GIFFORDS responds as Kash Patel quietly tapped to lead ATF

WASHINGTON — Today, GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement after President Donald Trump quietly installed FBI Director Kash Patel as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Without a public announcement, the Trump administration updated ATF’s “leadership” webpage on Monday afternoon to feature Patel, first reported by Patel’s close friends at the fringe Gun Owners of America.

“Kash Patel has no experience fighting crime, preventing mass shootings or stopping domestic terrorism. As the only federal law enforcement agency whose sole mission is to fight violent crime, the ATF requires serious leadership. That’s not Kash Patel,” said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown. 

“Kash Patel talks tough on crime, but he will let the gun lobby walk all over him. He didn’t get this job because he’s the most qualified, he got it because gun industry CEOs know he won’t lift a finger to rein in gun violence,” Brown added. “American communities will pay the price.”