Liars gotta lie

[Hawkmoon]

Even if/when they work for the .gov.

Some of you may have picked up on previous comments I've made indicating that I have been maintaining a spreadsheet of school and mass shootings. I want statistics to counter lies from the anti-gun side. One of the statistics I'm tracking is whether or not "assault weapons" were used, and another is whether or not the gun(s) was/were obtained legally.

On September 19 there was a mass shooting at a company called WTS Paradigm, in Middleton, Wisconsin. None of the news reports indicated what type or types of firearms were used, or whether or not the gun or guns were obtained legally. But the articles did state that the BATFE was involved in the investigation.

So, I decided to file Freedom of Information requests with the Middleton Police Department and the BATFE to obtain the missing information. I submitted both FOI requests on-line, within a day or two after the shooting, so approximately September 21. Since then I have heard nothing from either agency, and I haven't followed up only because I have no record of my submission. They were submitted using on-line forms. If I received a receipt of any kind, I don't remember.

Fast forward to today. I arrived home after a delightful day getting my knee examined and x-rayed at the VA hospital to find an e-mail and attached letter from the BATFE. Yes, they formally and politely acknowledged receipt of my FOI request -- which they claim I submitted on October 30!

Why would they lie? Simple -- the law requires them to respond within a certain number of days, and that number is a lot smaller than 30. They did not respond in a timely fashion, meaning they broke the law. But, since there's no record, they can "fix" the problem by cooking the books. They just make up a new date, and by dating their response letter November 5 they appear to have responded within seven days of the date they claim I submitted the request.

There's a word for people like that. It may not pass the language test here, but it has to do with offspring of unwed parents.

[griz]

Maybe the wires that connect them to the series of tubes that is the internet are stretched to the point it took five weeks to squeeze the info through them?

Seriously, sounds about par for the feds.  After all, from their point of view there is no downside to the lie, it's just more CYA paper work.

[grampster]

You are surprised that the government apparatchiks lie?

[Fly320s]

It is possible the ATF is telling the truth.  It all depends on how "receive the request" is defined.  Their FOIA office drone may not have actually seen the electronic form until Oct 30 because of <insert a variety of reasons here>.  If that is the case, then they are operating within the law.

[230RN]

It is possible the ATF is telling the truth.  It all depends on how "receive the request" is defined.  Their FOIA office drone may not have actually seen the electronic form until Oct 30 because of <insert a variety of reasons here>.  If that is the case, then they are operating within the law.

 That sounds plausible.

But in terms of your general statement: "I want statistics to counter lies from the anti-gun side," I hope it's possible to "counter" as fast as they can lie.

[RoadKingLarry]

There's a word for people like that. It may not pass the language test here, but it has to do with offspring of unwed parents.

Try: Dirty lying cork soaking bastages.

[Hawkmoon]

Try: Dirty lying cork soaking bastages.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Try: Dirty lying cork soaking bastages.

They take-a you bells and chov 'em up you ice hole!

Brad

[Hawkmoon]

It is possible the ATF is telling the truth.  It all depends on how "receive the request" is defined.  Their FOIA office drone may not have actually seen the electronic form until Oct 30 because of <insert a variety of reasons here>.  If that is the case, then they are operating within the law.

This does not sound plausible to me, and I very much doubt that "We didn't receive it until someone looked at it after it was sitting in our office for six weeks" satisfies any conceivable legal definition of "received."

[fifth_column]

A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned.