In Washington, D.C.,… President Joe Biden’s gun control agenda has remained stalled for the most part. Regardless, he used the fourth anniversary of the Parkland, Fla., tragedy to call on Congress to do more and enact more of his gun control program. Still, 43 different gun control groups and advocates signed on to a letter urging the president to do more and they’re getting increasingly frustrated and deflated by his inaction.

In the Nation’s Capital, federal legislation impacting hunting and recreational shooting have all mostly stalled as attentions are quickly turning to the federal election midterms, only 10 months away. President Joe Biden learned that after his first year, Americans bought nearly the same number of firearms during the first years of both President Donald Trump and President Barack Obama combined. U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement after the current term finishes. There are also several federal court cases involving the firearm industry to watch, including the Mexican Government bringing suit against U.S.-based firearm manufacturers for the gun violence within their own borders, as well as the NSSF-led challenge to New York’s expansion of their “public nuisance” law to allow anyone to sue firearm manufacturers for the crimes committed by criminals in New York using stolen and trafficked firearms.

In Washington, D.C., … In the Nation’s Capital, another big win for the entire firearm and ammunition industry occurred when President Joe Biden’s nominee for Comptroller of the Currency, the nation’s top banking regulator, withdrew her nomination after it was clear she would not win the support of even all U.S. Senate Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee. NSSF strongly opposed Saule Omarova’s nomination and sent a letter to the committee after she refused to rule out another Operation Choke Point. She was opposed by at least five Senate Democrats and her withdrawal is the second high profile failure by the administration following the failure of paid gun control lobbyist David Chipman to be confirmed to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In a legislative victory, the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the U.S. Senate after gun control provisions were stripped.

In Washington, D.C., most political attention has turned to a scramble of year-end legislation centered around passing government funding and President Joe Biden’s major social spending legislative package. One hurdle to clear is the U.S. Senate passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Several amendments have been offered to the annual defense authorizaton bill that are being considered and relate to Second Amendment issues, the firearm and ammunition industries, funding for national parks and wildlife management and others. NSSF will continue monitoring these important policy proposals and keep industry partners aware as the year’s end approaches.

In Washington, D.C., most attention remains on the U.S. Senate and negotiations among senators on President Joe Biden’s “reconciliation” package. However the U.S. Senate released its remaining nine of 12 Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations Bills and they including measures to fund firearm industry priorities, including ensuring that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has the proper funding to function as Congress intended and that firearm retailers can rely on an effective system, as well as provide for increased funding on top of what was previously included in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies bill that was reported out of committee in August to combat Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). As Congressional negotiators haggle over budget reconciliation, infrastructure and funding appropriations, industry eyes are watching for final approval on these key priorities and others.

In Washington, D.C., Second Amendment supporters, outdoorsmen and women across the country and the entire firearm and ammunition industry breathed a collective sigh of relief as the White House withdrew the nomination of David Chipman to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Chipman was wholly unqualified to lead the dedicated men and women of agency. NSSF supports the confirmation of a qualified leader, just one that will uphold the charge of leading the agency that oversees the firearm industry. Attention now turns to see if President Joe Biden will nominate another gun control advocate or instead someone serious who could gain the support of senators on both sides of the aisle.

In Washington, D.C., the nomination of David Chipman by President Joe Biden to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has reached a screeching halt. Several key Democrats remain fervently non-committal, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has called for his nomination to be pulled.. The U.S. Senate and House are focusing efforts on passing, or blocking, huge budget and infrastructure packages. However even through the August district work period, several members are introducing bills to protect the Second Amendment and ability of lawful businesses to remain able to provide the right to law-abiding Americans.

While there has been little meaningful federal legislative action on firearms recently in Washington, D.C., all efforts remain focused on ensuring President Joe Biden’s nomination of David Chipman to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is defeated. This includes the first-ever TV ad from the firearm and ammunition trade association opposing Chipman’s confirmation. All 50 U.S. Senate Republicans have come out against supporting Chipman as director, but a handful of Democrats are undecided. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) have not indicated how they may vote. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, acknowledged Chipman “has a lot of issues” and faces a difficult path ahead. Industry efforts are ongoing to ensure Chipman’s nomination does not proceed and all voters in these states are encouraged tell their senators to oppose him as well.

In Washington, D.C., all firearm industry eyes are on Wednesday morning’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with President Joe Biden’s nominee, David Chipman, to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). NSSF® adamantly opposes Chipman’s nomination as someone who is entirely unqualified to hold a position of public trust. During the committee hearing, Chipman will be forced to answer questions about his paid-for gun control agenda, including having called for banning AR-15 style rifles, implementing “universal background checks” and instituting national gun registries, as well as his denigration of gun buyers. Chipman is still employed by Giffords gun control group for whom he lobbied. He was also a lobbyist for Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown gun control group and still serves as an advisor. Industry members and supporters of the Second Amendment should click here and make sure their U.S. Senators know they disapprove of Chipman’s nomination. There is additional information on federal legislation outlined below.