Nicely done Ray! There are several key takeaways in your article: 1) The reach and range of NIBIN as a national resource of crucial crime gun information and it's value to law enforcement and prosecutors, 2) The terrible toll that unsolved shootings have on victims, their loved ones and their local community as they yearn for justice, resolution and peace, 3) That there is no "silver bullet" in crime solving - that crime gun intelligence (CGI) comes from many sources like police reports, ATF's NIBIN and eTrace, like DNA, latent fingerprints, trace evidence, gunfire detection systems (if police don't know how can they respond?), door bell cams, license plate readers, and more. 4) CGI must be managed and it will take a cross-jurisdictional Teamwork, policy driven Tactics and leveraging Technologies to manage it, 5) Finally it will take government leaders to provide proper support to police and prosecutors and get them the various tools that they need to stop armed criminals before they can do more harm.
As you well know. Pete, it was a group effort. The problem in Congress and government in general is a nearly total lack of understanding the job of law enforcement; take criminals off the streets. An additional, and in my opinion equal threat, is the many DS's and Judges that have now decided the criminals are the victims. They seem to have forgotten the law passed down through Moses, there is right and wrong, with consequences to be paid by those selecting wrong.
Great article. Having been honored to be involved with FTI as a Congressman and then a 13 year employee, it is rewarding to see what this technology has done world-wide.
When John Magaw became Director of ATF following the disaster in Waco, TX I was in control of the annual approprition for the ATF budget. As ATF had been the whipping boy of Congress for years, its budget was in the tank, way in the tank. Additionally, Newt Gingerich's "Contract with America" mandated a 10% cut in all Federal budgets.
Director Magaw needed money to not only operate the agency, but to provide for its future. Advanced NIBIN technology was at the top of the list.
My staff searched everywhere we could for the funds, even under the seat cushions on the House floor.
While working on the Bill Clinton White House budget, we found an account tucked away out of sight being used to fund the many Clinton social events and receptions. Revenues Forgone was an account filled with millions of dollars the source of which was the sale of confiscated land, airplanes, money, boats, firearms and anything that had been used as part of an illegal activity. This tax free money was intended for the use of law enforcement.
Bill Clinton immediately lost his party fund and John Magaw had the money to build out NIBIN. It didn't cost the taxpayers a dime and stayed within the 10% budget cut we promised the American people.
I must add that a Special ATF Agent by the name of Pete Gagliardi was Congressional Liaison for ATF at the time. Pete played a major role in building the foundation for today's excellent NIBIN program.
Thanks for the accurate trip down memory lane and for the shout out Jim!
You and Director Magaw were the type of leaders that I refer to in my comments above: #5) Finally it will take government leaders to provide proper support to police and prosecutors and get them the various tools that they need to stop armed criminals before they can do more harm. Thanks for the work that you've done!
Nicely done Ray! There are several key takeaways in your article: 1) The reach and range of NIBIN as a national resource of crucial crime gun information and it's value to law enforcement and prosecutors, 2) The terrible toll that unsolved shootings have on victims, their loved ones and their local community as they yearn for justice, resolution and peace, 3) That there is no "silver bullet" in crime solving - that crime gun intelligence (CGI) comes from many sources like police reports, ATF's NIBIN and eTrace, like DNA, latent fingerprints, trace evidence, gunfire detection systems (if police don't know how can they respond?), door bell cams, license plate readers, and more. 4) CGI must be managed and it will take a cross-jurisdictional Teamwork, policy driven Tactics and leveraging Technologies to manage it, 5) Finally it will take government leaders to provide proper support to police and prosecutors and get them the various tools that they need to stop armed criminals before they can do more harm.
pete
As you well know. Pete, it was a group effort. The problem in Congress and government in general is a nearly total lack of understanding the job of law enforcement; take criminals off the streets. An additional, and in my opinion equal threat, is the many DS's and Judges that have now decided the criminals are the victims. They seem to have forgotten the law passed down through Moses, there is right and wrong, with consequences to be paid by those selecting wrong.
Great article. Having been honored to be involved with FTI as a Congressman and then a 13 year employee, it is rewarding to see what this technology has done world-wide.
When John Magaw became Director of ATF following the disaster in Waco, TX I was in control of the annual approprition for the ATF budget. As ATF had been the whipping boy of Congress for years, its budget was in the tank, way in the tank. Additionally, Newt Gingerich's "Contract with America" mandated a 10% cut in all Federal budgets.
Director Magaw needed money to not only operate the agency, but to provide for its future. Advanced NIBIN technology was at the top of the list.
My staff searched everywhere we could for the funds, even under the seat cushions on the House floor.
While working on the Bill Clinton White House budget, we found an account tucked away out of sight being used to fund the many Clinton social events and receptions. Revenues Forgone was an account filled with millions of dollars the source of which was the sale of confiscated land, airplanes, money, boats, firearms and anything that had been used as part of an illegal activity. This tax free money was intended for the use of law enforcement.
Bill Clinton immediately lost his party fund and John Magaw had the money to build out NIBIN. It didn't cost the taxpayers a dime and stayed within the 10% budget cut we promised the American people.
I must add that a Special ATF Agent by the name of Pete Gagliardi was Congressional Liaison for ATF at the time. Pete played a major role in building the foundation for today's excellent NIBIN program.
Thanks for the accurate trip down memory lane and for the shout out Jim!
You and Director Magaw were the type of leaders that I refer to in my comments above: #5) Finally it will take government leaders to provide proper support to police and prosecutors and get them the various tools that they need to stop armed criminals before they can do more harm. Thanks for the work that you've done!