one firearms program, focusing on armed 
     career criminals, ATF has prevented nearly 4 million crimes 
     and the loss to potential victims of $11 billion.
       Our enforcement efforts take place in a system of checks 
     and balances that are designed and function to protect the 
     rights of all citizens.
       There is a balance of agencies to protect against too great 
     an accumulation of power. Prosecutors and judges form levels 
     of independent review and approval. Juries of citizens try 
     the facts. Media and interest groups watch. Within ATF there 
     is a separate Office of Inspection and at Treasury, an 
     Inspector General. Congress and the Administration oversee 
     and question our performance. ATF is not outside that 
     spectrum, but honored to be a part of it.
       In fiscal year 1994, ATF recommended nearly 10,000 criminal 
     defendants for prosecution. Who were they?
       47% were convicted felons; 49% were involved in drug-
     trafficking; 25% had prior violent histories.
       They were gang members and gun-runners, bombers and 
     arsonists. They were the enemies of law abiding Americans--
     gun owners or not. Over 80 percent of them will be convicted 
     and those convicted will serve their time. The armed career 
     criminals I spoke of earlier are serving 27,000 years of 
     mandatory imprisonment.
       While dangerous criminals may well dread having ATF 
     investigate them, the legal industries ATF regulates 
     recognize that the bureau understands and recognizes their 
     position as a legal and legitimate industry. The firearms 
     industry in particular is a partner of American law 
     enforcement in enabling ATF to trace the guns used in crime.
       Most of all, our peers in law enforcement know us as open, 
     efficient, cooperative, and supportive partners.
       In the past decade, AFT agents have served over 10,000 
     search warrants. Not one of them has led to any finding of 
     constitutional violations by an employee acting outside the 
     scope of his or her authority.
       When I came to ATF, I had nearly three decades of law 
     enforcement service in the Ohio State Patrol and the United 
     States Secret Service behind me. What I found in ATF were 
     hard-working, committed, talented women and men with a 
     particular focus on the most dangerous offenders in the 
     Nation. No amount of advertizing will change the truth about 
     how well and honorably they serve their fellow citizens--no 
     matter how much you spend on it or how big you make it.

[[Page E495]]

           TRIBUTE TO THE SHOREFRONT JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL

                                 ______


                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 1995
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a truly 
remarkable organization, the Shorefront Jewish Community Council, as 
they celebrate their 20th anniversary.
  The council aids and assists over 13,000 people a year. The 
resettlement activities of the council have integrated scores of 
emigres from the former Soviet Union into American society and work 
force. The actions of the Shorefront Jewish Community Council have also 
contributed to a revitalization of many area neighborhoods.
  I would also like to congratulate the excellent work of the staff and 
volunteers of the council led by their president, Harry Schwartz, and 
executive director, Judah H. Klein.
  At a time of fiscal restraint, neighborhood organizations will play 
an ever-increasing role in aiding those in need. I am fortunate to have 
the Shorefront Jewish Community Council to work with residents of the 
Brooklyn shorefront, an area which I represent.
  Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 
Shorefront Jewish Community Council on this momentous occasion. I would 
also ask my colleagues to join with me in paying tribute to the 
honorees of the council's 20th anniversary brunch, Aileen R. Golden, 
who will be receiving the Advancement of Education Award, and Hyman 
Cohen as Man of the Decade.


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