John–
We just scored a huge victory.
Following a lawsuit led by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, the State of Illinois and the City of Kansas City, Mo., the ATF is taking action to stop a rogue gun manufacturer. Jimenez Arms has been tied to both gun trafficking and criminal activity. When we sued them on behalf of Kansas City and gun violence survivors, its owner declared bankruptcy and asked for a license under a new name—J.A. Industries—which the ATF rubber-stamped.
But J.A. Industries should never have been able to do business in the first place.
The ATF failed to do its job when it granted the owner of Jimenez Arms a license under a new name. Had the ATF done its due diligence in the first place, it wouldn't have had to take action this week.
So while we hope this week's decision marks the beginning of a new era at ATF, we still need our government to do a lot better when it comes to illegal guns. We need to demand action now. Add your name: Tell President Biden to fix the ATF.
For the last twenty years, ATF has served as a lapdog for the gun industry—instead of a watchdog for the American people. To make matters worse, the ATF has now gone seven years without a permanent director. The federal government's main agency for holding rogue and reckless members of the gun industry accountable lacks the leadership and clear direction needed to keep illegal guns out of our communities. It has allowed rogue gun dealers and manufacturers to escape accountability—leaving cities, survivors, and advocacy organizations to take on these bad actors themselves.
It does not have to be this way. The ATF can use this moment as the start of a new era of holding rogue gun dealers and makers accountable. It can do its job to prevent gun violence—and President Biden can help make that happen. Add your name: Tell President Biden to fix the ATF.
Thank you for taking action. With your help, we can make sure our government works to end this deadly crisis.
Kali Lasher-Sommers
She/Her/Hers
Associate Director of Federal Affairs
Everytown for Gun Safety
