First appearance on Fox: House Republicans are pushing to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration later this month.
Rep. Eric Burleson (R-Missouri) announced the bill on Tuesday, and it has already been joined by Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Mike Collins (R-Ga.), and Bob Onder. Representatives (R-Missouri), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Mary Miller (R-Ill.), Keith Self (R-Texas), and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.).
Burlison argued that the ATF is an “unconstitutional agency” whose mission and goals overlap with existing state and local regulations.
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Congressman Eric Burleson is leading a bill to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. (Getty Images)
“As far as the federal government is concerned, the Constitution is clear that there are no laws restricting firearms,” he told Fox News Digital. “I don’t think it belongs at the federal level because it’s within the purview of each state.”
“But what I want to reiterate is that they don't have the human resources to enforce the laws that they enforce. So they go and help enforce the stupid new rules. We're asking all local law enforcement officials to help us get this done.”
He said supporting ATF “takes us away from our priorities of keeping our communities safe.”
Burleson said he has not spoken to anyone associated with President-elect Trump about the bill, but added, “I'm sure there are quite a few people in President Trump's world who would be open to this.”
One potential sponsor of the bill is Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, who has previously advocated for abolishing the ATF and vowed to fight for that goal in the Senate.
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Vice President-elect J.D. Vance previously advocated abolishing the ATF when running for the Senate. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
ATF establishes federal regulations regarding firearm handling and storage, gun licensing, and more. It can also help law enforcement in investigations like the recent New Orleans attack.
The modern version of the ATF was established in 1972 as a bureau under the Department of the Treasury. After gun control and explosives laws were added to ATF's jurisdiction in the 1990s, it was transferred to the Department of Justice as a law enforcement agency in 2003.
Supporters of ATF's existence include gun control advocates who argue that ATF plays an important role in combating gun violence.
But opponents like Burlison say the restrictions are unnecessary.
ATF Director Steven Dettelbach warned earlier this week that he believes ATF curbs will result in more unnecessary deaths.
“People who think that law enforcement, including the ATF, have nothing to do with combating violent crime are simply wrong. It doesn't happen by accident,” he said. New York Times.
“My fear is that people will take their eye off the ball and become complacent or political or a combination of both.”
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But the ATF has faced public backlash for its response to infamous standoffs in Ruby Ridge and Waco, Texas.
President Trump had previously promised to fire Dettelbach on his first day in office. He told an audience at a National Rifle Association event that the Biden administration's appointees are “radical gun grabbers.”
However, it is unclear whether he will abolish it completely.
FOX News Digital has reached out to President Trump and the ATF for comment.
