By: Teresa Mull

It’s been weeks since Joe Biden nominated gun-grabber David Chipman to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Chipman, you may remember, is a veteran of the ATF. He worked there for more 20 years and was employed when the Ruby Ridge standoff and Waco Massacre happened.

More recently, Chipman served as a senior policy advisor for Giffords, a civilian disarmament group founded by former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Chipman also worked for Everytown for Gun Safety as senior policy advisor from 2012 to 2013. We’re looking at a true believer here, and in a position as head of the ATF, Chipman will use his power to harass gun owners non-stop.

Confirmation votes have been postponed, rescheduled, and generally avoided.

In a message to supporters, the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) says it appears Chipman’s confirmation process is “losing momentum.”

“According to D.C. insiders, Chipman has been having private meetings with fence-sitting senators, including West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin,” NAGR reports. “Chipman’s confirmation only requires a simple majority in the Senate. That means no Republican votes are required for this anti-gun whack job to be confirmed. Which is why the anti-gun Left is going all out to make sure that every Senate Democrat toes the party line and supports David Chipman. And their top target is so-called ‘moderate’ Democrat Joe Manchin.”

The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) also reported that “Red state representatives like Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Jon Tester (D-MT) say they’re still on the fence about him.”

More recently, FPC said in a message to supporters, “Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin was recently quoted as saying the whip count on David Chipman:

‘Is not where we want it yet, but there’s always a chance.’

Durbin went on to say, ‘there are a lot of issues’ with Waco Dave’s nomination to lead the ATF.”

Chipman’s days as new leader of the ATF may be numbered, but now is not the time to be complacent. Spread the word about how dangerous Chipman would be for gun owners and for our nation as a whole, and call your senators to tell them NOT to confirm David Chipman.

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