(LibertySociety.com) – Representative Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, along with Representative Thomas Massie, R-Ky., authored a letter to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), demanding testimony from Steven Dettelbach, the director of the agency. The House Judiciary Committee lawmakers have been collecting documents and records which were requested from the agency, prompting them to call for their testimony in Congress. Transcribed interviews were also requested from several officials within the ATF, including from the chief of staff, acting director of public and government affairs, and the deputy assistant director.
According to Fox News, the Congressmen are particularly interested in the “agency’s efforts to regulate firearms through the rulemaking process,” which is not allowed without congressional authorization, in addition to concerns about the lack of transparency from the agency. Reps. Jordan and Massie are armed with a clear ruling from the Supreme Court in 2022. This particular ruling was against the Environmental Protection Agency, but set a precedent for all government agencies.
One of the rules that is under scrutiny by Republicans is the banning of pistol braces, which Representative Thomas Massie has voiced his strong opposition of on multiple occasions, most notably in his utter destruction of Representative David Cicilline, D-RI, when he attempted to equate a stabilization brace with a bump stock. Rep. Massie clarified that these braces are used by many disabled veterans to assist them when firing their pistols and impeding them from exercising their 2nd amendment right is unconstitutional. The letter to the ATF from the Congressmen also calls out the agency for reversing a multitude of ATF opinions about these braces, seeking their reasoning for doing so.
The Congressmen are also seeking information about the decision of the agency to apply a zero-tolerance policy when revoking the licenses of gun store owners, which they say is being abused by the ATF. The lawmakers have requested testimony on April 26th, 2023, before the Judiciary Committee.
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