Teddy, you obviously don't know the history of ATF. They've always have a good reputation among other state, local, and fed LE agencies. They were NOT about to "close down" in the 60s, because ATF wasn't an agency until 1972. There was some worry that the agency might be shut down and the agents moved to other agencies in the early 80s, because various lobbying groups (primarily the NRA) were pushing hard to shut them down. However, when it was decided that if ATF were shut down the majority of the agents, and the responsibility for the laws ATF enforced would be switched to the USSS those same lobbying groups (again primarily the NRA) actually started lobbying to keep ATF around. All those lobbyists decided it was easier to spread BS propaganda about ATF than it was about the USSS.
Now if you want a decent history of ATF read the book "Very Special Agents" by James Moore. Now he does grind his axe against the NRA and the FBI to the point it gets a little tiresome, but if you look beyond that it's a good history of the agency. He does not spare any criticism of certain people within the agency either.
Now if you want a decent history of ATF read the book "Very Special Agents" by James Moore. Now he does grind his axe against the NRA and the FBI to the point it gets a little tiresome, but if you look beyond that it's a good history of the agency. He does not spare any criticism of certain people within the agency either.