The Development of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The Development of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is a tax-collecting, enforcement and regulatory arm of the U.S. Department of the Justice. The mission statement of the ATF is to protect our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. ATF regulates the firearms and explosives industries and Federal licensees. ATF partners with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public through information sharing, training, research, and the use of technology. ATF is headed by a Director, who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. In 2012, ATF operated a total of 25 Domestic Field Divisions and 12 international offices in 6 countries ("Fy 2013 budget," 2012). According to the Oxford University Press the ATF traces their roots dating back to 1789. In the beginning, alcohol was the primary area of investigation when Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, suggested a tax on alcohol imports in order to finance the Revolutionary War (Kurian, 1998). In 1862, Congress created the Office of Internal Revenue within the Department of the Treasury. The main objective of the Office of Internal Revenue was to collect taxes on imported alcohol and tobacco products. Enforcing the taxation evoked criminal evasion, which led to the hiring of “three” detectives to investigate and prosecute alcohol tax evaders. These three detectives would later become the foundation for today’s ATF special agent (Kurian, 1998). This marks the first time in U.S. history that tax collecting and law enforcement coordinated jointly. Ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1919, along with the Volstead Prohibition
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is a tax-collecting, enforcement and regulatory arm of the U.S. Department of the Justice. The mission statement of the ATF is to protect our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. ATF regulates the firearms and explosives industries and Federal licensees. ATF partners with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public through information sharing, training, research, and the use of technology. ATF is headed by a Director, who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. In 2012, ATF operated a total of 25 Domestic Field Divisions and 12 international offices in 6 countries ("Fy 2013 budget," 2012). According to the Oxford University Press the ATF traces their roots dating back to 1789. In the beginning, alcohol was the primary area of investigation when Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, suggested a tax on alcohol imports in order to finance the Revolutionary War (Kurian, 1998). In 1862, Congress created the Office of Internal Revenue within the Department of the Treasury. The main objective of the Office of Internal Revenue was to collect taxes on imported alcohol and tobacco products. Enforcing the taxation evoked criminal evasion, which led to the hiring of “three” detectives to investigate and prosecute alcohol tax evaders. These three detectives would later become the foundation for today’s ATF special agent (Kurian, 1998). This marks the first time in U.S. history that tax collecting and law enforcement coordinated jointly. Ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1919, along with the Volstead Prohibition
References: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Archives. (2008). the badges tell the story: A fascinating look at the history of ATF through the perspective of badge changes (122908). Retrieved from http://atf.gov/press/releases/2008/12/122908-historical-badges-tell-story.html Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), (2012). Fy 2013 budget request at a glance. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2013summary/pdf/fy13-atf-bud-summary.pdf Kurian, G. T. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, (1998). History of ATF from Oxford University press, Inc. - 1789-1998 U.S. Retrieved from Oxford University Press Inc. http://atf.gov/about/history/atf-from-1789-1998.html