Rich-D
24th April 2009, 22:46
04/24/09
WASHINGTON—U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) issued the following statement in response to Attorney General Eric Holder’s comments about the "Tiahrt amendment." During a hearing held by the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Holder stated the administration was concerned that the Tiahrt amendment restricts information "needed by state and local authorities."
"Attorney General Holder should read the Tiahrt amendment before giving any further misleading comments about it," said Tiahrt. "Given what the attorney general stated before Congress this week, I am concerned this administration is relying more on talking points from liberal special interest groups rather than on the facts. Instead of drawing false conclusions about the Tiahrt amendment, the attorney general should lend his full support for my trace data language that protects law enforcement officers and honors the privacy rights of law-abiding American citizens.
"The intent of my trace data amendment has always been to protect those who protect us. The language approved by Congress explicitly states that law enforcement officials are to be given full access to firearm trace data.
"My amendment also protects the privacy rights of firearm owners all across America. Just as we protect the privacy of medical and financial records, we should also protect the privacy of law-abiding citizens who exercise their 2nd Amendment right to own a firearm. Publicly disclosing who owns a firearm would only benefit thieves and criminals intent on doing harm to our families and property.
"As in previous years that the Tiahrt amendment has come under attack by groups opposed to 2nd Amendment rights, I will continue fighting to protect law enforcement officers and support privacy rights of law-abiding firearm owners."
In fiscal years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 the House Appropriations Committee included language sponsored by Tiahrt to ensure that firearm trace data and multiple handgun purchase data remains where it belongs, in the hands of law enforcement officials and prosecutors as well as ensure that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) continue to release annual aggregate statistical data on firearms. The only restriction regards public disclosure of un-redacted firearm trace data and multiple handgun purchase data. This information was and continues to be made available to all law enforcement officials. The intent of the Tiahrt amendment trace data language is to protect the lives of law enforcement officers, the integrity of law enforcement investigations, and privacy rights of firearm owners.
The ATF and law enforcement groups, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the world’s largest law enforcement organization of sworn law enforcement officers, oppose public disclosure of sensitive firearm trace data because it could jeopardize ongoing investigations and endanger officers’ lives. They asked Tiahrt to protect the integrity of trace data in 2003 and have supported retention of the trace data language each year since/
Tiahrt Trace Data Amendment
http://tiahrt.house.gov/uploads/2009%20Trace%20Data%20Kit1.pdf
Rich
WASHINGTON—U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) issued the following statement in response to Attorney General Eric Holder’s comments about the "Tiahrt amendment." During a hearing held by the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Holder stated the administration was concerned that the Tiahrt amendment restricts information "needed by state and local authorities."
"Attorney General Holder should read the Tiahrt amendment before giving any further misleading comments about it," said Tiahrt. "Given what the attorney general stated before Congress this week, I am concerned this administration is relying more on talking points from liberal special interest groups rather than on the facts. Instead of drawing false conclusions about the Tiahrt amendment, the attorney general should lend his full support for my trace data language that protects law enforcement officers and honors the privacy rights of law-abiding American citizens.
"The intent of my trace data amendment has always been to protect those who protect us. The language approved by Congress explicitly states that law enforcement officials are to be given full access to firearm trace data.
"My amendment also protects the privacy rights of firearm owners all across America. Just as we protect the privacy of medical and financial records, we should also protect the privacy of law-abiding citizens who exercise their 2nd Amendment right to own a firearm. Publicly disclosing who owns a firearm would only benefit thieves and criminals intent on doing harm to our families and property.
"As in previous years that the Tiahrt amendment has come under attack by groups opposed to 2nd Amendment rights, I will continue fighting to protect law enforcement officers and support privacy rights of law-abiding firearm owners."
In fiscal years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 the House Appropriations Committee included language sponsored by Tiahrt to ensure that firearm trace data and multiple handgun purchase data remains where it belongs, in the hands of law enforcement officials and prosecutors as well as ensure that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) continue to release annual aggregate statistical data on firearms. The only restriction regards public disclosure of un-redacted firearm trace data and multiple handgun purchase data. This information was and continues to be made available to all law enforcement officials. The intent of the Tiahrt amendment trace data language is to protect the lives of law enforcement officers, the integrity of law enforcement investigations, and privacy rights of firearm owners.
The ATF and law enforcement groups, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the world’s largest law enforcement organization of sworn law enforcement officers, oppose public disclosure of sensitive firearm trace data because it could jeopardize ongoing investigations and endanger officers’ lives. They asked Tiahrt to protect the integrity of trace data in 2003 and have supported retention of the trace data language each year since/
Tiahrt Trace Data Amendment
http://tiahrt.house.gov/uploads/2009%20Trace%20Data%20Kit1.pdf
Rich