TERRY FAMILY: Requests Government Officials to Accept Responsibility

STATEMENT BY THE TERRY FAMILY

"December 15th will mark the one year anniversary of the murder of Brian A. Terry. On that day in 2010, our family lost an amazing son, brother, uncle, and friend. Our country lost an incredible young American who was fully committed to his job in keeping our Nation safe and its borders secure. Brian's life was dedicated to public service as a U.S. Marine, police officer, U.S. Border Patrol agent and finally as a member of the Border Patrol's elite tactical unit known as BORTAC. Throughout his life, Brian maintained an incredible work ethic that made his many successes possible. We believe that these are the traits that so many people have since recognized. He is remembered as an extremely proud American and a symbol for all that is good.

Brian's death has been extremely difficult to accept. As most know, we had to learn from the news media that two assault rifles carried by the men that killed Brian and found at the murder scene were linked to Operation Fast and Furious, a failed gun trafficking operation run by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Justice. We find it incomprehensible that members of ATF and DOJ would embark on such an egregious operation and then try to conceal the link between this failed investigation and Brian's murder. Much to our dismay, no one in ATF or DOJ has come forward to accept responsibility for Operation Fast and Furious.

Our priority continues to be the successful arrest and prosecution of all the individuals involved in Brian's murder. However, we will continue to press for answers and accountability from our government. Those responsible for such a misguided and fundamentally flawed operation must be held fully responsible for their decisions which allowed so many weapons to flow to the criminal element on both sides of the border. We now believe that if it can be shown that laws were broken, then all those responsible for Fast and Furious should be held criminally liable.

We would like to acknowledge the work conducted by agents from the FBI Tucson Office in the homicide investigation and the continued work by federal prosecutors in the San Diego U.S. Attorney's Office who are working to bring Brian's killers to justice. We would also like to thank those members of ATF that recognized Operation Fast and Furious as fundamentally flawed and came forward with information that exposed this foolish operation to the American public. These individuals have continued to speak the truth at great professional risk.

Finally, we would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families of those affected by the violence in Mexico caused by the guns of Operation Fast and Furious. Please know that we, as most Americans, see you as victims as well. We will continue to press our government for justice as we will not allow Brian's death to be in vain."

Congressman Darrell Issa A True American Hero In His Own Right

November 11 is set aside as a time for Americans to honor the men and women of our armed forces who have answered our country's call to serve, and to commemorate with solemn pride the heroism of those whose service required the ultimate sacrifice. We will not forget that our lives and our liberty are maintained, even in this moment, by their collective ranks. 

America's men and women in uniform have an uncommon understanding of what liberty costs. They serve in our Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps because they believe in what America stands for - the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity. And they know that securing those ideals for their families, for their children, and for generations to come requires sacrifices in the present. It is a sign of blessing that America is home to a caliber of people willing to accept those stakes. 

Throughout the world and since our founding, the promise of freedom has beckoned men and women to give of themselves and be part of the American story. Nowhere was this patriotism more evident than in San Diego this week when a group of active duty military servicemembers, many of whom have served multiple combat tours overseas, were sworn in as citizens of the United States aboard the U.S.S. Midway. I was there. And as I congratulated these veterans on their achievement, I was struck by the fact that when these men and women took their oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, they did so with the hope that one day the liberty it guarantees would be theirs. We must never forget the significance of their unique sacrifice for our nation.

 

Too many take for granted what America's veterans and their families have intrepidly labored to uphold. And on this day, especially, we share the duty of setting that right. 

To those men and women who have served in uniform themselves, thank you. Yours is an example future generations must follow. To those whose family members are among our military ranks, our gratitude is yours as well. We understand that the oath taken by your loved ones becomes yours too, and that your service and sacrifice - while often unsung - are critical in the completion of every successful United States military mission.

And to all others who support our troops and the good work they do, I encourage you to make known your appreciation today and point the eyes of our young people toward the brave warriors throughout our history who've stood watch - and do so even now - as guardians of freedom. 

Sincerely,

Congressman Darrell Issa
(United States Army 1970-1972, 1976-1980)