They began as a regulator for the treasury department. Gradually they morphed. As different laws and regulations were passed. Their duties were added to. They transferred departments regularly. It’s about 1970 they became known as the ATF.

Around 2002. They entered their current incarnation as part of the Justice department.

They’ve maintained a reputation for incompetence and unethical behavior since the start of the 70s when they were charged with enforcing the Federal Firearms act of 1968.

Ruby Ridge was originally the result of the ATF fucking up. Waco was once again the result of the ATF being incompetent morons. Granted in both incidents the FBI would become involved and make bad situation worse.

Their incompetence makes sense when you realize their origins as glorified toll collectors and bureaucrats. Not as a kicking in doors law enforcement agency. And from all accounts I can find they were fairly successful when operating in the confines of their original rolls even the expanded rolls they gained as their duties expanded.

It was really around the early 1970s when they were charged with enforcing the Federal Firearms Act of 1968 that the unethical behavior and incompetence was first noted. Rapidly becoming major consistent patterns of behavior.