(RightWing.org) – Any remaining doubts about President Joe Biden’s position on gun rights should have evaporated on April 7, 2021. Biden announced “six initial actions” that day “to address the gun violence… epidemic.” Among those actions was the nomination of outspoken gun rights critic David Chipman to serve as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF).
On August 3, a group of seven former ATF agents sent a letter contesting Chipman’s nomination to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and ranking member Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
7 retired ATF agents, who each spent 25 or more years at the agency, just wrote a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee asking them to oppose David Chipman's nomination. They say he doesn't have the temperament or experience for the job. https://t.co/4QKZE3cbWB
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) August 3, 2021
According to the letter, all seven worked with Chipman during his time as an ATF agent. They emphatically stated they believed Chipman is “the wrong man for the job.”
The former agents had two main concerns regarding Chipman. First, he lacked the temperament and experience to lead an agency with an overall workforce of over 5,000 personnel with a $1.4 billion budget. As they noted, appointing Chipman to head the ATF would be like “asking a small business owner to lead a Fortune 500 company.”
Second, Chipman’s “strong beliefs” on firearms-related issues would hinder the ATF’s ability to carry out its mission successfully. As they explained, Chipman’s “divisive gun control agenda” would threaten necessary partnerships with firearms industry officials and other law enforcement agencies.
Perhaps it’s time for Biden to withdraw Chipman’s nomination.
Copyright 2021, RightWing.org
