The confirmation of President Joe Biden’s nominee to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), David Chipman, received another blow on Tuesday. GOP Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who has voted for some of Biden’s nominees, announced that she will not support Chipman’s controversial nomination.
"After meeting with Mr. Chipman, listening to Mainers, and reviewing his record, I have decided to vote against Mr. Chipman’s nomination to serve as the ATF Director," Collins said in a statement, per Fox News. "In recent years, Mr. Chipman has been an outspoken critic of the firearms industry and has made statements that demean law-abiding gun owners."
The senator went on to criticize Chipman as a “divisive” pick who has potential to infringe on Second Amendment rights.
"Although he has the right to express his views, I believe this history makes him an unusually divisive pick for this important position. In particular, I am concerned that his confirmation would do significant damage to the collaborative working relationship that must exist between ATF, the firearms industry, sportsmen and women, and other law-abiding gun owners exercising their Second Amendment rights,” she continued.
Chipman was challenged last month by GOP Senators on the Judiciary Committee for his anti-Second Amendment rhetoric.
Senator @TomCottonAR: "What is an 'assault weapon?'"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 26, 2021
Chipman: "...any semi-automatic rifle capable of accepting a detachable magazine above the caliber of .22, which would include the .223 which is largely the AR-15 round." pic.twitter.com/JFPAZliFLf
Senator @tedcruz presses ATF Director Nominee David Chipman to admit that he supports a ban on the AR-15, the most popular rifle in America.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 26, 2021
An AR-15 was issued to Chipman during his time on the ATF SWAT team. pic.twitter.com/iCGy8lWu5y
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), a "swing" vote for Democrats, has not yet indicated whether or not he will support Chipman's confirmation.