WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Boozman voted to block the Department of Justice from implementing gun-smuggling programs like the flawed Operation Fast and Furious.

“Instead of enforcing and upholding our laws, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives crafted a program that willingly and knowingly violated them, putting the lives of innocent people in the crossfire. Spending taxpayer dollars on an operation riddled with problems from the start is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. This is a step in the right direction to make sure this is not repeated. However, I still fully support ongoing investigations into this botched operation,” Boozman said.

In 2006 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) implemented Project Gunrunner in an attempt to combat gun trafficking to Mexico. In February 2011, this program came under renewed scrutiny for an Arizona-based investigation known as Operation Fast and Furious. Under this operation, federal agents funneled thousands of arms to cartel gunrunners and lost track of the weapons which later surfaced at the scenes of countless acts of violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border, including the murder of United States Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. 

Congress is currently investigating the Department of Justice for intentionally allowing the smuggling of firearms into Mexico. The Department has been less than forthcoming with information and has not fully cooperated with Congressional inquiries.