United States – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE, also known as ATF) needs a lot of reforming, to put it mildly. To be honest, the best use for ATF agents would be to have them stationed around the jails in places like Baltimore, Chicago, and other locales to pick up the criminals all too many Soros-backed prosecutors are willing to put back out on the streets and use the appropriate provisions of 18 USC 922 and 18 USC 924 to put them away for a long time.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen. Instead BATFE bureaucrats are all too often making rulings that affect our rights with no accountability or oversight, save for the possibility of litigation, which can still be hit or miss – see the bump stock situation. Then there is what the Biden Administration wants to do to AR-15 pistols.
Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), though, is working to fix that. HR 1961, also known as the ATF Accountability Act, establishes an administrative appeals process over ATF rulings. He is joined by Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) in pursuing this legislation. Cuellar is that rare House Democrat who has not turned on law-abiding gun owners, to the rage of Bloomberg’s stooges.
In a press release issued by his office, Crenshaw said, “This bill will bring ATF in line with most other federal regulatory agencies and create an appeals process so industry has more options to challenge rulings other than suing the federal government – which many businesses simply cannot do. This bill will help ensure that the ATF cannot unilaterally impose rulings that impede on Second Amendment liberties and hurt jobs within the firearms industry.”
The fact of the matter is that while it would be ideal to refocus ATF on prosecuting the misuse of firearms in violent crime and/or drug trafficking, that won’t happen under the Biden-Harris-Garland regime. This means that we will have to deal with this agency making rulings that primarily end up hassling law-abiding citizens for a while. The current situation is unacceptable, but what can be done about it?
The establishment of an appeals process – even one that relies heavily on administrative law – still represents a marginal improvement, and it is one worth pursuing, given the success that incrementalism has had over the last 30 years.
By no means is this a perfect solution but reining in ATF bureaucracy has to start somewhere.
Second Amendment supporters should contact their Senators and Representative to urge them to support HR 1961. They should also support NRA-ILA and NRA-PVF to ensure that the anti-Second Amendment extremists who control the House, Senate, and the White House are defeated at the ballot box in the 2022 and 2024 elections.
About Harold Hutchison
Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.
ATF needs abolished not reformed. It’s an unconstitutional agency.
If I were to select a jack-booted group of fascists who are perhaps as large a danger to American society as I could pick today, I would pick BATF [the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms]. – U.S. Representative John Dingell, 1980
Like a good little serf, Harold says, “This means that we will have to deal with this agency making rulings that primarily end up hassling law-abiding citizens for a while. The current situation is unacceptable, but what can be done about it?”
And then suggests supporting the ONE group that supported every single law that infringes on the 2nd amendment, the one they purport to defend!!!
Bwa hahaha! Stop shilling for the enemy, and grow a spine.
Don’t hate on our man Harold for taking the time to inform. You misread. Harold knows what he’s talking about.
Hilarious that Red Flag Dan and a Democrat are pushing a bill that Harold thinks is good. People should be very cautious of anything these oathbreakers do. Especially if the NRA shilling fudd Harold likes it.
Feds “infiltrate” and actually plan and carry out most of the “terror attacks”, as they did the “white supremacy Jan 6 incident” the media claims was an “insurrection” (without any firearms), and the botched Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping. They do this so they can claim to foil them, and create public enemy number one, white conservatives and gun owners who are according to the Left all racists, whites, trump supporters, and facists.
Every time a major gun control push comes up at the federal level, the false flag events ramp up.
Got proof?
Open your eyes! The proof is right in front of your face!
Phil in TX
WACO, RUBY RIDGE, MOhamAD’S PICTURE, Florida dance club, Florida school slater, Sandy School, Open-air Concerts and MANY others.
I seem to recall that Ronald Reagan said he would disband the BATF way back when and transfer its responsibilities to another organization. Sure wish he had kept his word! This odious organization would be history by now!
Instead, Reagan enacted more arms control both as a governor and as president.
While Reagan was Governor and President, he was presented gun control legislation from majority control democrat legislative houses. While he is complicated in signing the bills, he didn’t write them. Further frustrating the issue was that there was bipartisan support to pass them through state and federal congresses. However, neither party has followed up with the wishes of their constituents to repeal those laws when they are voted majorities. There is plenty of blame to go around.
Reagan was pretty much a disappointment all around, but a significant lesser of the evils! He was the last R or D presidential candidate I voted for until Trump. In between I voted Libertarian. Then they betrayed the cause, nominating Bill Weld for VP, in 2016. Made it easy for me to vote Trump, who turned out to be something of a disappointment too.
I have about jad it up to my craw with “incrementalism”. If you are a senator, or a representative, MAKE THESE SONS-OF-BITCHES GO AWAY!!!
Harold, Why not push Crenshaw to include reforms in his legislation and get what we want up front, instead of giving in to Biden’s anti-gun machinations about AR-15’s by just accepting inches vs miles of improvement? How about refocusing ATF’s efforts towards capturing gun criminals, enforcing reg’s and helping FFL’s stay in compliance? This is the same dance the NRA does regarding legislation in a difficult climate. First steps should always go all in, then later tailoring it down to what might be acceptable. Ask for all that you want first and you might be surprised and get it. Creeping… Read more »
Why ask for anything ? Demand your rights be left alone !
How about no more BATFE, no more FFL’s to remain in compliance?
Harold has finally written something that makes SOME sense! Though, I note that, he is still shilling for the corrupt NRA Gang.
Did you purchase your one-way ticket to Orley yet, Harold? I bet you would be quite dashing in a kepi…
HR1961 was introduced to the Texas legislature in March and pretty much went nowhere from there. Since the legislature adjourned on May 31st and won’t convene again for another two years, this bill is dead. At least until Jan 2023.
I under stand some of the hatred for the NRA but as far as I am concerned they are doing some of their part. Plus all the attention is on the NRA so the other pro-gun groups can go about their job of stopping anti-gun stupidity. Without the NRA, the anti-gunners would be concentrating on destroying the other pro-gun groups. .
Stop it with the NRA…….they should be in jail!!!
Quit Watching Russian News then