- cause The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ran a gun trafficking sting in 2009 called “Operation Fast and Furious.” They allowed about 2000 illegal guns into Mexico, trying to build a bigger case against high-level buyers. The 2010 death of a border patrol agent sparked attention, and the plan was ended.
- effect The House Oversight Committee has found only about 600 guns have been recovered, and heard testimony from a former agent who claims the ATF knew the same guns were being found at crime scenes in the U.S. and Mexico. Bureau head Kenneth Melson was consequently reassigned today. source