By: Teresa Mull

GPM has been vigilant in warning against the disaster Biden’s nominee to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) would be.

David Chipman spent his life as a career bureaucrat as an ATF agent before going to work as a lobbyist and policy advisor for two of the nation’s most prominent gun control organizations.

Chipman has voiced support for every gun control measure imaginable and when asked to provide a definition of “assault weapon,” he said there was “no way” he could do that (see here). This is the same person who said we should arrest people BEFORE they commit crimes.

Now, seven former ATF agents are telling the Senate Judiciary Committee not to confirm Chipman, according to The Reload, which reports to have received a copy of a letter the former agents sent to the Senate (read the full letter here).

Highlights from the letter are reprinted below:

Having been at the Bureau with David we are unfortunately brought to the conclusion that he is the wrong man for the job and should not be confirmed to lead the Bureau.

While an agent, David did not exhibit the collaborative and respectful type of leadership required of an agency Director that must manage a diverse workforce with challenging issues.

David would be the least qualified individual to lead the agency in its history.

David’s strong personal beliefs on firearms issues will create serious and long-lasting problems for the Bureau and the effective execution of its law enforcement mission.

Unfortunately, if David were confirmed, ATF partners would see someone who is coming to the agency with his top priority being to implement a divisive gun control agenda.

Chipman’s nomination process has been dragging out for weeks now. Several senators have expressed doubts over his suitability for the position, and there’s a movement underway now, led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and co-sponsor by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) to abolish the agency altogether through House Bill 3960.

Teresa Mull ([email protected]) is editor of Gunpowder Magazine.