A House Republican is introducing legislation to abolish the beleaguered
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives amid a contentious
debate over the agency's proposed
ban on a bullet used in AR-15 rifles.
Wisconsin Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, a senior Republican on the House
Judiciary Committee, said the policies under ATF's jurisdiction could be
easily incorporated into other agencies,
The Hill reports.
And, he adds, the agency has been caught up in too many controversies in
recent years, including the botched "Fast and Furious" gun-tracking
operation.
"The ATF is a scandal-ridden, largely duplicative agency that lacks a
clear mission," the lawmaker said, according to The Hill. "Its
'Framework' is an affront to the Second Amendment and yet another reason
why Congress should pass the ATF Elimination Act."
The agency has come under fire recently for its proposed ban on some
types of 5.56 mm rounds used in widely available and popular AR-15-style
rifles because the bullets can also be used in some new types of
handguns.
Republicans also have complained \hunters frequently use the bullets, The Hill notes.
But the bureau says it initiated the regulation to help protect law
enforcement officers from bullets that can pierce armored vests – a
contention that has been
shot down by the leader of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Sensenbrenner's bill would transfer the ATF's functions related to guns,
explosives and violent crime to the FBI; responsibilities regarding
alcohol and tobacco laws would fall under the Drug Enforcement
Administration's jurisdiction, The Hill reports.
The ATF director would have 180 days, or about six months, to submit a plan to Congress on how to wind down the agency.
Michigan Rep. John Conyers, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, previously introduced a
bill in 1993 to turn over the ATF's duties to other parts of the Justice Department.
Meanwhile, 239 members of the House have now signed a letter opposing the bullet ban,
Fox News reports.
“This attack on the Second Amendment is wrong and should be overturned,”
Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte, who started the petition, told
Fox News. "A clear, sizable majority of the House agree."
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