"Defund the ATF" - Conservatives and politicians push to get ATF defunded and dismantled for anti-gun policies and actions
By arseniotoledo // 2020-12-29
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Conservatives and other pro-Second Amendment activists in the United States are once again pushing for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – long considered to be a very anti-gun federal agency – to be defunded. This issue is being raised as pro-gun activists around the country are fearing the possibility of a Joe Biden presidency. The Democratic nominee is poised to unveil a series of very strict gun control measures should he enter the White House. Gun activists do not doubt that Biden will use the ATF as the main federal agency to enforce these policies. (Related: Biden team has already reached out to ATF with an eye towards banning 80% receivers and pistol braces already owned by MILLIONS of law-abiding Americans.) The possibility of gun confiscations and other anti-gun actions became even more apparent after the ATF raided Ohio gun manufacturing company Polymer80 on Dec. 10. The company, which manufactures unfinished frames and receivers, known colloquially as "80 percent" parts, has been accused by the ATF of selling "ghost guns" that may have been used in hundreds of criminal activities, including robbery, homicide, domestic violence and kidnapping. Ghost guns are firearms that do not have licensing serial numbers or the mark of a manufacturer. Polymer80 sells a product known as a "Buy Build Shoot" kit which includes all of the parts necessary to build a ghost gun. In a report leaked to Ammoland, the ATF said in a conference call that the agency's acting director and associate deputy director, Regina Lombardo and Marvin Richardson, have already been in contact with Biden's transition team to "get the agency's 'top priorities.'" Lombardo reportedly told those on the conference call that her main goal will be to confiscate pistol braces and 80 percent lower receivers.

"Defund the ATF" movement gaining steam

To fight the ATF, many conservatives are now adopting a slogan of the liberal left and are calling for the ATF to be defunded. Outspoken gun advocate and newly-elected member of the House of Representatives for Georgia's 14th district Marjorie Taylor Greene has been part of the new push to fight the ATF. On Dec.14, the member-elect tweeted:
"10 years ago today, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered in cold blood with a gun provided to Mexican drug cartels through Barack Obama and [former attorney general] Eric Holder's ATF 'Fast and Furious' program. The ATF is an oppressive government agency that should be defunded and eliminated!"
Greene added during an interview with alternative news outlet Washington Examiner that the ATF's actions will inevitably lead to many small businesses shutting down. This puts "good people out of work," and represents an attack on the Constitution. The member-elect then explained that, as soon as she is inaugurated as a member of the next House of Representatives, her main goal will be to "cut government, not expand it," and that the first federal agency she will try to put on the chopping block will be the ATF. Gun rights organizations have also voiced their support for the movement to defund the ATF. Erich Pratt, senior vice president of the Gun Owners of America (GOA), strongly criticized the ATF's recent move to consider outlawing AK- and AR-style pistols with arm braces under their "Objective Factors for Classifying Weapons with Stabilizing Braces" proposal. Under the proposal, they intend to classify every AR-platform pistol that features a stabilizing arm brace as an "NFA weapon," which is subject to registration and taxation. Pratt said that the ATF was "out of control," and that nobody can hold the agency – which he believes should not exist in the first place – to account for their actions. He further accused the ATF of turning "honest gun owners" into criminals. "If there were any lingering questions as to how far the ATF has gone off into the deep end, this document settles it," said Pratt, referring to the proposal to reclassify firearms with stabilizing arms. "The ATF is the embodiment of the word 'infringement,' and GOA is prepared to combat its actions at every turn. GOA will rally the grassroots to fight these regulations, and if they eventually go into effect, we will commence immediate legal action to protect gun owners." The National Rifle Association, reacting to the policies against pistol stabilizing braces and the raid on Polymer80, said that they have no doubt the agency has already signaled their willingness to work with Biden and Kamala Harris to "squeeze gun owners more." "Gun owners know elections have consequences," they wrote on their social media accounts. "This is why we must all fight to protect the pro-gun Senate majority in the run-off races in Georgia." Learn more about the attacks being made against the Second Amendment by reading the latest articles at SecondAmendment.news. Sources include: WashingtonExaminer.com RGJ.com WorldTribune.com
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