U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- David Chipman is proving – again – why he was never fit to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Chipman spoke with CBS News claiming the firearm industry, “profits by gun violence itself,” and that U.S. senators that doomed his nomination are complicit in allowing criminal activity to continue. “To oppose me must mean that you’re not for preventing gun violence.” Chipman claimed, without a shred of proof, that the firearm industry sells guns to criminals and, “the reality is in much of America it’s easier to buy a gun than a beer.”
That’s patently untrue since beer sales don’t require FBI background checks. It’s more than that though. Chipman smeared the firearm industry, describing it as complicit in the crime. He claimed that fear of regulation was the impetus behind the firearm industry’s opposition to his nomination.
“The fear is, it’s going to be harder for people who sell guns to sell guns absent any accountability from profiting from selling to criminals and terrorists,” Chipman claimed. “The reality is in much of America, it’s easier to buy a gun than a beer.”
The Truth
The allegation is as disgusting as it is false. Firearms are lawfully made and sold through an FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) verification. They are only sold to those who pass that check – lawful gun owners. Prohibited individuals such as convicted felons, the dangerously mentally ill, and domestic violence offenders don’t pass those checks.
A point-of-purchase background check was an industry concept that predated the Brady Act. It was NSSF that led the charge to improve the background checks so they work as Congress intended. Through FixNICS®, NSSF changed the law in 16 states and in Congress to get all disqualifying records, like adjudicated mental health and convictions, submitted. That’s resulted in a 270 percent increase since 2013 from 1.7 million records then to over 6.14 million today. That’s not all. The firearm industry has for over two decades partnered with ATF in the Don’t Lie for the Other Guy campaign to prevent illegal straw purchases of firearms. NSSF also partners with ATF in Operation Secure Store to improve security at firearm retailers to deter thefts and burglaries by criminals. As part of this effort, NSSF matches ATF reward offers to lead to the arrest and conviction of criminals and the recovery of stolen guns before they can be criminally misused. The firearm industry, through Project ChildSafe, has partnered with 15,000 law enforcement agencies all across America to distribute over 40 million free firearm safety kits with locking devices so firearms are properly secured when not in use. The firearm industry also partners with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to have a brave conversation about suicide to prevent the tragedy of suicide.
Those are Real Solutions.
The Lies
Chipman’s arrogance and narcissism were on full display during this CBS interview. His demonstrably false lies about the firearm industry exposed it.
“I have, from 25 years as an ATF agent, and largely for ten years after that, committed myself to one thing: preventing gun violence in this country,” Chipman told “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell.
That’s a false choice and Chipman knows it. Chipman never garnered the support of all 50 Democrat senators or the usual law enforcement agencies that would endorse an ATF nominee.
“The resistance I met… senators like King in Maine was, ‘I’m concerned you will not play nice with the gun industry that you regulate.’ And that was shocking to me.” Chipman accused Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and the other senators who did not support his nomination of not being opposed to gun violence?
In fact, Michael Sullivan, a former U.S. Attorney, and ATF Acting Director wrote that Chipman’s gun control agenda would harm the ATF. So did several other ATF agents. According to Chipman, his former colleagues are in favor of gun violence.
There were other reasons not all 50 Democratic senators weren’t lining up to vote to confirm Chipman. Norah O’Donnell never bothered to ask Chipman to back up his wild allegations. Nor did she question Chipman about credible allegations that he made derogatory comments about African-American ATF agents who scored well on advancement exams. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) demanded information regarding the allegations from the Department of Justice, but Chipman’s nomination was yanked instead.
More Lies
Chipman also mislead CBS to believe the firearm industry doesn’t want a confirmed director. That’s false. The fact is NSSF has never opposed a nominee until Chipman and has actually supported all nominees for the position to come out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. First was Michael Sullivan, nominated by President George W. Bush, and later B. Todd Jones, nominated by President Barack Obama. Jones was confirmed to the position by the Senate. NSSF also supported the nomination of Chuck Canterbury by President Donald Trump. The firearm industry believes strongly that ATF needs – we want – a qualified, unbiased Senate-confirmed director.
Chipman proved in this interview – again – why he was never qualified for the job of ATF Director. He continues to lie, telling any reporter willing to let him rehabilitate his shattered veneer of benevolent law enforcement professional from what America truly saw. Chipman is, has been and always will be, an advocate for gun control who would have used the ATF as a cudgel against the industry that provides the means for Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
The problem with Chipman’s nomination was Chipman. In this interview, he made that case against his own nomination better than the industry ever could.
About The National Shooting Sports Foundation
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org
Wasn’t just luck. I imagine majority here voted AND wrote all their senators and representatives. They’ll ignore a few letters, but when swamped they listen for a variety of reasons including desire for re-election.
PUBLISH HIS HOME ADDRESS.
He would happily send goons to shoot your dog.
And that’s what liberals do, when in doubt, blame everyone else…
One day, some a$$hole like Chipman will be placed in charge and implement policies that threaten our rights. With the stroke of a pen, we will be turned into “criminals” if we don’t comply with unconstitutional restrictions. The big question then will be, will you lie down and take it or, will you fight for your rights? My choice has been made, I will not comply. By the way, I don’t even get my ID checked anymore when buying beer. I certainly don’t have to fill out a form that it’s a felony to lie on and, have a NICS… Read more »
“The Constitution of these U.S. is the supreme law of the land. Any law that is repugnant to the constitution is null and void of law.”
(Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 [1803])
I would also add:
“If the State converts a right (liberty) into a privilege, the citizen can ignore the license and fee and engage in the right (liberty) with impunity.”
(Shuttlesworth v. City of Birmingham, Alabama, 373 U.S. 262)
Just Another Nazi who needs to be crushed in our present day…
I suspect many of the upper echelon law enforcement officers across all the agencies are as petty, ignorant and self centered as this sad human being, it’s just that since he didn’t get his way he is having a hissy fit and letting his real feelings show. We shouldn’t be lulled into thinking the rest are not like him.
Yes it used to be as easy or even easier than buying a beer. As it was intended. Background checks have solved nothing. But made it harder for Citizens to legally defend themselves. NSSF tooting it’s own horn. But to the wrong audience.
When I was in high school we were able to leave school, hit 7-11 to buy a few boxes of 20 gauge shells and some .22LR on the way to the dove/rabbit fields. AND THAT WAS IN MIAMI.
Don’t expect your local convenience store to sell you any ammo these days.
What is it they say? Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
I can remember when you could leave your rifle in the rifle rack in the back window of your pickup in the school parking lot and some of the teachers would want to look at it then take you over to their truck and show you their rifle. If you checked, back then, you would have also found the doors were not locked.
Chipman’s a crybaby! He can’t take the heat of public scrutiny.
Well . . . Chipman works for Giffords, funded by Bloomberg.
They have one goal – CITIZEN DISARMAMENT!
They have no room for TRUTH standing in the way of achieving that goal.
But you enforcers will.
Chipman is a murdering piece of shit that kills women and children to enforce his unconstitutional crap . He needs to shut the fuck up and go away before a surviving family member takes offence to the fact he is still sucking air after murdering women and children in Waco !
You might want to brush up on your history comprehension before you go making yourself look like them.
Don’t you just love how the NSSF lists all the ways they’ve worked with the government scumbags as if it’s a good thing? The NSSF is as treasonous as the NRA.
and you know nothing. lol….. congratulations!
I see clown shoes has shown up to defend his beloved NRA. Please, pontificate for us oh wise one!