Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Chipman Just Cannot Help Proving Himself the Villain

Monday, November 8, 2021

Chipman Just Cannot Help Proving Himself the Villain

It seems like we will continue writing pieces on David Chipman—Joe Biden’s failed nominee to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)—on a regular basis. Not because we like to gloat (although that can be fun), but because Chipman keeps making public statements that further emphasize he was always supremely unqualified for the position as the nation’s top regulator of the firearms industry and most federal gun laws.

His media appearances have shown that he has both an extremely delicate, and shockingly overinflated, ego. He has also shown that he was likely to run the ATF as nothing more than an attack-dog for anti-gun extremists.

In early October, we reported that Chipman was so upset his nomination was rejected that he blamed Biden—the man who nominated him—for his personal failure. That bruised ego also led him to cast some blame on US Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine who caucuses with the Democrats, and whose stated opposition to the nomination led to it being pulled. Chipman told the New York Times how he felt after leaving a meeting with King.

“I left his office thinking, ‘Does he really believe that people who regulate industries can only get those jobs if they’re friends with the industry?’” Chipman said. “He said the quiet part out loud.”

As we said in early October, nobody insists that a nominee to head the ATF, or any other federal regulatory agency, be “friends with the industry.” What we do expect, however, is someone who does not consider law-abiding gun owners and firearm manufacturers to be adversaries, as Chipman clearly does.

In fact, it is Chipman, not King, who keeps saying that “quiet part out loud.”

In a recent interview with CBS News, Chipman referred to his apparent issue with gun manufacturers, saying, “The problem is the gun industry profits by gun violence itself….” He also referred to firearms dealers as “profiting from selling (guns) to criminals and terrorists.”

The idea that he seems to hold everyone in the firearms industry in such low regard, and he is apparently convinced (falsely, of course) that they are willing participants in the criminal misuse of firearms, is a rather clear indication the man was not fit to head ATF. How could the industry have possibly expected fair treatment?

Chipman also told CBS, in perhaps the most shocking case of hubris from Chipman to date, “To oppose me must mean that you’re not for preventing gun violence.”

No, David, opposition to your nomination was based, in part, on the fact that you have shown nothing but animosity towards law-abiding gun manufacturers, gun dealers, and gun owners. And you continue to do so.

He was also opposed because of his penchant for parroting anti-gun extremist talking points to promote an anti-gun agenda; for which he was paid handsomely (we presume). In fact, the CBS interview continued this tactic, when Chipman made the absurd claim, “The reality is in much of America it’s easier to buy a gun than a beer.”

While we don’t claim to be experts on the laws governing the sale of alcohol in America, we are not aware of a single law that requires someone who wishes to purchase beer to undergo a background check before doing so, or any laws that prohibit someone from purchasing alcohol because of a past criminal offense. If such laws exist, we imagine they are extremely rare.

We also do not keep records of the number of bars, restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, or any other places where one may purchase beer. We will, however, wager that there are far more of them in the country than there are licensed gun dealers.

Granted, there may still be a few “dry counties” with old blue laws on the books that prohibit the sale of alcohol, but we will again wager that, unless someone is an anti-gun extremist like Chipman looking to make a false comparison, the average American would not refer to those counties as “much of America.”

Perhaps this just further proves that Chipman is disqualified to head ATF; not only because of his obvious distaste for law-abiding gun makers, gun sellers, and gun owners, but also because he doesn’t actually know what our nation’s gun laws entail.

The true reality is that Chipman is simply using a new version of an old anti-gun gimmick; claim that acquiring a gun is “easier” than acquiring some other random, but common, item.

Former President Barack Obama tried the gimmick in 2015, when he claimed “you can go on into some neighborhoods, and it’s easier for you to buy a firearm than it is for you to buy a book, there are neighborhoods where it’s easier for you to buy a handgun and clips than it is for you to buy a fresh vegetable.” He repeated a variant of the claim even after the Washington Post’s fact checker determined that the statement was a three-Pinocchio rated falsehood. Not only was the president “playing fast and loose with his language,” the fact checker ruled that the statement was “just a very strange comment that appears to have no statistical basis… As far as we know, there are no areas in the United States where background checks are needed to buy vegetables.”

