Biden ATF Director Supports "Assault Weapons"
Ban, (Still) Can't Explain What that Means

By NRA-ILA, May 1, 2023

Steven Dettelbach – Joe Biden’s appointment to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – recently appeared twice on Capitol Hill to argue in favor of that agency’s funding and to answer questions about its priorities and activities. During those appearances he repeatedly underscored he is not a firearms expert and could not himself define what an “assault weapon” is. These were remarkable admissions from a man whose job is to oversee an agency that enforces highly technical federal firearm laws. A reasonable person might ask how Dettelbach can possibly be qualified to direct ATF or whether he occupies that post solely as a compliant puppet to execute the White House’s political orders.

The enforcement of federal firearms laws requires a complex understanding of how abstract legal rules apply to concrete technology. Any official tasked with enforcing federal firearm laws should – in addition to a working knowledge of the relevant statutes and regulations – have at least basic competency in using guns, experience with firearm commerce, and some familiarity with what is colloquially known as “gun culture.”

Dettelbach has admitted that he possesses none of these skills or experience. Indeed, it was established during his confirmation proceedings for ATF director that he has never owned a gun, has never been issued a gun in a professional capacity, and was unsure if he had even shot a gun within the five years preceding his nomination. Not only could Dettelbach not define “assault weapon,” he was unable to explain how it had been defined under the previous federal ban in effect from 1994 to 2004. .....