Finding a gun owner who likes the ATF is like finding a well-fed communist. You might find one, but they're definitely not part of the rank-and-file by any stretch of the imagination.
However, a new bill seeks to do something about the ATF that every other gun owner should absolutely love, and no, it's not putting Brandon Herrera in charge. It would be awesome if they did, but this is even more awesome. It ends the ATF forever.
That's right. A bill was introduced earlier this week that would abolish the ATF for good.
Representatives Eric Burlison (R-MO-07) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO-04) on Tuesday introduced H.R. 221, a bill that is simple and succinct: “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is hereby abolished.”
“The ATF is emblematic of the deep-state bureaucracy that believes it can infringe on constitutional liberties without consequence,” Rep. Burlison said in a press release. “If this agency cannot uphold its duty to serve the people within the framework of the Constitution, it has no place in our government.”
Cosponsor Congresswoman Boebert agrees.
“I cannot imagine under any circumstance or administration where the ATF serves as an ally to the Second Amendment and law-abiding firearm owners across America. As co-chair of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus, I’m eager to continue this effort with Rep. Burlison to defend our constitutional rights. The ATF should be abolished before they eventually abolish our Second Amendment,” Rep. Boebert said in the release.
Burlison was not available for an interview Wednesday.
The bill was cosponsored by seven Republican representatives, Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Mike Collins (R-GA-10), Bob Onder (R-MO-03), Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Mary Miller (R-IL-15), Keith Self (R-TX-03), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09).
But wait, as awesome as this is, it gets better.
In addition to getting rid of the ATF, the press release says Rep. Burlison is preparing legislation to repeal the 1934 National Firearms Act, or NFA, which he said, “unjustly taxes, registers, and restricts American gun owners.”
So we're going to get bills abolishing the ATF and the NFA all during a Congress where Republicans control both chambers and the White House, as well as having the majority in the Supreme Court where any challenge to these laws would potentially end up.
To say this makes me giddy is putting it mildly.
However, as great as all of this is, it's also unlikely to happen.
While Republicans have the majority in every branch of government, they don't have enough of one to completely shut the door on Democrats. Sure, Democrats lamented the filibuster and wanted it killed, but now that they're the minority, they're going to use it as often as they can. There's no doubt in my mind that unless something strange happens, they're going to use the filibuster to prevent either of these two bills from making it through the Senate. They still have enough numbers that unless a couple of Democrats cross the line, they can effectively kill it.
It sucks, but since a GOP majority isn't going to be permanent, it's what we have to deal with to make sure gun control can't be forced through down the road.
However, I can't say it's impossible, either.
For one thing, the ATF is still law enforcement, and while Democrats may love gun control, they have a history of being down on cops. That might get leveraged with some Democrats.
Plus, we don't know what kind of wheeling and dealing might happen. It might be a case of Democrats voting for a measure like this in exchange for something they want.
I just don't think any of us should hold our breath on this one. There's a very good chance this will never come to pass. There's nothing quite so permanent as a temporary government program. One thing that is, though, is any federal agency.
