The Bureau Of Dangerous Stuff

From Jeff Daiell's Facebook page:

The U. S. Constitution gives the Federal Government no authority to regulate alcohol, or tobacco, or firearms, or explosives.

So why does the Federal Government have a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives?

Barry Hayes   Jeff, the FedGov does have constitutional authority to regulate any item crossing state lines for the purposes of commerce. However, that's where it stops.


John Spivey   Same reason we have Depts of Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, etc. Wait. What is that reason?

Jeff Daiell    John, there are two reasons: Democratic members of Congress, and Republican members of Congress.

Karen Stack  The right to regulate interstate commerce seems to be sorta like the ring from Lord of the Rings...ultimate power to whoever holds it.

Bill Fason  Check out this hilarious cartoon from The New Yorker.

John Spivey  I'm waiting for a newly formed Dept of Bureaus which is not to be confused with the Bureau of Departments.