The United States Senate has confirmed President Biden’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) nominee, Steven Dettelbach.
The chamber advanced Dettelbach’s nomination earlier today, despite several Democrats being absent from voting. Republicans Rob Portman of Ohio and Susan Collins of Maine sided with Democrats on that vote.
Portman and Collins joined Senate Democrats this afternoon to make Dettelbach the first confirmed ATF director in seven years.
BREAKING: At the urging of our volunteers and other gun safety advocates, the Senate confirmed Steve Dettelbach as director of @ATFHQ! With decades of experience as a prosecutor, Dettelbach will be ready to provide effective enforcement of our gun laws from day one. pic.twitter.com/mQluhEYHen
— Moms Demand Action (@MomsDemand) July 12, 2022
During his confirmation hearings earlier this year, Dettelbach pledged to only work within a scope set by Congress.
Dettelbach vote is happening soon.
We are running out of time to STOP Dettelbach's nomination.
Make your voice heard at https://t.co/Y4xTrNYyCW pic.twitter.com/Fyu6uRi8XG
— Firearms Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy) July 12, 2022
Since those hearings, Congress passed radical anti-gun legislation, which was signed into law by President Biden last month.
The recently passed legislation greatly expands the ATF’s scope of influence, something that Dettelbach will undoubtedly take advantage of. The legislation requires more gun sellers to register as federally licensed firearms dealers and also expands background checks, specifically on would-be purchasers between the age of 18 and 21.
The ATF is the government body that issues Federal Firearms Licenses, giving Dettelbach oversight of this process.
This article originally appeared in American Liberty News. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of The Republican Standard. Republished with permission.