Video Highlights
- Representatives Matt Gates and Marjorie Taylor Green plan to send a measure to the House Appropriations panel to defund the salary of ATF director Stephen Dettelback.
- The move is part of an effort to constrain resources that would otherwise be used to harm gun owners and put businesses out of operation.
- They aim to use the Holmen rule, which allows amendments to spending bills to reduce or eliminate funding for programs already authorized by Congress or to reduce or eliminate salaries of individual federal employees.
- This may be a long shot, but it could be an attempt to get the attention of the ATF and prompt them to change their actions.
Video Summary
Representatives Matt Gates and Marjorie Taylor Green have announced their intention to send a measure to the House Appropriations panel that would defund the salary of ATF director Stephen Dettelback. This move comes as part of an effort to constrain resources that would otherwise be used to harm gun owners and put businesses out of operation.
Gates and Taylor Green plan to use the Holmen rule to negotiate the ATF director's salary. The Holmen rule, which allows amendments to spending bills, can be used to reduce or eliminate funding for programs already authorized by Congress or to reduce or eliminate the salaries of individual federal employees.
The Holmen rule was reinstated as part of the freedom caucus's demands on Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Gates and Taylor Green are members of the freedom caucus, suggesting that this may have been part of the plan all along.
However, it is important to note that this attempt to defund the ATF director's salary is likely a long shot at best. It may simply be an attempt to send a message to the ATF and get them to change their actions. Whether or not this measure will be successful remains to be seen.
In the field hearing where Gates and Taylor Green made the announcement, witnesses spoke about the ATF's habitual line stepping and infringement on the rights of gun owners. Brandon Herrera, one of the witnesses, delivered a strong testimony on the matter.
It is unclear at this point how the House Appropriations panel will respond to the measure. The outcome will depend on various factors, including the support of other members of Congress and the overall political climate surrounding the issue.
In the meantime, gun owners and supporters of the Second Amendment are encouraged to stay informed and engaged. The United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) is one organization that offers education and training for responsible gun owners. By becoming a member of the USCCA, individuals can access training both in-person and online.
Overall, the attempt to defund the ATF director's salary is a significant development in the ongoing debate over gun rights and regulation. It remains to be seen how this measure will progress and what impact it will have on the actions of the ATF in the future.
