U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- Last Thursday, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee split along party lines when voting whether to advance the nomination of David Chipman as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The vote underscored the hyper-partisan nature of Biden’s choice to lead the agency that enforces federal gun control laws and regulates the nation’s network of licensed firearms manufacturers, dealers, and importers (FFLs).
Biden likes to stress Chipman’s career as an ATF agent, but it is the nominee’s more recent gun control advocacy that makes him Biden’s ideal choice to lead the recently characterized “crackdown” on federal firearm licensees.
Chipman has served as a paid policy advisor for Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety and currently works for Giffords, which lobbies Congress and state legislatures for an ever-expanding list of firearm prohibition measures.
The nominee acknowledged at his confirmation hearing that he supports the banning of so-called “assault weapons,” but when asked to define that term, he repeatedly tried to duck the question. He has insisted, however, that the wildly popular AR-15 should be prohibited.
Pro-gun Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) characterized Chipman as a “zealot” who is inappropriate to lead an agency “whose mission is to even-handedly apply the law.” He noted he would vote against the nominee out of concern that Chipman would stretch the law to cover an “agenda” not authorized by Congress.
Anti-gun Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MI), meanwhile, blamed the NRA for the Senate’s hesitancy to move forward with confirming a permanent ATF director.
Indeed, only determined pressure by Second Amendment supporters can prevent ATF from falling into the hands of ideological lackeys like Chipman, who would use the agency’s authority to punish political enemies and suppress the rights of law-abiding gun owners, rather than to target violent criminals.
We have been happy to expose Chipman’s record to public scrutiny and will continue to hold him accountable for promoting views and policies well out of step with respect for the Second Amendment.
Much discussion has also surrounded ATF’s failure to turn over Chipman’s personnel records, which could shed critical light on allegations that he, among other things, lost his own duty firearm and made what have been characterized as racist statements about fellow agents.
Whether or not those reports are ultimately confirmed, any senator concerned about Second Amendment rights has ample reason to vote “no” on Chipman’s confirmation.
The tie vote will require Democrats to engage in additional maneuvering to advance Chipman’s nomination to a vote before the full Senate. There is no indication, however, that they are ready to back off the controversial and divisive nominee, with Biden again calling for this confirmation in remarks from the White House last week.
About NRA-ILA:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess, and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
We need to stop mentioning “Anti-Second-Amendment” as if it is just another political stance. Within the framework the Founding Fathers created, a government official who is anti-rights is a dangerous, treasonous criminal whose life should be swiftly cut short. It is time to stop pretending otherwise. I know many people fear using such language, but it isn’t political rhetoric; it is the logical outcome of the philosophy upon which our system of rights, laws, and freedom is based.
True. But, Americans, for over 170 years, have sat on their hands refusing to do their Constitutional Duty. Heck, I will bet 1/3 of the people on this blog did not vote. “When government fears the People, there is Freedom. When the People fear the government, there is tyranny”. Lazy, cowardly and self absorbed Americans have refused to remove tyrannical or insane judges and politicians. Just too much effort and risk? Americans will sit, quietly, and endure the tyranny as long as they have their home, beer and football on TV. Too much effort, might get hurt or get in… Read more »
I was simply pointing out that people are so cowardly as to be afraid to use the concise language the circumstances call for, though they also have a right to speak freely, let alone actually following up their sacred beliefs with the required action.
Did you call Cynthia Lummis’s office?
I dont know if I can fully buy into that. Sure. There are a cubic butt ton of Americans who dont think past their football an beer, or basketball, or golf. Or whatever. But the rest of us lose sleep over it. We vote, go to work, cook and eat our tv dinners, and go to bed. And repeat. We have been unable to force our representatives and judges to follow the law and the Constitution. Almost without fail, those we elect disappoint us. Those of you in Texas, look at John Cornyn. And most judges are not voted on.
