NRA highlights ATF's "gunwalker" scandal

By: Sharyl Attkisson
Topics: News

Wayne LaPierre and Eric Holder

/ CBS/Getty Images

The National Rifle Association (NRA) today used its annual convention in Pittsburgh to highlight ATF's "gunwalker" scandal and call for the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder. NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre told members today: "When ATF authorizes and watches thousands of guns walk across the border and fall into the hands of Mexican drug cartels, that's not just bizarre law enforcement; it's government-sanctioned gunrunning."

President Obama has said neither he nor Holder, whose Justice Department oversees the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), authorized any such operation and investigations into the allegations are ongoing. "He's in charge," said LaPierre, speaking of Holder, "and he didn't know?... If Holder didn't know, Holder has got to go."

CBS Radio affiliate KDKA said approximately 70,000 NRA members were expected to gather for the convention which continues through tomorrow. A spokesman for the NRA says one million of the group's 3.5 million members live within a four hour radius of Pittsburgh.

Wayne LaPierre to call for Eric Holder's resignation

Outside the convention, demonstrators planned to protest a loophole that they say lets private gun sellers get around federal background checks.

Sharyl Attkisson
Sharyl Attkisson is a CBS News investigative correspondent based in Washington. All of her stories, videos and blogs are available here.
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by transplant17 May 8, 2011 10:23 AM EDT: I am still waiting for Holder to deal with club carrying Black Panthers at the Philadelphia
polling place. Don't hold out hope for any recognition from this administration on gun running. They do what they want to do. Get used to it.; Reply to this comment


by zodiac45 May 2, 2011 7:15 PM EDT: Gosh why didn't Mr LaPierre mention this back during the Bush years? Because it's been going on since well before Obama's tenure? Actually it's been going on since late 2005! Hmmmm? who was in office then? Smells like another republican/conservative smear campaign to me.; Reply to this comment


by heybone111 May 2, 2011 1:35 PM EDT: It's clear Holder did not come up with this plan on his own. Janet Napolitano, Hilliary Clinton, and Obama's finger prints are all over this, and blood is on their hands!

When their treason was uncovered, this regime did not seek to expose under who's authority, gave the order to arm the criminals. They chose to avert attention in other directions, and are still trying to do so.

Thank goodness someone with political weight is demanding a head for this administrations anarchy. I find it shocking that not even acts of treason by this regime, can entice our representatives on EITHER side of the isle to demand justice. Shame on you all!!

Their MO - Turn aside and ignore the issue, the media will follow, and so will the public.

I say it's time to demand justice!!

Mexico releases gang body count: April 29, 2011 -

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/7542227.html

Thousands have died
Gangland violence has killed more than 35,000 people in little more than four years. Officials say most of the victims appear to have been murdered by gangland rivals. But a growing number have been killed in clashes with the military, especially in the region of south Texas. Hundreds of innocent civilians have also been killed, both by gangsters and the military.

Why would an American president be so unconcerned with 35.000 American's killed on his own Mexican/American border, but start a unprovoked war for 1000 Muslims killed on the other side of the earth in Libya?

Thank goodness someone with political weight is demanding a head for the Obama administrations anarchy. I find it shocking that not even acts of treason by this regime, entice our representatives on either side of the isle to demand justice. Shame on you all!!

It's clear Holder did not come up with this plan on his own. When the treason was uncovered, this regime did not seek to expose under who's authority, gave the order to arm the criminals. They chose to avert attention in other directions, and are still trying to do so. Their MO is if they turn aside, and ignore the issue, so will the media, and the public.

I say it's time to get off this crazy train, and demand justice!; Reply to this comment

by rightbehind May 1, 2011 8:14 AM EDT

Can't make this stuff up friends. This has been going since before 2006 and now the NRA wants to be responsible. I'm a gun owner to but this one definitely has a partisan stink to it.

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by zodiac45 May 2, 2011 7:05 PM EDT: Exactly! These joker's like Hayseed 111 and Your-King need to layoff the coolaid!


by Ole76er May 1, 2011 8:07 AM EDT: Mr. LaPierre is absolutely correct. Obama, Holder and the rest of the gun haters in the Washington establishment have concocted this gun running scheme - I firmly believe - to reduce gun ownership by law abiding gun owners. Their planned, covert actions will, in turn, drastically increase crime and provide a wide open hunting ground for the mentally ill and criminal element.

I concur 110% that AG Holder should submit his letter of resignation tomorrow morning at the latest. THEN, Congress should begin actions to impeach Obama based on the fact he should know what's going on in his Administration to defend and support the Constitution. If he doesn't, he is negligent in his duties.; Reply to this comment