Then came New York Attorney General Letitia James, who tried the same trick recently, but this time using apples for the false comparison.

Sadly, in spite of Chipman’s overinflated sense of importance, he isn’t even able to come up with an original approach to pushing gun control lies. Unless, of course, you count the bizarre zombie reference he once made.

Seriously, we hope this will be the last piece we have to write about Chipman, but we wont count on it. The man clearly craves attention, and has no sense of how foolish and petulant he looks every time he speaks out about his failure to become head of ATF. He was the architect of his own demise, but seems committed to adding new wings to a house that was destined to collapse before ground was ever broken.

IN THIS ARTICLE
David Chipman
TRENDING NOW
Federal District Court Strikes Down IL’s “Assault Weapon” and “Large-Capacity Magazine” Bans in NRA-Supported Case

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Federal District Court Strikes Down IL’s “Assault Weapon” and “Large-Capacity Magazine” Bans in NRA-Supported Case

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois struck down provisions of the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA) that prohibit “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines” in an NRA-supported case, Barnett v. Raoul.

Kamala for Gun Confiscation: In Her Own Words

News  

Monday, September 16, 2024

Kamala for Gun Confiscation: In Her Own Words

During the September 10 presidential debate, President Donald Trump correctly highlighted Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s support for gun confiscation. A visibly defensive Harris claimed, “We're not taking anybody's guns away. So stop with the ...

As-Applied Challenge to Illinois Ban on Licensees’ Carrying on Public Transit Succeeds; Court Rejects “Breathtaking, Jawdropping, and Eyepopping” Arguments

News  

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

As-Applied Challenge to Illinois Ban on Licensees’ Carrying on Public Transit Succeeds; Court Rejects “Breathtaking, Jawdropping, and Eyepopping” Arguments

Long before the United States Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n, Inc. v. Bruen (2022), a federal appellate court relied on the right to bear arms for self-defense to invalidate an Illinois law that ...

Michigan: House of Representatives to Take Important Vote on Anti-Gun Bills

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Michigan: House of Representatives to Take Important Vote on Anti-Gun Bills

Tomorrow, the Michigan House of Representatives is expected to vote on two packages of anti-gun bills. Use the take action button below to contact your Representative and urge them to oppose these anti-gun bills!  

NRA Files Official Protest to Bears Ears Shooting Closure

News  

Monday, November 4, 2024

NRA Files Official Protest to Bears Ears Shooting Closure

On Friday, NRA-ILA and other sportsmen’s groups filed a formal protest against the Biden-Harris administration’s plan to close recreational shooting access to 1.3 million acres in the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah.

Michigan: Senate Committee to Vote on Expanding Gun-Free Zones

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Michigan: Senate Committee to Vote on Expanding Gun-Free Zones

Tomorrow, the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety will take up SB 857 and SB 858. These bills would dramatically expand “gun-free zones” in the state and drastically limit where those with a concealed pistol ...

Kamala Harris’s 2020 Running Mate Calls Trump Supporters “Garbage”

News  

Monday, November 4, 2024

Kamala Harris’s 2020 Running Mate Calls Trump Supporters “Garbage”

America hasn’t heard much from Joe Biden recently. You remember … Joe Biden?

Kamala Harris’ Record on Gun Control and Second Amendment

News  

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Kamala Harris’ Record on Gun Control and Second Amendment

Vice President Kamala Harris has consistently campaigned for draconian gun control laws, which severely limit the rights of lawful gun owners.

California: Governor Newsom Signs Multiple Anti-Gun Bills into Law

Friday, September 27, 2024

California: Governor Newsom Signs Multiple Anti-Gun Bills into Law

On September 24th, Governor Newsom continued his crusade to erode Second Amendment rights in California by signing several anti-gun bills into law. NRA actively opposed these bills throughout the session and will continue to fight ...

NRA Scores Legal Victory Against ATF; “Pistol Brace Rule” Enjoined From Going Into Effect Against NRA Members

Monday, April 1, 2024

NRA Scores Legal Victory Against ATF; “Pistol Brace Rule” Enjoined From Going Into Effect Against NRA Members

NRA Members Among the Largest Class Protected from Draconian Rule

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.