Hardline conservatives Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Eric Burlison, R-Mo., have introduced legislation that would abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The one-page bill would abolish the law enforcement agency that regulates firearms and prosecutes federal gun crimes, in addition to crimes involving explosives, arson, bombings, acts of terrorism and illegal activities involving alcohol and tobacco products.
In statements, Republican lawmakers claim that the ATF’s regulations are in violation Second Amendment the rights of Americans to keep and bear arms.
ABOLISH ATF?: REP. BURLISON WANTS TO ELIMINATE ‘DISASTER AGENCY’ HE SAYS VIOLATED 2ND AMENDMENT
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., introduced legislation along with Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., to repeal the ATF. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“I can’t imagine under any circumstances or administration where the ATF would serve as an ally to the Second Amendment and law-abiding firearms owners across America,” Boebert said.
“The ATF is emblematic of a deep state bureaucracy that believes it can violate constitutional freedoms with impunity,” Burlison added. “If this agency cannot fulfill its duty to serve the people under the Constitution, it has no place in our government.”
CONGRESSMAN ERIC BURLISON: IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ‘THE PRISONERS RUN THE PRISON’
Rep. Eric Burlison is spearheading a bill to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. (Getty Images)
The bill on the abolition of the ATF has seven co-sponsors House of Representativesincluding Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Mike Collins, R-Ga., Bob Onder, R-Mo., Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., Mary Miller, R-Illion, Keith Self, R-Texas, and Paul Gosar , R-Ariz.
The ATF did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
ATF seal. (Ted Soqui/Corbis via Getty Images)
In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, Burlison argued that law enforcement responsibilities administered by the ATF would be better left to the states.
“There are very few ATF officials,” he said, accusing the agency of “co-opting or commanding [local] law enforcement for law enforcement” that state legislators have not adopted.
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In a statement to Fox News Digital, ATF spokeswoman Kristina Mastropasqua said, “ATF provides tremendous benefits to the American public through all of its efforts to fight violent crime every day.”
Burlison also said Institute for Education and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should be abolished.
Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
