CBS: Second ATF agent speaks out against the Obama administration's "Gunrunner" BATFE scandal

Related Article:
Columbus, N.M., City Leaders Arrested In Federal Raid

City leaders in the southern New Mexico village of Columbus were arrested Thursday in a federal raid investigation that involved smuggling firearms from the United States to Mexico, Luna County sheriff officials confirmed.

...Mayor Eddie Espinoza, Police Chief Angelo Vega and city Rep. Jose Blas Gutierrez were arrested on allegations of firearm violations, stated the indictment that was released Thursday afternoon by the U.S. attorney's office in New Mexico. Espinoza was charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of making false statements in connection with acquisition of firearms and three counts of firearms smuggling. Vega was charged with one count of conspiracy. Gutierrez was charged with one count of conspiracy, seventeen counts of making false statements in connection with acquisition of firearms and 19 counts of firearms smuggling.

...According to the indictment, the defendants purchased guns favored by the Mexican Cartels, including AK-47-type pistols, which are weapons resembling AK-47 rifles but with shorter barrels and without rear stocks, and American Tactical 9 mm pistols.

The defendants obtained firearms from Chaparral Guns by falsely claiming they were the actual purchasers of the firearms, when in fact they were acting as "straw purchaser" who were buying the firearms on behalf of others, the indictment alleges.

Law enforcement officers seized 40 AK-47 type pistols, 1,580 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, and 30 high-capacity magazines from the defendants before they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. The indictment alleges that 12 firearms previously purchased by the defendants later were found in Mexico and were traced back to these defendants.

Will their excuse simply be "If the ATF can do it, why can't we?"