ATF Head Thomas Brandon Says The Agency’s Job Is Not To Take People’s Firearms

USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) head, Thomas Brandon, tells CBS SUNDAY MORNING that the agency’s job isn’t to take away firearms from people and that the agency is hampered by not having necessary technology.

“It’s not to take people’s guns. It’s to, you know, regulate firearms that can be misused,” Brandon says of the ATF’s mission in an interview with Richard Schlesinger, to be broadcast Sunday, July 31 (9:00 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. “We’re a small agency with a big job.”

The roots of the current ATF were planted in 1791 by Alexander Hamilton, when he decided to collect taxes on whiskey. Over time, the agency morphed into today’s ATF, which now pursues illegal gun traffickers and also handles arson and explosive investigations. The agency has played key roles in the Pulse nightclub shooting investigation, the World Trade Center bombing and the attack on the Oklahoma Federal building.

Yet, it’s also an agency that is targeted by gun advocates and members of congress, who see the agency as a threat to legal gun ownership.

“I think we ought to get rid of the ATF,” says Wisconsin Congressman James Sensenbrenner. Sensenbrenner opposes the AFT having a searchable database of gun manufacturing and gun sales because it amounts to “de facto gun registration.” He also maintains the agency often fails in its mission.

Yet, Brandon says, not having the database hurts. Indeed, after the San Bernardino shootings, it took 12 hours to find out who owned the guns used in the attack. A computer database would have helped, Brandon says, adding that not having one simply doesn’t make sense.

“There’s a lot of things that don’t make sense in this town,” Brandon tells Schlesinger. “You know? And, so, yeah, would it be efficient and effective? Absolutely. Would the taxpayers benefit with public safety? Absolutely. Are we allowed to do it? No.”

CBS SUNDAY MORNING is broadcast Sundays 9:00-10:30 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Rand Morrison is the executive producer.

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