ATF Humor: Whistleblowers Facing A Firing Squad
from the it's-not-funny-if-it-might-happen dept
Here at Techdirt, I like to think that we have a pretty decent concept of humor. While each writer may differ somewhat, I generally have a fairly liberal view of what's fair game for humor and how edgy something can be and still be funny. You want to joke about the government building a planet-killing machine? Cool. Jokes about low-level government employees twisting your giblets? Niiiice. Jokes about drugs? How could you not joke about drugs? Jokes about shooting whistleblowers inserted into government law enforcement training manuals? Somehow that seems to stretch away from funny to frightening.
Yet that's exactly what the ATF saw fit to do, according to (wait for it) leaks from a concerned ATF employee who was not full of bullet-holes at the time of this writing.
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.
Yes, the same federal government that has essentially declared war on whistleblowers, and from the very bureau in charge of helping to regulate firearms in this country, decided it was a-okay to joke about gunning down the very people who would make the country a better place out of a sense of duty. That's not funny. Why? Because I'm not all that clear exactly how many people in government wouldn't like to see that very kind of justice applied to some whistleblowers who already have come forward, namely Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden. We've already heard from former members of the NSA who enjoy joking(?) about killing Snowden and the fervor around Manning wasn't absent requests for his death. In other words, the joke isn't funny if we aren't sure it isn't going to happen.
Not to mention the potential for chilling speech from future 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 they’ve turned up the rhetoric,” Mr. Kohn said.In the words of fellow writer Tim Cushing, a government with this one's terrible history on protecting whistleblowers doesn't get to make the "don't talk or we'll shoot you in the face, LOL" joke. The image is reportedly being removed now that its use has surfaced, but whoever thought it was funny in the first place sucks at humor. Leave that to us idiots on the internet.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: atf, firing line, whistleblowers
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Or if you feel like doing the right thing that will most likely destroy your job, reputation, and put you in firing range of some seriously butthurt officials, send it to the news.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
.... anonymously
I know, it gets more difficult every day.
Certainly there remains ways of doing this.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Response to: Anonymous Coward on Oct 18th, 2013 @ 1:49am
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
DoJrogueorg.com
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: DoJrogueorg.com
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It's Typical
.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: It's Typical
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
With the ATF, it's a fine line between humor and murder.
But I'm sure that's just a humorous exaggeration. Really, they'll only stomp to death any kittens belonging to whistleblowers.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I bet they'll think it's hilarious, too.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
double standards
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It Wasn't A joke
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Firing Squad--Send in the IRS
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
This is not OK!
Her name is Chelsea Manning
The lack of respect you keep showing her is completely unacceptable!
She has shown more moral fortitude than most on this planet with her actions and the way she has handled her incarceration in solitary confinement, the least you can do is respect her choice of identity.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: This is not OK!
At the the time of the cable leaks his name was Bradley Manning. The article is correct as is, IMHO.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: This is not OK!
And no, I never called him "Metaworld Peace" either. And I never called Prince "The Artist" or that weird symbol either.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Turn-of-the-century, you say?
(That's some fine reporting, Lou...)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
oh, i thought it was something serious...
now *THAT* would be some dangerous shit we should get right on ! ! !
armed gummint goons who already have a policy of shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later ?
not a problem...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]