Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Kareem Canty    Introduction The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is an agency within the United States Department of Justice. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives protects American citizens from dangerous and illegal activities involving, as its name suggest, alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives.â€Å" The mission of The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is to conduct criminal investigations, regulate the firearms and explosives industries, and assist other law enforcement agencies. This work is undertaken to prevent terrorism, reduce violent crime and to protect the public in a manner that is faithful to the Constitution and the laws of the United States (The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives). Though The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a law enforcement agency one of the primary responsibilities is tax collection. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives i s responsible for taxes on alcohol, tobacco, ammunition, and firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is an important agency protecting Americans. History of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been the sole agency responsible for regulation and taxation of the above mention categories since July 1 st 1972. However, some of the duties of The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have existed in some form in the United States since 1789. Initially, these activities were performed by the Department of Treasury. On July 1 st 1862, the Office of Internal Revenue was founded. This new agency was now responsible for all taxes, including those on alcohol and tobacco. The Office of Internal Revenue included enforcement agents to pursue those who evaded taxes. In 1919, the Volstead Prohibition Enforcement Act and the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution made it illegal to produce or transport alcohol. Enforcement of these policies fell on the Office of Internal Revenue. In 1920, the Prohibition Unit was created. This agency was made up of the agents focusing on liquor laws. On April 1 st , 1927 the Prohibition Unit officially became a bureau under the Treasury Department. Congress established a new Bureau of Prohibition under the Department of Justice in 1930. This new bureau was now responsible for enforcing Prohibition. Then, the Treasury Department was still responsible for the tax and regulations associated with Prohibition, under the new Bureau of Industrial Alcohol. In December 1933, the Twenty First Amendment to the Constitution ended Prohibition. Shortly after, President Roosevelt created, via executive order, the Federal Alcohol Control Administration to regulate the newly legal industry. This agency was replaced in less than two years by the Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA). The FAA was founded as part of the Treasury Department, wh o was again responsible for supervising the alcohol industry. In 1934 the Alcohol Tax Unit was founded as part of the Bureau Of Internal Revenue. The FAA combined with the Alcohol Tax Unit. Prohibition, though over, resulted in a lasting culture of organized crime. Due to the violence resulting from organized crime, the National Firearms Act was passed in 1934 and the Federal Firearms Act passed in 1938. These Acts regulated firearms, largely via taxes. In 1942, the enforcement capacity of firearm regulation was entrusted to the Alcohol Tax Unit. Around this time, the ATU became known as the Alcohol Tax Division until the 1968 Gun Control Act. With this act, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was now responsible for additional substances, including explosives. In July 1972, the Treasury Department Order NO.120-1 officially shifted all activities involving alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives from the Internal Revenue Services to the Bureau of Alcohol, Toba cco, Firearms and Explosives After over one hundred years of restructuring, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has finally achieved stability in its structure and its duties. One major change the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has undergone was its adoption of anti- arson enforcement. In 1982, congress amended the original legislation that outlines the duties of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to include arson. Since the 1970s the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has grown both its budget and its staff. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has added over a thousand employee positions. Since 1973, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives budget has increased from $74 million to $1.07 billion (The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives).