Rep. Rosendale Pushes Impeachment Resolution Against ATF Nominee David Chipman

Today (Monday, July 26), Representative Rosendale announced that if David H. Chipman is confirmed as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), he will introduce articles of impeachment against Mr. Chipman for high crimes and misdemeanors based on the grounds found in two distinct articles.

The first article is based on Mr. Chipman’s failure to support and defend the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. The Second Amendment clearly states that Americans have a right to keep and bear arms. During his career, Mr. Chipman lobbied for a gun-control advocacy group where he advised and trained other groups which are supportive of suppressing and erasing the Second Amendment. In his current role as a senior policy advisor, Mr. Chipman filed an amicus brief asserting that the Second Amendment does not protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms. Thankfully, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of protecting the Second Amendment.

The second article is based on Mr. Chipman making false statements to Congress. Following his nomination, in sworn written responses, Mr. Chipman falsely answered “No” to questions of whether he ever misplaced or had a firearm stolen. Mr. Chipman’s former colleagues recounted a specific instance differently when his service weapon was stolen out of his personal car by a handyman. Due to these concerning and credible accounts, the evidence is clear: Mr. Chipman is not fit to assume the role of Director of the ATF.

“Mr. Chipman is a political hack who has clearly shown that he is not committed to protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States of America,” Representative Rosendale said. “With Mr. Chipman’s nomination to head the ATF, the Biden administration reveals its dangerous and active efforts to suppress Americans’ Second Amendment Rights by barring law-abiding citizens from their right to own a firearm and their right to self-defense. Mr. Chipman is unfit to assume this role, and I will do everything I can to ensure that the federal government will not and cannot erase the Second Amendment.”

“Chipman is unfit to serve, with a public history of corruption and lying. If confirmed he will fail to uphold the Constitutional right to bear arms. President Biden has nominated a RADICAL anti-gun activist to lead the agency in charge of enforcing gun laws. This is an attack on law-abiding gun owners and the Second Amendment right of all Americans,” said Representative Mary Miller (IL-15).

“Under Joe Biden, the Second Amendment is under assault. ATF nominee David Chipman wants to steal guns from law-abiding owners and redefine what the meaning of a pistol is. Gun owners cannot trust him to lead the ATF. If he is confirmed in the Senate, the House has no choice but to impeach him,” concluded Representative Paul Gosar (AZ-04).

“David Chipman is a gun-grabbing zealot who poses a direct threat to our 2nd Amendment liberties. A vote to confirm him in the Senate is a vote to undermine the constitutional protection of our freedoms provided in the Bill of Rights. Millions of law-abiding American gun owners, who Chipman has already expressed disdain for, must not be subjected to his and the Biden Administration’s attempts to deprive them of their fundamental God-given rights to self-defense,” said Representative Bob Good (VA-05).

This measure was also praised by two second amendment groups who released the below statements.

"David Chipman has been on the leading edge of ATF scandals for decades, all the way back to Waco – and now he shills for gun confiscation with Gun Control, Inc. Chipman has embraced every harebrained gun control scheme proposed, making him the perfect candidate to lead a bureau hell-bent on disarming America. David Chipman’s nomination should never see the light of day on the Senate floor, and we commend Rep. Rosendale for his effort to make sure that any ounce of power Chipman receives will be short-lived.” - Hunter King, Director of Federal Affairs, National Association For Gun Rights

“David Chipman is too radical to lead an agency that should not exist in the first place. The tyrannical gun control advocated by Chipman is a violation of the constitutionally-protected rights of the American people.

“As an adversary to the rights of the people which are necessary to the security of our free state, David Chipman has indeed ‘demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution of the United States and the rule of law’ should he be enthroned at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

“These articles of impeachment will provide a firm defense of the right to keep and bear arms, should Senators willingly overlook David Chipman’s anti-constitutional activism and un-investigated allegations of racism and incompetence.” - Aidan Johnston, Director of Federal Affairs, Gun Owners of America