WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis and six of his Republican Senate colleagues recently sent a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Director Steve Dettelbach, calling on him to suspend and refrain from issuing any further rulemaking and support the incoming Trump Administration. 

“We write to strongly encourage the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to firmly commit to and focus on preparing for the transition to the incoming Administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump. The incoming Administration, including our next Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and ATF Director, must have the opportunity and ability to set ATF’s priorities and future direction. ATF’s ability to achieve its statutory mission of combatting violent crime depends on a smooth and effective transition,” the senators wrote.  

“Toward that end, we recommend and urge that ATF suspend and refrain from issuing any further rulemaking, ATF Rulings, open letters to the industry or other publications or reports (including academic research reports) except reports generated in direct support of specific criminal investigations, from making formal recommendations to Congress, launching any new regulatory initiatives or changing any policies, or reorganizing the organizational structure of ATF. Any new policy initiatives undertaken at this late stage will only create instability and detract from the transition and ATF’s focus on its primary mission,” the senators continued. 

“This recommendation should not be interpreted to suggest ATF not continue to provide ordinary regulatory support to the industry, such as issuing federal firearm or explosives licenses, import permits, or National Firearms Act forms. During this transition period it remains imperative ATF remain focused on its primary mission of combatting violent crime, which we know it will,” the senators concluded. 

Text of the full letter is available HERE.