Washington, D.C. — Joe Biden’s nominee for Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), David Chipman, had his first confirmation hearing this week. In his testimony, he made his policy ideals clear, saying he wants to ban AR-15s.
Chipman’s nomination was announced in April at the same time Biden announced his slate of gun control executive actions.
David Chipman, who previously served as an ATF Agent during the sieges on Waco and Ruby Ridge, has spent the last two decades working for numerous national gun control groups, including Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety and the Giffords Policy Law Center.
The first hearing for his confirmation in the Senate Judiciary was a limited one. There were five nominees to various administration positions, all being questioned at the same time. Senators were only given five minutes to ask all the questions they could to the nominees. Chipman was by far the most controversial of the nominees.
The hearing itself was conducted abnormally. According to the rules, the Senate Judiciary Committee is supposed to announce public confirmation hearings a week in advance of the hearing. This time around, Democrat leadership announced Chipman’s hearing just two days prior.
Additionally, Senators are typically given much more time to question nominees. Senate Democrats could be using these tactics simply to attempt to push Chipman through under cover of night.
Despite his limited time addressing the committee, Chipman was not short on controversy.
In an exchange with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Chipman said, “With respect to the AR-15, I support a ban as has been presented in a Senate bill and supported by the President.”
Chipman also went on to say he supported instituting “Assault” Weapons bans, bans on magazines of 10 rounds or more, and further regulating homemade firearms and suppressors. Chipman said all this while also admitting that crime and homicide data does not show these policies effectively curb violence.
Cruz asked, “Well, when you and I met in my office last night and discussed it, I asked if there were any data to suggest that the ban was effective. And what you said in the office is you were not aware of any data that the data was—I think mixed is the term you used?”
Chipman responded:
“Yes, Senator, what I said to you yesterday, you’ve accurately stated it. I think it was mixed, which, you know, I stand by that remark.”
Cruz was not the only Senator to get heated. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) also grilled Chipman over his gun-control activism. You can and should watch that full exchange here:
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Will somebody please tell the brilliant one…that AR 15s fire bird shot? At least that is what I have read.
Maybe it would be a better idea to have a penalty for anybody that tries to take away our Constitution. Like their ability to hold office or vote.
Amen. Brother. I agree 110% keep them growing young Sir. When it happens I will be right beside you in mind . Don’t know if you are one of my neighbors or not. I will fight to protect my family friends and neighbors. Hope all the rest of you that read this will do the same.. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY!!! KEE THEM GROWING AND LOADED MEN.
How about we just ban Chimp-man and the rest of the Swamp? The world would be a much safer place.
Love ya Norma.