Para-natural law Enforcement, Who you gonna call? Options

[Stormdrake]

So I know Shadowrunners get all sorts of clean up jobs from the corps magical or otherwise, but who (officially) gets the call when magic or a paranatural kills a citizen of the UCAS or CAS? I know KE and Lonestar have magical officers on the front lines and even departments that deal with magic but what about the feds? Is there an agency like the ATF or DEA but focused on magic? Just wondering.

[CanRay]

Lone Star hires bounty hunters, some of whom would even be classed as "Para-Natural Hazardous Creatures", as one novel showed with a Wolf Shapechanger protagonist.

At least they don't pay for pelts like Quebec. Naga-Hide Boots squick me out badly.

[Stormdrake]

Very true on the local level. However I am curious about the federal agencies and the national level. Keep in mind that even though you have KE and Lone Star handleing local city level law enforcement the big federal agencies are still around as of RAW. The DEA, ATF and FBI are still out there doing their thing which tells me there really should be an agency tasked with primary authority when dealing with magical/paranatural law violations.

[Warlordtheft]

I think the ATF, FBI and DEA to a lesse extent have paranatural departments. Probably loaned out to the field agents on an as needed basis.The DEA may have a department focused on BADs, the FBI might have one focused on Toxics, and the ATF might have been expanded to regulate spell formula and talismonger shops.

[Fortinbras]

Action on a federal level would imply a massive threat to the nation or a coordinated effort by some paranatural creature across the nation.

The FBI came into existence because criminals during Prohibition kept crossing state lines to avoid authorities. The ATF exists to handle controlled substances on a massive scale. Unless there were a clear and present magical threat to the rule of law or to the citizens of the NAN, UCAS, CAS or whomever, I question the necessity of such an independent agency.

The Tirs probably have them, but they're planning centuries ahead.

[Stormdrake]

Ok I can see the ATF getting stuck with the regulation of spells/foci and talismongering.

[Stormdrake]

I agree Fortinbras. However, as magic was used by Howling Coyote and the Native Americans to force the United States to hand over an extensive part of its territory I think it would meet the threshold of "massive threat". After all a "small" portion of the population used magic to cause several eruptions across the nation rendering their military impotent.

Granted things have changed as all sides now have magic but the potential for massive threat to life and property has been demonstraited.

Just my thoughts though.

[CanRay]

Ok I can see the ATF getting stuck with the regulation of spells/foci and talismongering.

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, and Magic? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Stormdrake]

ATFEM?

[EKBT81]

Ok I can see the ATF getting stuck with the regulation of spells/foci and talismongering.

I'm pretty sure that I read about them somewhere having been renamed to the ATTF (Alcohol, Tobacco, Telesma & Firearms). But I haven't found a source yet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/proof.gif)

[CanRay]

ATFEM?

So much for the TLA.

[Makki]

Ares Firewatch was installed to deal with bugs. They're supposedly the best of the best. They hunt the Osama-Spirit.

[Fortinbras]

I agree Fortinbras. However, as magic was used by Howling Coyote and the Native Americans to force the United States to hand over an extensive part of its territory I think it would meet the threshold of "massive threat". After all a "small" portion of the population used magic to cause several eruptions across the nation rendering their military impotent.

Granted things have changed as all sides now have magic but the potential for massive threat to life and property has been demonstraited.

Just my thoughts though.

Bureau of Indian Affairs. It currently sits on it's butt and does nothing while entire communities of Lakota sit without electricity and water for months on end, but in the Sixth World they might be a force to be reckoned with.

[Mäx]

Sovereign Tribal Council Truth Dancers would most likely handle any really serious magical danger any where in NAN territory.

[sabs]

In Quebec they talk about Roasted Naga in Cream Sauce being on the Menu at certain restaurants

[sabs]

Bureau of Indian Affairs. It currently sits on it's butt and does nothing while entire communities of Lakota sit without electricity and water for months on end, but in the Sixth World they might be a force to be reckoned with.

In the 6th World, that's called the Army (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Fortinbras]

I'm not entirely sure what super natural threat would require this hypothetical agency to override local authority?

If it were a threat on a federal level the FBI would probably be called in. Were it a threat to national security, probably the NSA. If it were just a big magical bad on one particular spot, the local authorities and their magical threat assessment would probably be called in and they might sub-contract it out to the Texas Rangers or Ares Firewatch or whomever.
Other than the Ghost Dance, which not only split the union but also created a rift across the universe, and Bug City, I don't think there has been a threat large enough in scale which would divert already scare magical resources from other agencies into something that it's director would have to stand before the Congresses/Councils and plead funding for.

