DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert introduced legislation Thursday to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), escalating her campaign against federal firearm regulations.
The Republican congresswoman, representing Colorado’s 4th District, partnered with Missouri Rep. Eric Burlison to sponsor the “Abolish the ATF Act of 2025.” The move targets the federal agency responsible for enforcing laws related to firearms, explosives, alcohol, tobacco and investigating violent crimes.
Boebert, a vocal Second Amendment advocate, claims the agency threatens constitutional rights. “The ATF should be abolished before they eventually abolish our Second Amendment,” she said in a statement announcing the legislation.
The bill comes amid ongoing national debate over gun regulations. Recent Pew Research Center data indicates 61% of Americans believe current gun acquisition laws are too lenient, while 30% consider them appropriate, and 9% find them too restrictive.
The proposed legislation, however, leaves questions unanswered about how the agency’s critical responsibilities would be redistributed. When pressed about the ATF’s role in investigating bombings, terrorism, and violent crime, Boebert suggested future administrative reforms would create more efficient systems.
Co-sponsor Burlison characterized the ATF as “emblematic of the deep-state bureaucracy that believes it can infringe on constitutional liberties without consequence.”
The ATF currently oversees federal firearms licensing, maintains compliance standards for dealers, and investigates illegal trafficking of weapons and explosives. The agency also plays a crucial role in counterterrorism efforts and public safety initiatives.
The bill’s prospects in Congress remain uncertain, as it would require significant support to dismantle a long-established federal law enforcement agency.
