Obama Picks Chicago Anti-Gun Guy to Head ATF

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Robert Farago

President Obama has announced his pick to head the long-headless Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (and Really Big Fires): Andrew Traver. What took the President so long? Taver was tipped for the post back in August. At the time, TTAG exposed Traver’s anti-gun credentials, which include an avowed aversion to assault rifles and membership in the anti-gun rights group known as the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Why Obama would pick Traver now, with an ascendent pro-gun Tea Party spoiling for a fight, is anybody’s guess. But a fight he’ll have, as the ATF’s jefeposition requires Senate confirmation. The appointment is also a gift for the NRA, GOA and other gun rights groups; they haven’t had a proper gun-grabbing adversary since that anti-assault weapons guy Clinton. Look for commentator jadegold’s “gunloons” to sound the alarm in three, two, one . . . Meanwhile, another smoking gun . . .

Traver’s work with the IACP included signing off on a report prepared by the pro-gun control group The Joyce Foundation: Taking a Stand: Reducing Gun Violence in Our Communities. Click here for the press release. Traver’s name is in the sidebar on the right, as one of the members of the “advisory group.” The most blatantly anti-gun bullet points:

11. State and local governments should regulate and/or limit the sale of multiple handguns as a measure to reduce gun trafficking.

16. Federal, state, local, and tribal governments should enact laws prohibiting persons with misdemeanor convictions involving violence, qualifying mental health adjudications and commitments, or a history of domestic violence and/or drug abuse from purchasing, possessing, and transporting any guns or ammunition. These laws should be consistently and vigorously enforced.

And just in case Traver wants to walk away from the study one, I wonder what this is doing in there . . .

22. The federal government should increase funding to ATF for personnel and technical assistance to combat gun violence.

Oh, and I almost forgot these recommendations

Reduce the lethality of firearms as well as their availability to criminals:

32. Congress should enact legislation to allow federal health and safety oversight of the firearms industry.

33. Congress should enact an effective ban on military-style assault weapons.

34. Congress should enact an effective ban on .50-caliber sniper rifles.

35. Congress should enact an effective ban on armor-piercing handgun ammunition.

http://thetruthaboutguns.com/2010/11/robert-farago/obama-picks-chicago-anti-gun-guy-to-head-atf/