MARTINSBURG, WV –-(Ammoland.com)- An anonymous source within the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch (FTISB) reports turmoil within the department over a promotion.
The head of the FTISB, Michael Curtis, is retiring from the Bureau, and Daniel Hoffman has been selected as his replacement by Chief of Firearms Ammunition Technology Division (FATD), Eral Griffith. Hoffman has been a Firearms Examination Officer (FEO) for the past four years. Before coming to the FTISB, Hoffman did not have any experience within the firearms industry. This choice led many others inside FTISB to wonder how he got the nod over other more qualified candidates. The choice has caused an uproar within the department.
Curtis and Hoffman have been two of the ATF’s crusaders against pistol-stabilizing devices. They have long held the opinion that the devices are a workaround for gun owners to legally violate the National Firearms Act (NFA) restrictions on short-barreled rifles (SBRs). Both have long argued that certain pistol braces were designed to be shouldering devices.
Not only does Hoffman have minimal industry experience, but he has also faced complaints filed by other ATF employees from the FTISB. It has been suggested by sources that Hoffman has an unstable and explosive temper. The complaints seem to at least partially stem from Hoffman’s suggested bad nature. Several employees have referred to Hoffman as a toxic personality.
This choice harkens back to the nomination of David Chipman as Biden’s pick to head up the ATF.
Chipman once accused black applicants of cheating on a test because he felt they could not possibly score as high as they did on the exam. Chipman faced multiple EEOC complaints about his racist and sexist remarks, and yet President Biden still thought he was the best option to be the Director of the ATF.
The push back against Hoffman by revolting ATF employees seems to be causing the leadership within the ATF to second guess their decision to tap Hoffman as Curtis’s replacement. AmmoLand News’s sources report that Hoffman is on the verge of being unselected by Griffith as Curtis’s replacement as the head of FTISB. One thing is clear Hoffman is a very unpopular choice within the chaotic department.
The reason that the ATF’s top brass chose Hoffman to replace Curtis is perplexing. Curtis is in a top leadership position inside the ATF, but Hoffman is a low-level employee with little experience and a history of employee complaints. The choice doesn’t make sense to people in the know, leading many to wonder exactly how Griffith concluded that Hoffman should replace Michael Curtis.
Gun Owners of America (GOA) has also taken notice of the strange, proposed appointment of Hoffman to head the FTISB. The gun-rights group will be filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)(below) request for all of Hoffman’s examinations. The group hopes to shed light on why the ATF would select any potentially problematic employee to lead one of the most powerful departments within the ATF.
The ATF has not responded to AmmoLand News’s request for comment about the appointment at the time of publication. As of now, Hoffman is still Griffith’s choice to replace Curtis.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
It’s easy to see why Hoffman is being promoted. He’s an undeserving low-level boot-licker that will grateful for the bump in prestige & pay. He knows he’ll be called when a keestering is in order – where he gets to do the förking or if he’s got to raise his rump and take it.
Just a shot driving on the freeway is a workaround or loophole in low speed limits, stop signs and traffic light on surface streets. Oh the horror – you were driving 55 without stopping every couple hundred yards! Obviously you are a homicidal maniac for driving so fast, speed kills after all. Note to those who wish to judge my driving speeds – statute of limitations has expired since last time I drove over double the speed limit. I am a far more cautious driver in my old age, while retaining my sympathy for those who wish to speed with… Read more »
18 U.S. Code § 241 – Conspiracy against rights | U.S. Code | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu) “YOU GOD DAMNED RIGHT WE ARE COMING AFTER YOUR AK-47’S AND AR-15’S! – Beto O’Rourke running for President. 18 U.S. Code § 242 – Deprivation of rights under color of law | U.S. Code | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu) 18 U.S. Code § 244 – Discrimination against person wearing uniform of armed forces | U.S. Code | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu) 18 U.S. Code § 245 – Federally… Read more »
Great job Mr. Crump!
It’s fine to talk like Chipman was a Biden decision, he would make such a bad choice, but back in reality we KNOW that Chipman is payback to the anti-gun lobby. Biden’s handlers made the deal during the campaign, probably because one of them was banging ms. gifford’s while her husband was floating up among the space debris. It could be that simple, as all things are possible in DC when you talk about debauchery and politics. Chipman himself will attract all sorts of anti-gun zealots, wishing to kiss his feet, to add to the permanent DC bureaucracy (think Deep… Read more »
well i’m sure there are “some” good employees at the batfe.