Biden Chooses to Rinse and Repeat with New ATF Nominee

[Elderberry]

NRA-ILA 4/11/2022

https://www.nraila.org/articles/20220411/biden-chooses-to-rinse-and-repeat-with-new-atf-nominee

Today, the Biden Administration announced the nomination of Steven Dettelbach as the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), subject to Senate confirmation. With Dettelbach’s nomination, President Biden has chosen to double-down on his attempt to put a gun control advocate in charge of the agency responsible for regulating America’s firearms industry.

David Chipman, Biden’s first nominee to head the ATF, failed to achieve enough support in the Senate to be confirmed. After a long campaign by the NRA that featured TV and digital ads, millions of text messages and pieces of mail, town halls in critical states, and an intense lobbying campaign, the Biden Administration withdrew Chipman’s nomination.

Like Chipman, Dettelbach is a dedicated gun controller with a background that proves he would be neither fair nor objective as head of ATF. When running for Ohio Attorney General in 2018, Dettelbach endorsed gun bans, restrictions on lawful firearm transfers, and further expansion of prohibitions on who can lawfully possess a firearm. In short, it’s unclear what gun control measures Dettelbach doesn’t support.

This led NRA-PVF to award Dettelbach an “F” for his positions on the right to keep and bear arms. Notably, Michael Bloomberg’s astroturf gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety (David Chipman’s former employer) endorsed Dettelbach in his bid to become Ohio’s Attorney General.

Ohio voters wisely rejected Dettelbach and his gun control promises in 2018. But, Dettelbach’s unpopular views on the Second Amendment put him in line with the most anti-gun presidential administration in American history.

It will once again be up to gun owners to make clear that a failed anti-gun politician has no more place at the head of the ATF than a failed anti-gun lobbyist. Please contact your U.S. Senators using the link below, and respectfully encourage them to oppose Dettelbach’s nomination.

[mountaineer]

Exclusive: ATF Acting Director Demoted, Replaced
    Stephen Gutowski
    April 20, 2022
    6:55 am

The ATF is undergoing a major shakeup.

Acting Director Marvin Richardson is being demoted, and US Attorney Gary Restaino will take over his position, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the move. The reshuffling was announced by Richardson on a conference call Monday, which left many ATF officials surprised and dismayed. The ATF is expected to announce the move in the coming days.

“The news that he was being replaced came as a shock to most of us within the agency,” one ATF official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told The Reload.

Richardson is an African-American career ATF official who has spent more than 30 years with the agency. His demotion means he has not only been passed over twice for nomination to become the permanent director but is now being shuffled out of the acting director position mere months before a permanent director may be confirmed. The move follows a recent New York Times article featuring complaints from gun-control activists which labeled Richardson “an industry-friendly subordinate pumping the brakes” on President Biden’s aggressive gun-control initiatives. It risks creating a backlash that could jeopardize the President’s second attempt to install a permanent head for the agency.

Refusing to consider an accomplished Black agent like Richardson for the permanent position may lead to further controversy around Biden’s nomination of Steve Dettelbach. ...  The Reload

[Wingnut]

I think Mr. Richardson has a good case to sue. 

[Kamaji]

Racism, pure and simple, from the political party that continues to maintain racism in the US.

[mountaineer]

Racism, pure and simple, from the political party that continues to maintain racism in the US.

Black ATF Agents Speak Out After Biden Demotes Acting Director
    Stephen Gutowski
    April 25, 2022
    2:09 pm

The backlash against President Joe Biden’s shakeup of ATF leadership is growing.

The Black Agents and Professionals Law Enforcement Association (BAPLEA) voiced its continuing support of recently-demoted ATF Acting Director Marvin Richardson on Monday. The group, which works with the ATF to support Black agents, said Richardson deserves to be ATF director. They said the 33-year ATF veteran, who is Black, has provided effective leadership to the agency and become widely admired by staff.

“The men and women of ATF have been fortunate to have Marvin (as he is affectionately known) as its Acting Director,” Constance Hester-Davis, BAPLEA President, said in a letter obtained by The Reload. “He is a career employee and servant leader who has put the needs of the agency and country first and foremost. BAPLEA commends Acting Director Marvin Richardson for his exemplary leadership to ATF and his extensive service to the United States of America.”

The ATF declined to comment on the statement. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

The statement of support comes shortly after the nation’s largest group for Black gun owners criticized Richardson’s demotion.  ...  More at The Reload

[verga]

Does Biden hate him because he is "reasonable" on guns, or because he is black? Asking for a friend.

[Wingnut]

Bidens new ploy to win back the black vote:  "You ain't black if you demote me."