Quote Originally Posted by motorfirebox View Post
Essentially, but it also directly taxes their ability to act. For instance, without a guy in Washington to stick up for them, it's difficult for the ATF to get US Attorneys to hand out warrants or to do so in a timely fashion. Straw buyers face hilariously small penalties, and the burden of proof against them is insanely high--prosecutors have no real incentive to go after them.
Why would the NRA oppose prosecution of gun criminals? They were very great supporters of Project Exile as related last week by Slap.

I suspect, given my small knowledge of the way bureaucracies work, there are probably many other things at play when it comes to not vigorously enforcing existing laws. Fashion trends you might say. For example, at the place I worked, if money was requested for going after drunk drivers or drugs, it fell from the skies. Anything else, not so much.