As pro-Second Amendment supporters anticipate a second term [some say 3rd!?], for Donald Trump, the big question is: What will become of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)?
In a recent episode of Bearing Arms: Cam & Company, retired ATF Deputy Assistant Director Pete Forcelli shared his insights on the challenges and opportunities for the agency in the years ahead.
A Mixed Mood Inside the ATF
Forcelli highlighted the divided sentiment within the ATF. While some employees were devastated by Trump’s 2016 victory, many rank-and-file agents were relieved, hoping for a shift away from the politicized enforcement policies that targeted lawful gun owners. Under the Biden administration, controversial rules such as those governing stabilizing braces and “ghost guns” caused widespread frustration among law-abiding citizens. These rules, Forcelli argued, focused on creating obstacles for responsible gun owners rather than targeting violent criminals.
Should the ATF Even Exist?
One of the most contentious issues discussed was whether the ATF should be dismantled entirely.
Forcelli acknowledged that some want to eliminate the agency altogether, but he cautioned against transferring firearm law enforcement to larger agencies like the FBI or DHS. “The devil you know,” he remarked, may be preferable to sprawling bureaucracies with even more power to interfere with lawful gun ownership.
Forcelli emphasized that the ATF, when properly managed, serves a legitimate purpose—targeting violent offenders and assisting the firearms industry in compliance. He called for a return to practices from earlier leadership, where the agency focused on cracking down on criminal misuse of firearms rather than demonizing the tools or the industry.
The Need for a Watchdog, Not an Attack Dog
Forcelli didn’t hold back in his critique of recent ATF leadership. Under the Biden administration and current ATF Director Steve Dettelbach, the agency seemed more aligned with gun control advocates than its mandate to enforce existing laws fairly.
He called for a director who would clean house and refocus the ATF on its core mission—combating violent crime, not harassing responsible gun owners.
He also expressed optimism about potential deputy attorney general pick Todd Blanche, whom Forcelli praised as a measured, law-and-order professional who could guide the ATF back to its proper role.
The Lessons of Fast & Furious
Reflecting on the infamous Operation Fast and Furious, Forcelli shared new revelations about the operation’s failures. He confirmed that straw purchasers involved in trafficking hundreds of firearms to Mexico were connected to FBI informants, raising questions about inter-agency communication and oversight. He speculated that these failures, combined with a politically charged environment, were exploited to push gun control narratives.
What Should Gun Owners Expect?
Forcelli’s perspective offers a glimpse into how Trump’s administration might approach the ATF:
- Potential Restructuring: Under Trump, the ATF could undergo a transformation, whether through leadership changes or redefining its mission.
- Focus on Violent Crime: A shift back to targeting criminals, not law-abiding gun owners, is a priority for advocates like Forcelli.
- Regulatory Rollbacks: Gun owners may see relief from burdensome rules introduced under the Biden administration.
The Golden Age
The future of the ATF is uncertain, but one thing is clear: under Trump, there’s potential for a reset. For pro-gun advocates, this is a chance to reshape an agency that has too often been at odds with the very rights it’s supposed to respect. Forcelli’s insights remind us that vigilance is essential. Gun owners must continue to hold the ATF—and all federal agencies—accountable while ensuring the Second Amendment remains strong and intact.
Stay tuned, and as always, be well, be safe, and be free.
Brandon Herrera Should Lead the Trump Administration’s ATF ~ UPDATE! 27163 Yes Votes!
Matt Gaetz for U.S. Attorney General!? ~ You Had me at Political Retribution!
Yawn
Wake me when the government actually fixes the government
fu#k atf!!!! and every agent, secretary and employee! publish their home addresses!!!
The agency is unconstitutional on it’s face.
NO person working for atf should EVER hold a position of honor in the United States.
The ATF is nothing more than a government sponsored organized crime syndicate and it does need to be disbanded and canceled. Fast and furious proves that fact .
Why didn’t Cam Edwards ask about the ATF’s killing Bryan Malinowski, the Little Rock Airport Manager, last March?
Burn it down!
Fuck ATF. They need to go. Along with their mandate.
If the ATF is abolished, the two main laws that underpin its existence, the NFA and 68 GCA will still be enforced by someone. A director that works s more sympathetic (or at least less antagonistic) to the gun industry and gun owners would be a good start. Getting Brandon Herrera as ATF director is an absolute long-shot but wouldn’t it be nice to have someone from the gun industry rather than another ambitious, halfwit, stuffed shirt, yes man lawyer? All the other regulatory bureaucracies are led by people from the industries they oversee, why not ATF? The main power… Read more »
They interbiewed WHO? Wow, way to drive away all the shits I could have given.
Keep enough of the clerks to, under supervision and with a deadline, destroy any and all illegal databases. Transfer all the SWAT wannabes to ICE. Prosecute politicized officials. Keep in mind, this isn’t going to happen unless we continue to VOTE in EVERY ELECTION.
“What’s the Future of ATF in Trump’s 2nd Term?”
Their future’s so bright, they’ve gotta wear shades!