[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 134 (Friday, July 30, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of David H. Chipman

  Mr. President, now on one final matter, the President has made an 
inexplicable choice in nominating David Chipman to head the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This nominee has a long 
track record of open hostility to law-abiding Americans' Second 
Amendment rights. He is a loud, proud, would-be gun-grabber who has 
made it a personal mission to erode the Bill of Rights for the citizens 
of this country.
  This is an especially awful time to be taking aim at Americans' right 
to keep and bear arms. Remember, as the political left has sought to 
vilify and defund the police across our country, homicides have, of 
course, surged. Last year's spike in the national murder rate was the 
steepest since, believe it or not, 1960.
  So, as Democrats have made political war on the police, many citizens 
have started to think about self-protection. We have seen members of 
racial minority groups joining the parade of first-time gun owners in 
record numbers. But then Democrats don't like that either. Apparently, 
the left neither wants strong police forces, nor do they want Americans 
equipped for self-defense.
  This nominee is unsuited enough for this job on policy merits, but 
somehow all this is just the tip of the iceberg of the concerns.
  Mr. Chipman also comes with a distressing workplace reputation. 
Current and former ATF agents, once his colleagues, have described him 
as an ``activist'' and a ``bully.'' Those are direct quotes. By one 
account, his policy views are ``extreme'' and his demeanor unsettling. 
I understand that just this week, even graver concerns have surfaced. 
According to one report, multiple ATF sources say there exists an 
internal complaint over racially insensitive comments allegedly made by 
the nominee in the workplace.
  I don't expect that a Democratic President would pick somebody to run 
the ATF who will have our side of the aisle popping corks, but this is 
another level altogether.
  Anyone who supports the Bill of Rights should oppose this nomination. 
There is no way this nominee is the best the Biden administration can 
do.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.