Lankford Opposes Gun-control Advocate Nominee to Lead ATF

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement after voting to oppose the nomination of Steven Dettelbach, who was confirmed today to serve as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) within the Department of Justice (DOJ):

“After pulling the nomination of gun-control radical David Chipman to run ATF, Biden picked another gun-control advocate in Steven Dettelbach. I cannot support his nomination. Mr. Dettelbach’s record as a US Attorney and his statements that he wants more gun control indicates he is more focused on limiting the Second Amendment than protecting it. The role of Executive Branch nominees is to help preserve—not suppress—Americans’ freedom.”

Lankford continues to stand up for Oklahomans’ Second Amendment rights. The White House pulled its previous nominee to lead ATF, David Chipman, after Lankford and others sounded the alarm about Chipman’s positions on gun control and his open support of an AR-15 ban. Lankford has called on ATF to provide answers on their recent actions that prevent law-abiding citizens from creating and owning sound suppressors.

Lankford joined a letter to ATF expressing concern over their use of secret internal guidance to push new regulations. This secret guidance has been used to justify the seizure of lawfully owned property, which is unacceptable and not in accordance with the Constitution. Lankford introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval to prohibit ATF from implementing a new rule to expand firearm definitions.

 ###