The Giffords gun control group, led by former Rep. Gabby Giffords, suggested Tuesday that the Palisades fire, which has claimed at least eight lives, should compel Republican lawmakers to abandon their efforts to defund or dismantle the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
This call to action came in response to a photo shared by ABC7 reporter Chris Christi. In reaction to the photo, Giffords’ group stated, “As the ATF investigates the Palisades fire, which has killed at least eight people so far, House Republicans are doing everything in their power to defund and dismantle the ATF.” They added, “The GOP must stop putting politics above public safety.”
While Giffords emphasized the ATF’s investigative role in the fire, the group omitted mentioning the agency’s increasingly controversial actions during the Biden administration under ATF Director Steven Dettelbach.
The ATF has faced criticism for bypassing Congress to implement gun control measures through regulatory actions. These include redefining unfinished lower receivers as firearms, thereby requiring background checks for their purchase, and expanding background checks beyond what Congress has authorized.
One of the most contentious measures involved reclassifying AR-pistols equipped with stabilizer braces as short-barreled rifles (SBRs). This change places the firearms under the National Firearms Act, subjecting owners to registration and tax requirements akin to those for machine guns. Courts have blocked or vacated several of these rules, but allegations persist that the ATF has continued enforcing them regardless.
For example, despite legal setbacks, a December 2024 letter from the ATF declared, “Federal law requires a pistol with an attached stabilizer brace or stock be registered as a short-barreled rifle.”
The ATF’s actions have sparked calls for its abolition, with Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Eric Burlison (R-MO) leading the charge. Gun Owners of America (GOA) criticized the agency as “rogue” and vowed to continue efforts to dismantle it. GOA noted in January 2025 that the ATF had walked back some of its enforcement threats following legal challenges, but they argued the agency remains a threat to the rights of law-abiding Americans.
As Giffords ties the Palisades fire investigation to the ongoing debate over the ATF’s future, critics argue the agency’s actions during the Biden administration reflect a broader overreach that undermines public trust. While Giffords accuses Republicans of putting politics above public safety, opponents contend that the ATF’s track record under Dettelbach has politicized the agency, exacerbating the current divide over its role and relevance.
The debate over the ATF highlights broader tensions between those advocating for stricter gun control and others defending Second Amendment rights, setting the stage for continued clashes in Congress and the courts.
