The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is one of those federal law enforcement agencies that has typically flown under the radar over the years. Out of all the 65 federal departments that are allowed to make arrests, the ATF remains one of the least popular. However, since President Joe Biden took office, the ATF has been facing even more scrutiny as it becomes the White House’s primary tool for limiting gun ownership.
House Republicans have proposed stripping down the agency to impede its efforts to infringe on the right to keep and bear arms. But at this point, it might make more sense to do away with the ATF altogether.
GOP lawmakers have recently proposed firing 70 ATF agents in exchange for certain provisions to prevent a much-needed government shutdown. This prompted the White House to write a whiny post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, complaining about Republicans’ demands.
In her usual direct fashion, conservative commentator and radio talk show host Dana Loesch replied, noting that stripping down the ATF is not extreme in the slightest, and suggested abolishing the agency.
The ATF has been used by the Biden administration to limit gun rights in a myriad of ways. For starters, it has been revoking gun seller licenses like crazy. Indeed, the agency has revoked 122 licenses in the current fiscal year, which is a huge increase from prior years when the numbers ranged from 27 to 90. Many of those losing their licenses had made simple and minor paperwork errors, which normally wouldn’t bring about such an ugly consequence.
Earlier this year, Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX), who chairs the subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, railed against the ATF during a hearing, noting that the ATF “has been weaponized against gun owners and Americans who wish to acquire firearms in numerous ways in recent years.”
Fallon highlighted an ATF rule restricting the use of pistol braces. These are only a few examples demonstrating how the agency’s new role seems to be carrying out the Biden administration’s radical anti-gunner agenda.
The Second Amendment is unequivocal: “...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” There is little room for ambiguity. Yet, the ATF has served as a valuable instrument for those in office who believe the Constitution is just a set of guidelines rather than a hard and fast barrier against tyranny.
Those who support the existence of the ATF might argue that it is an essential agency for enforcing gun regulations and curbing gun-related violence. However, it has been shown time and time again that the vast majority of gun legislation does not keep people safe.
Take the pistol brace ban, for example. These stabilizing accessories were designed to help disabled veterans who had trouble using pistols for self-defense or recreational purposes. Criminals did not employ these tools to commit homicides, by and large. Yet, the ATF still saw fit to make them illegal, essentially criminalizing millions of people for no good reason. Fortunately, this rule is being challenged in court.
Over its history, the agency has been weaponized against lawful Americans exercising their right to keep and bear arms. One of the more extreme examples was the siege at Waco, which was spearheaded by the ATF against people who owned “illegal” firearms. The agents murdered over 60 people, including children, because they possessed guns that the government says people should not own.
As for the ATF’s other functions – those can easily be absorbed into other agencies. Unfortunately, this would likely mean that these other law enforcement apparatuses would be used to continue violating the Second Amendment. But we have to start somewhere, don’t we? Getting rid of the ATF would make it harder for the federal government to make it more difficult for people to own and carry firearms and might be a good starting point for finally trimming down the size and scope of government.