General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSacrebleu! ATF threatens French-style firing squad for agents who leak secrets
After months of anguished debate over mass shootings, gun control and Second Amendment rights, the Justice Department finds itself on the defensive after a training manual surfaced that suggests federal agents could face a firing squad for leaking government secrets.
The online manual for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives complete with a photo of a turn-of-the-century firing squad was obtained by The Washington Times from a concerned federal law enforcement official, and it immediately drew protests from watchdogs who said it showed a lack of sensitivity to gun violence and the continuing hostile environment toward whistleblowers.
Stephen Kohn, executive director of the National Whistleblower Center, said the DOJ has forgotten about the protections of the First Amendment, which covers leaks to the media, and that the photo could scare its employees into self-censorship.
The photo would have a chilling affect on legitimate speech. And some of the rhetoric used against whistleblowers could be construed as inciting to violence because theyve turned up the rhetoric, Mr. Kohn said.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/15/atfs-prescription-leaking-secrets-firing-squad/
Renew Deal
(81,861 posts)And who better to use a firing squad than the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
last1standing
(11,709 posts)Not asked to resign, but instead sent home in shame.
What is rule by fear other than terrorism?
BluegrassStateBlues
(881 posts)JonLP24
(29,322 posts)I don't know anything about the Washington Times but the only sources is either the Times or are linking to the Times.
truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)That's the Moonie fishwrap.