Spy Games lists tons of agencies for handling such things, each with their own magical divisions.

[Stormdrake]

Got this off the "other" site.

[Nath
According to Threats 2, page 57, UCAS has the BATTF, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Telesma, and Firearms. So they would deal with foci smuggling, possibly also spell formulas. Note that Threats 2 was released in 2001, before the US ATF officially became the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Crimsondude
This will hopefully be addressed relatively soon because federal magic law enforcement seems kind of a big deal in the UCAS.]

Crimsondude is handleing some or all of the new magic book comeing out after the artifact series ends.

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

Spy Games lists tons of agencies for handling such things, each with their own magical divisions.

That one is in my wishlist...

[Ascalaphus]

A good reason for a federal agency, is if the Problem keeps crossing state lines.

Such as a flying paracritter.
Such as a Free Spirit that can travel through the metaplanes.
Such as a magician capable of astral projection, according to SR4A p. 192 capable of 6.000KM/H...

Another good reason, is if dealing with the problem requires resources that a single state would have difficulty mustering. Such as multiple high-initiate battle mages.


I think in general it would best be placed in some quasi-military agency also responsible for counterterrorism.

[Mäx]

The DEA, ATF and FBI are still out there doing their thing which tells me there really should be an agency tasked with primary authority when dealing with magical/paranatural law violations.

In the case of DEA they are again out there, the government sold the original DEA of to Lone star in 2032.

[CanRay]

Bureau of Indian Affairs. It currently sits on it's butt and does nothing while entire communities of Lakota sit without electricity and water for months on end, but in the Sixth World they might be a force to be reckoned with.

In the 6th World, that's called the Army (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Wouldn't it be the Calvary, IIRC they traditionally had the role. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada isn't much better, BTW. There's a Reserve back home (Well, we were the closest city) that has been petitioning to move a few dozen miles away due to flooding in the area since, um, well, forever really. And AANDC (And it's predecessors) have ignored them, and paid out money to move the people to the city and rebuild the reserve every time it floods. *Shakes Head*

Maybe if the Minister of Indian Affairs was, you know, an INDIAN? But, no, can't have that, can we?

[Rubic]

Wouldn't it be the Calvary, IIRC they traditionally had the role. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada isn't much better, BTW. There's a Reserve back home (Well, we were the closest city) that has been petitioning to move a few dozen miles away due to flooding in the area since, um, well, forever really. And AANDC (And it's predecessors) have ignored them, and paid out money to move the people to the city and rebuild the reserve every time it floods. *Shakes Head*

Maybe if the Minister of Indian Affairs was, you know, an INDIAN? But, no, can't have that, can we?

It's often federal policy, at least so far in North America, to deal with problems in a short-sighted, case-by-case basis, rather than heading the problems off early and saving money in the long-run. The general reason is that nobody really respects or credits a person that solves a consistent but seemingly small dilemma until 20+ years later, or post-mortem, if they even ever give due credit. The head of the AANDC will not still be sitting in his job 20 years later, with people telling him, "Moving that reserve must have saved us 1 million dollars and the residents 10 million in transporation, lost property, and domestic disputes! Good job!" Rather, they'll be there for maybe 5-10 years, being told "Good job quieting down issues, and making things flow smoothly for the rest of government while keeping bad press to a minimum," and then slough the problem off onto the next guy to take up the torch, who's facing the same scenario. Who really wants to press their luck and connections for no personal or professional gain? The answer being the idealist who's spent 10 years near the bottom of the ladder trying to actually improve somebody else's lot while watching everybody around him get promoted for making sure their I's were dotted and their T's were crossed, and supervisors happy.

The best possible solution to that reserve flooding would be for people to picket, protest, and make enough of a stink that somebody important would want to see it resolved in order to put the issue to rest. Make sure somebody important is risking their job by NOT solving the problem. Make life regret ever giving Cave Johnson lemons!!

[CanRay]

Yeah, I know. I saw some of that when I had a Perma-Temp Position with a branch of the Provincial Government. Hell, my position itself was one of those things.

I used to be able to go "Cave Johnson" on people. I guess I've mellowed in my not-so-old age...

In other news, I found a new kitty who I must buy lots and lots of catnip for, pounds of catnip, tons of catnip, and kitty treats. And never mind the fact that I'm allergic to cats, it's a wonderful creature and...

[The Jopp]

Lone Star hires bounty hunters, some of whom would even be classed as "Para-Natural Hazardous Creatures"

Like this dude here...