The ATF, charged with regulating firearms, has a history of abuse and incompetence.
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ByappointingFBIDirectorKashPatelasactingheadoftheBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,Firearms,andExplosives(ATF),PresidentDonaldTrumptookasteptowardsreininginafederalagencyjustifiablyviewedbymanyasathreattoself-defenserights.Healsosignaledthathemayconsolidategovernmentbodiesthatoverlapintheirresponsibilities.Fansofbiggovernmentandopponentsofprivatelyownedfirearmswon’tlikethemove,buttheideaofcombiningtheagenciesishardlyunprecedented.Afterall,PresidentBillClintonhadthesameideathreedecadesago.
PatelWearsTwoHats“ATFwelcomesActingDirectorKashPateltoATF,whowassworninandhadhisfirstvisittoATFHeadquartersinWashington,D.C.today,”theATFpostedonXonFebruary24.“WeareenthusiastictoworktogetherforasaferAmerica!”
PateltakesoverfromStevenDettelbach,whoresignedjustbeforeTrumptookoffice.DettelbachpresidedoveranATFseenasevenmorehostiletogunownersthanhashistoricallybeenthecase.
TheannouncementofPatel’snewro