Pressure is being put on politicians and offers are being made to politicians. Most politicians respond to pressure and offers. One way to get a Republican senator to vote for Chipman is to offer the senator something in return for their vote. For example, the senator may be offered a seat on a committee in return for voting for Chipman. However, if the senator receives overwhelming pressure from Republican voters to not vote for Chipman, the senator will begrudgingly turn down the offer and vote against Chipman. Cynthia Lummis is a politician (her late husband was a Democrat politician). She… Read more »
I recently moved from Wyoming. EVERY county in Wyoming is a sanctuary county except Sweetwater (where I lived) and Uinta. Again, citizen laziness, refusal to canvass votes and actually vote, is killing Wyoming. Teton county (Billionaire liberals) and the northeast of the state always vote against America, not to mention Casper is the most anti-gun city in Wyoming with a New Jersey female liberal on the City Council. I now live in a state that has a citizen militia in every county and American flags and Trump banners fly everywhere. In this state, the Sheriff calls on the militia for… Read more »
The Wyoming Second Amendment Preservation Act, as originially written, was defeated because every Sheriff, every Police Chief of every little town, and the State Police joined Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety to defeat the bill. They want to cooperate with federal authorities on enforcing never-ending gun control and they were outraged that the bill would have not only prohibited them from cooperating with federal authorities, but it would have allowed them to be sued individually if they did cooperate with federal authorities. The bigest threat to the 2nd Amendment in Wyoming is law enforcers and law enforcers… Read more »
“…our federal partners…” Gag.
Thanks.
If you have a minute, please call one of Lummis’s offices.
From your posts, you might like South Dakota. No state is perfect and I certainly will not apologize for the shortcomings in Wyoming.
Update: Cynthia Lummis has committed to vote “no” regarding Chipman’s appointment as Director of the BATFE.
Thanks to all those who called her office.
Update #2: John Barrasso has also committed to vote “no” regarding Chipman’s appointment as Director of the BATFE.
Has anyone contacted Cornyn and received a response? Grunt, I assume you contacted him – right?
I have. I get a generic Butter/Fudd response about protecting people’s rights and considering public safety. He authored the arms control legislation that Trump signed into law and he’s made numerous speeches about what more he thinks should be done on arms control. Below is one example. Unfortunately, people in Texas keep voting him back into office.
https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Cornyn-Unlicensed-gun-dealers-need-to-be-15528740.php
The staffer wouldn’t indicate that Cornyn has decided not to vote for Chipman?
Nope. I’ve contacted his office many times over the years and I usually get a very generic response. They give a lot of non-answers to my questions like most politicians do. You know how a politician can be asked a very straightforward question and they refuse to give a straightforward answer? Yeah, pretty much like that. I’ve called numerous times on a single issue and I always get a very similar response each time. Almost Like they’re reading from a script.
Lummis/her staffer sent a letter in the mail that was very specific to what I asked.
Barrasso/his staffer sent an email that was very specific to what I asked.
I’m not worried about Cruz regarding Chipman, but Cornyn would vote for almost anything if he thought the net result was more votes.
Watching him on 2/28/18 was nauseating.
I’m sure people will vote for him again though.
Maybe the grunt and Bob can organize a bunch of veterans to contact Cornyn and put some pressure on him.
Cornyn cornholes us again? SHOCKING!
You upset a Texan, I think.
Will – 7/15/21: “Didn’t upset me at all! I have been trying to tell you frick and frack that PRESIDENT TRUMP will never apologize for anything. Even at the risk of losing your vote ! Lmfao!” Response to Will: You were doing well for awhile, but any criticism of Trump (or Texas Republicans) really sets off those emotions. My individual vote is meaningless. I was having a discussion with Russn8r about the merits of drawing a line in the sand and having a national organization, like GOA actually do some effective pro 2nd Amendment activism. Russn8r and I have different… Read more »
BATFE needs to fear us, the gun owning citizens. Fear us to the point none of them will accept the position of Director.
Anti-Constitutionalist’s=Anti-Americans=Enemies of the United States…
This guy is such a prick
ILA, please correct the Klobuchar reference. She is from Minnesota, “MN”. As much as my old home state of Michigan, “MI”, disappoints please don’t add insult to injury.
DEFUND the ATF
David Chipman is Anti- 2nd Amendment SO KICK HIS ASS TO THE CURB. He has no place in our government just like the commie bastards that stole the election. If they can’t stand up for our Constitution of These United States of America they need to be jailed for Treason. Drain the SWAMP! Bring back TRUMP!
In Navy vernacular, this clown is obviously carrying several degrees left rudder. All hands on deck! Man your battle stations! Hang him from the nearest yardarm, then flank speed ahead to run his ship hard aground!
F the BAT
BATF
Sen. Amy Klobuchar is from Minnesota, not Michigan.