By Lee Williams
SAF Investigative Journalism Project
Representatives Eric Burlison (R-MO-07) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO-04) on Tuesday introduced H.R. 221, a bill that is simple and succinct: “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is hereby abolished.”
“The ATF is emblematic of the deep-state bureaucracy that believes it can infringe on constitutional liberties without consequence,” Rep. Burlison said in a press release. “If this agency cannot uphold its duty to serve the people within the framework of the Constitution, it has no place in our government.”
Cosponsor Congresswoman Boebert agrees.
“I cannot imagine under any circumstance or administration where the ATF serves as an ally to the Second Amendment and law-abiding firearm owners across America. As co-chair of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus, I’m eager to continue this effort with Rep. Burlison to defend our constitutional rights. The ATF should be abolished before they eventually abolish our Second Amendment,” Rep. Boebert said in the release.
Burlison was not available for an interview Wednesday.
The bill was cosponsored by seven Republican representatives, Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Mike Collins (R-GA-10), Bob Onder (R-MO-03), Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Mary Miller (R-IL-15), Keith Self (R-TX-03), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09).
In addition to getting rid of the ATF, the press release says Rep. Burlison is preparing legislation to repeal the 1934 National Firearms Act, or NFA, which he said, “unjustly taxes, registers, and restricts American gun owners.”
Burlison has a strong history of supporting the Second Amendment that includes championing Stand Your Ground laws, Constitutional Carry and Missouri’s Second Amendment Preservation Act, which prohibits state cooperation with federal gun control measures. He has represented Missouri’s 7th Congressional District since he was first elected to Congress in 2022.
Originally, Florida’s former Republican representative, Matt Gaetz, filed the ATF bill last year, and Burlison was the bill’s first cosponsor – a role now taken by Boebert.
“The more people who discuss it, the more people realize that the ATF is not necessary,” Burlison told a local radio host Wednesday.
The congressman described ATF’s law enforcement role as “duplicative,” pointing out there is a lot of overlap with both federal and state agencies regarding firearm laws.
“Your local sheriff and police are basically being bribed by ATF to enforce their stupid, unconstitutional gun laws, things like pistol braces and bump stocks,” Burlison told the radio host. “ATF has a long history of botching things and making complete and utter fools of the federal government.”
During the interview, Burlison recounted ATF’s long bloody history – the lives lost during Ruby Ridge, the siege at Waco, Fast and Furious, which armed Mexican drug cartels, and ATF’s recent killing of Brian Malinowski.
“It’s a disaster agency. We don’t need them. They’re not really protecting us. They’re making us criminals for things that are really dumb,” Burlison said. “I think if we eliminated this agency no one would notice.”
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