Report: Officers lose 243 Homeland Security guns

[bravo22b]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/...ef=igoogle_cnn

Washington (CNN) -- Nearly 180 Department of Homeland Security weapons were lost -- some falling into the hands of criminals -- after officers left them in restrooms, vehicles and other public places, according to an inspector general report.

The officers, with Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, "did not always sufficiently safeguard their firearms and, as a result, lost a significant number of firearms" between fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2008, the report said.

In all, 243 firearms were lost in both agencies during that period, according to the January report from Inspector General Richard Skinner. Of those, 36 were lost because of circumstances beyond officers' control -- for instance, ICE lost a firearm during an assault on an officer. Another 28 were lost even though officers had stored them in lockboxes or safes.

The inspector general cited several examples of "inappropriate practices." A customs officer, for instance, left a firearm in an idling vehicle in the parking lot of a convenience store. The vehicle was stolen while the officer was inside. "A local law enforcement officer later recovered the firearm from a suspected gang member and drug smuggler," the report said.

In addition, an ICE officer left an M-4 rifle and a shotgun unsecured in a closet at his home. Both weapons were stolen in a burglary and later recovered from a felon, according to the report. Another officer left his firearm in the restroom of a fast-food restaurant, and it was gone when he returned.

"Other CBP and ICE officers left firearms in places such as a fast food restaurant parking lot, a bowling alley and a clothing store," the report said.

"Although our review focused on CBP and ICE, other components described similar incidents. For example, a TSA officer left a firearm in a lunch box on the front seat of an unlocked vehicle; the officer realized the firearm was stolen when he returned to the vehicle two days later," said the report. "Officers may have prevented many of these losses had they exercised reasonable care when storing their weapons."

WTF, over? I wonder what the penalty is for losing your weapon?

[ZonieDiver]

Maybe they need this guy in charge of their weapons training! There would be NO "mollycoddling"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLsg0...om=PL&index=10

[alright4u]

Excuse my ignorance. Are these DHS types allowed to carry anywhere like a local CCW type? Now, I do not expect to see them carrying assualt rifles in 4-5 star restuarants, but; leaving a weapon in an unlocked car, or any unsecured place is pure negligence. They need to pay for the weapon plus be legally resaponsible if said weapon gets into the wrong hands.

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by bravo22b

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/...ef=igoogle_cnn



WTF, over? I wonder what the penalty is for losing your weapon?

Automatic bump up on the promotion list.

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by alright4u

Excuse my ignorance. Are these DHS types allowed to carry anywhere like a local CCW type? Now, I do not expect to see them carrying assualt rifles in 4-5 star restuarants, but; leaving a weapon in an unlocked car, or any unsecured place is pure negligence. They need to pay for the weapon plus be legally resaponsible if said weapon gets into the wrong hands.

They are Federal officers and can carry anywhere.

[alright4u]

Originally Posted by Utah Bob

They are Federal officers and can carry anywhere.

Bob: Thanks much. No damn excuse for them.