The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is a branch of the U.S. Department of the Treasury that collects taxes on alcohol and tobacco and enforces and regulates all laws made by Congress governing the production and distribution of such substances. The ATF as it is known today was formed in 1972, separating from the Internal Revenue Service to become its own separate bureau, however, its beginnings go all the way back to Colonial times.

1789 is the year the ATF was born, known then as the Department of the Treasury. The first Congress created a tax on imported spirits to help pay off the debts that had accumulated from the Revolutionary War. Two years later, in 1791, Congress followed with a second tax, one on domestic production of spirits. Many taxpaying citizens were unhappy with the new taxes, and a short-lived resistance known as the Whiskey Rebellion took place. It was unsuccessful and the taxes continued.

The year 1862 marked the creation of the Office of Internal Revenue, a branch of the Treasury Department that was responsible for collecting taxes and

The Mission and Philosophy of the ATF

As with all levels of law enforcement, the agent has to be an American citizen and be between the ages of 21 and 37. A valid driver’s license is a must and the applicant must pass a brief questionnaire and an extensive agent examination. An array of other routine tests is given including a medical screening, hearing and vision tests, drugs tests, a background test and an interview with a panel of law enforcement personnel. The position of inspector requires the same credentials plus the requirement of a four-year bachelors degree and three years of field experience. The higher the position, the more training needed, just as can be expected in all jobs. The experience you gain at one level will aid in your promotion to the next. The ATF is equal opportunity employer (EOE) and does not discriminate based upon race, age, sex, or any other prohibited factors in determining eligibility.

The ATF is a branch of the Department of Justice that prides itself on high standard and integrity and is specifically dedicated to reducing violent crime and protecting the public through close partnerships with other branches of law enforcement. The main goals of the ATF are containment and prevention of crimes by enforcing rules and regulation, and by working with communities all across the country. They aim to make the revenue collection they oversee as fair and suitable as is possible and to make sure the regulations set for the industries they serve as reasonable and efficient as can be. ATF will assist all forms of law enforcement whenever necessary and will also provide the needed training to make regulators and investigators well equipped to curb criminal acts and keep businesses operating legally. By keeping major corporations in check, the ATF does its part to aid in economic stability for the whole country.

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