House Republicans introduce a controversial bill to dismantle the ATF, intensifying the Second Amendment debate.
At a Glance
- House Republicans propose a bill to abolish the ATF before Donald Trump’s presidency.
- Rep. Eric Burlison leads the effort, accusing the ATF of violating constitutional rights.
- Proponents argue federal overlap with local enforcement is redundant.
- Critics warn abolishing the ATF could increase violent crime.
The Push to Abolish the ATF
Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., leads a group of House Republicans aiming to dismantle the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), citing its operations as unconstitutional. Burlison accuses the ATF of overreaching its authority and encroaching on Second Amendment rights.
Burlison argues that local and state law enforcement can manage firearm regulations independently without federal oversight. This aligns with his previous stance on advocating limited federal authority over state matters.
Tonight, I officially took over @FmrRepMattGaetz' bill to Abolish the ATF!
This is a rogue agency that continues to violate Americans' Second Amendment rights.
It's gotta go. pic.twitter.com/ci5LSWK8rC
— Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) December 5, 2024
Arguments Against the ATF
Burlison, along with other supporters like Rep. Lauren Boebert, stresses the ATF’s past mistakes, such as Operation Fast and Furious, which exposed flaws in federal regulation of firearms.
“The ATF is a disaster. For decades, they’ve been a disaster agency, and they’ve been violating the Second Amendment. Every time they try to get involved, they mess things up,” Burlison said.
Boebert, a staunch gun rights advocate and former restaurant owner where staff openly carried firearms, introduced related legislation in Colorado. Her bill also calls for the ATF’s abolition.
Concerns Over Increasing Crime
Despite support, the proposal faces criticism from figures like ATF Director Steven Dettelbach, who warns of potential rises in violent crime if the ATF is abolished.
“People who don’t think that law enforcement, including ATF, has anything to do with driving down violent crime are just wrong — it didn’t happen by accident,” Dettelbach said.
The bill was introduced as HR 129, currently in the early legislative stages. It faces significant hurdles, with Govtrack.us estimating a low chance of advancing through committee stages or being enacted.
