What is your thought on that and do you accept that the fact that stories like this greatly undermine any respect whatsoever for law enforcement?
Based on just what I read on your thread it looks like someone probably had good intentions, i.e. they are going to get the guns regardless of whether we arrest someone for buying 5 or not, so lets let them operate, follow the supply line, then bring down the big fish.
This method is used daily when dealing with drugs and suppliers. Why arrest for a kilo when you can arrest for 2,000 kilos.
In hindsight and possibly forsight it wasn't well thought out. Were basic questions asked? How many guns do we plan on letting go through? How long will we continue this operation? What is the realistic outcome of taking this risk? What is the best case scenario, what is the worst case scenario?
As far as undermining respect for law enforcement and calling for all agencies to be done away with as you have called for, I think that;
1. Government agencies are accountable for their actions and should be held accountable. That doesn't happen all that often and its a shame. but most americans are sheeple and "scandals" are forgotten when the next season of American Idol airs. When errors like this are made, heads should roll if the facts support it.
2. The ATF and many Govt Agencies do an overall great job and the call for doing away with them is ridiculous and ill informed.