As we noted in May, Biden’s pick to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, David Chipman, has some crazy ideas about guns and other things.
Now some of his former colleagues are speaking out, and their message is clear. Pick someone else.
Stephen Gutowski reports at The Reload:
Former ATF Colleagues Write Letter Opposing Biden Director Nominee: ‘Wrong Man for the Job’More former ATF agents who worked alongside President Joe Biden’s director nominee are speaking out against his confirmation.Seven former agents, each with 25 or more years of experience at the ATF, wrote a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee leaders on Tuesday urging them to vote against David Chipman. In a copy of the letter obtained by The Reload, the agents criticize Chipman’s turn from ATF agent to paid gun-control activist. They argued he did not have the experience or temperament to lead the agency and his appointment would degrade ATF’s ability to do its job.“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,” the agents said in the letter. “We relied on effective partnerships with industry, stakeholders, and other law enforcement agencies to execute our missions. 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.”…Many of the concerns raised by the agents who signed their names to the letter match those expressed by the current and former agents who spoke with The Reload. The agents all complained about Chipman’s history of supporting controversial new gun bans and making controversial statements mocking gun owners. The agents in the new letter and the ones in The Reload report agreed the agency needs a long-term director but said Chipman would not be the right fit, based on what they saw while working alongside him.
Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), who is quickly becoming one of my favorite senators, spoke out against Chipman’s nomination yesterday in a speech on the Senate floor:
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) also opposes Chipman:
In perhaps even better news, Senator Angus King (I-ME) is also not sold on Chipman. King is an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, so this would pretty much doom his nomination.
Politico reports:
Key Senator may sink Biden’s point man on gunsPresident Joe Biden’s pick to head the ATF is running into a surprising holdout who could bring down the nomination: Sen. Angus King of Maine.The low-key independent, a member of the Democratic Caucus, has declined to publicly state his position on David Chipman, whom Biden nominated to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. But he has signaled to both the Biden administration and his Democratic colleagues that he is currently not supportive of the nominee, as he comes under pressure to buck a pick seen as resistant to gun rights in a state where hunting and gun rights are part of many voters’ DNA.King has told colleagues in the past week that he is currently a “no” on the nomination, according to a Democratic senator. King told the White House in recent days that he is unlikely to vote for Chipman, according to two others familiar with the discussions.
Democrats are pushing the Chipman nomination and the Biden administration doesn’t seem to be backing down yet either. There’s only one reason I can think of why they are going to bat for Chipman. He is a gun control activist, and that’s who the left wants as the head of the ATF.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY