U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The drama surrounding gun control advocate David Chipman’s nomination to head the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has taken on a new complexion as a dozen members of the U.S. House have signed onto an impeachment resolution to remove Chipman from a job he doesn’t yet have.
According to Fox News, Chipman’s confirmation is not a sure thing because five members of the U.S. Senate—Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), John Hickenlooper (CO), Jon Tester (MT) and Angus King (ME)—reportedly “remain undecided” on Chipman’s nomination. With a 50-50 Senate split, every Democrat would have to vote in the affirmative so Vice President Kamala Harris could cast the tie-breaking vote. If even one or two Democrats jump ship, Chipman’s nomination is toast.
But if Chipman is confirmed, there is still the impeachment resolution to consider. Fox News is reporting that Montana Congressman Matt Rosendale is spearheading the effort. He is reportedly joined by Reps. Bob Good of Virginia, Jeff Duncan and Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Andrew Clyde and Jody Hice from Georgia, Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee, Scott Perry from Pennsylvania, Alex Mooney of West Virginia, Andy Harris from Maryland, and Paul Gosar from Arizona. All are Republicans.
In a statement quoted by Fox News, Rosendale observed, “The confirmation of David Chipman to the ATF would be a direct threat to the Second Amendment rights of Americans and the rule of law. Not only has Chipman previously given false testimony to Congress, but his statements on gun control are evidence that his confirmation would be a failure to support and defend our constitutional rights. If appointed, both are impeachable offenses and worthy of Congress to consider his removal.”
AmmoLand News has obtained a copy of the un-numbered resolution. There are two articles in the document: Failure to support and defend the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, and Making False Statements to Congress.
The resolution asserts, “In his roles as a paid lobbyist and anti-Second Amendment advocate, David H. Chipman personally advocated, lobbied for, and expressed support for numerous policies which would violate and abridge the Second Amendment rights of Americans to keep and bear arms.”
A few paragraphs later, the resolution quotes former ATF Director Michael Sullivan who “expressed deep concern regarding the nomination of David H. Chipman stating that he ‘has taken such a strong and hostile position against the Second Amendment, as well as gun owners and some of the most popular firearms in the United States.’ Former Director Michael Sullivan further stated that ‘To effectively enforce [gun] laws, you have to be unbiased and apolitical. You can’t be partisan. Dave [Chipman] has shown himself to be a rabid partisan.’”
The three-page resolution probably doesn’t have a chance in the House with Democrats in the majority, but the fact that it was even introduced underscores the degree of discomfort some Republicans have with the Chipman nomination. His selection by Joe Biden—himself a career anti-gunner—seemed like a political reward to the gun control lobby for supporting Biden’s election last year. One of those vocal critics is Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, a national grassroots organization that has ripped the nomination since it was announced.
“Chipman’s nomination has the appearance of political patronage to an organization that steadfastly supports the president’s gun control agenda,” Gottlieb said two months ago. “Out of all the potential candidates to lead the agency, Joe Biden has picked the one individual whose nomination was guaranteed to ignite a political firestorm. At this point, it is fair to question why the president has done this. It looks like the president wants to put the gun prohibition lobby in charge of firearms regulation and enforcement.”
Chipman spent 25 years with the ATF before retiring a few years ago. Since then, he has worked with gun prohibition lobbying groups, most recently Giffords as a senior advisor, and before that Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns. That background irreparably taints his nomination in the Second Amendment community and critics have said it would be like having a Republican president nominate the head of the National Rifle Association to take over ATF.
One issue that appears to be plaguing Chipman’s nomination is the allegation he lost his duty weapon. While it remains unverified, and there apparently is no record of such a loss, the question has not been answered to everyone’s satisfaction. Chipman has denied losing his gun.
Another problem is the allegation Chipman once made disparaging remarks about Black ATF agents after several scored high points on an agency test.
There is still no scheduled full Senate consideration of Chipman’s nomination.
RELATED:
- Senate Judiciary Deadlocks on Chipman; Gun Rights Groups to Keep Fighting
- Report: Chipman Nomination ‘Stuck in Limbo’ as Biden, Dems Target 2A
About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
To serve in the U.S.A. you must first take a oath to defend the people, the constitution and the nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Chipman has, many times over the decades, proven he is a hater of certain parts of the constitution, in this case the 2A. This person was part of the Waco raid where men, women and children DIED IN A FIRE THAT DIDN’T HAVE TO HAPPEN. The 2A says “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”. The atfe was and remains in contempt of the constitution and our… Read more »
Used car salesmanship 101. Promote the best anti-gunner, push it really hard via biased media, then say, oh well, Senate, you are correct, he’s wrong for the job, forget him.
Then, the 2nd worst anti-gunner is nominated, he positively glows with his media halo firmly attached, and the media just shows crazy love, the Senate breathes a collective sigh of relief – how can you NOT approve this bi-partisan president’s choice – and guess what? Another spin down the drain towards Marxism…
Thank you Matt Rosendale for spearheading the impeachment process to let the POS Chipman know that his time leading the BATF will be short even if he is confirmed . I E mailed Tester and he responded saying he would support our second amendment rights. I told him if he votes for Chipman he will be done in 2024 and we will know he is nothing more than a lying politician if he does not support the rights of the people of Montana and America .
If you have time to read Ammoland, spend 2 minutes calling each if these senators. You will get an intern from highschool or college answering the call, who will mark a hash next to your position against Chipman, and a report goes to the senator at the end of the day. Same if you leave a message. Burning their phone lines and emailboxes does impact how they vote.
Remember, the most important thing to them is being re-elected. Call no matter where you live- they can’t tell and prefix on cells mean nothing these days.
Tester is afraid. A lot of farmers/ranchers have voted for Democrats like Tester for generations because of government taxpayer subsidies. A lot of those farmers/ranchers like their guns and Tester has been telling them he is not one of the those gun-grabbing kind of Democrats – he is just out to help the “working man” – you know, like FDR. Tester is afraid because the Chipman vote is truly the acid test. If he knows that people are watching him and will publicize his vote for Chipman, he may vote “no.” It’s too bad more people who make their living… Read more »
One casual glimpse of the countenance of this horrendous candidate is all I need to make a assumptions about his character. Talk about wearing it on your sleeve! ☠️
How can someone as supposedly intelligent and reasoned as a United States Senator be undevoded about David Chipman. Either you are against him, or you are for him under false pretenses and you are avoiding saying so. And that is dishonest.
They shouldn’t even bother with him impeachment and he hasn’t been decided on why waste taxpayer money just find someone we can all agree on! The guy is a joke but also a serious threat to our gun rights and laws because he hates gun and he’s in the pocket of Biden, Harris, and other communists.
Even jokingly considering an anti-gun zealot like Chipman as the leader of a rouge, self policing (means NO policing), proven lying and innocent victim convicting outfit like the BATFE is almost unbelievable ! It is a bare naked attack on American Citizens Constitutional rights to keep and bear arms ! Besides not confirming this rabid individual, Congress needs to go one step further and completely erase the BATFE as it now stands and replace it with a fair and unbiased, constitution following, bureau ! One that will focus on enforcing the laws we already have on the books ! For… Read more »
Dude still looks like Gary Bussey after a long Labor Day weekend meth binge.