Turning Point USA

A recent report from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has shed light on a significant increase in the revocation of gun dealer licenses by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

In the last fiscal year, 122 gun dealers had their licenses revoked, marking a substantial rise under President Biden’s administration, compared to the administrations of both Trump and Obama. Notably, the current fiscal year has seen a staggering 350% increase in license revocations by the ATF.

Many firearm dealers are speaking out, arguing that many of the violations leading to license revocations are minor paperwork errors that are being exploited by the ATF. This has fueled concerns among firearm dealers that the agency is using these seemingly trivial infractions to curtail Second Amendment rights.

Anthony Navarro, a Colorado firearm dealer, shared his experience with the Wall Street Journal after losing his license. Navarro explained that he became aware of an employee that was mishandling purchase documents and immediately notified the ATF of this issue. Despite his cooperation, Navarro’s license was revoked.

“This policy is designed to be a backdoor violation of the Second Amendment,” explained Navarro. 

The situation has also led to legal action. A gun store located in North Dakota is pursuing a lawsuit against the ATF’s stringent inspection policies, claiming that the bureau is wielding its protocols as a “political weapon.”

In response to the mounting number of license revocations, ATF Director Steve Dettelbach stated, “We’ve taken steps to hold accountable those few dealers who are engaging in these willful violations. They’re not going to have the privilege of being a gun dealer anymore.”