Sun Feb 23 06:26:32 UTC 2025: ## Controversial FBI Director to Head ATF in Dual Role, Sparking Outrage from Gun Control Groups
**Washington D.C.** – Newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel is set to take on the additional role of acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), a Justice Department official confirmed Saturday. This unprecedented dual leadership arrangement places Patel at the helm of two of the department’s largest agencies.
The appointment has drawn immediate fire from gun control advocates who view Patel as a threat to gun safety regulations. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence labeled Patel a “gun rights extremist,” expressing deep concern over his leadership of the ATF, an agency responsible for enforcing federal firearm laws, licensing dealers, and tracing crime guns. The ATF, with approximately 5,500 employees, has recently implemented stricter regulations on ghost guns and expanded background checks under the Biden administration, moves that have been fiercely opposed by conservatives.
Conversely, gun rights groups celebrated the move. Gun Owners of America hailed Patel’s appointment to the FBI, and his expanded role at ATF, as a victory. This follows the recent firing of ATF’s top lawyer, Pamela Hicks, by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who accused the agency of unfairly targeting gun owners. Hicks, a two-decade veteran of the Justice Department, described her role as an honor.
Patel’s dual leadership role comes amidst a backdrop of intense political debate surrounding gun control. The appointment is expected to further inflame the ongoing conflict between gun control advocates and those who seek to limit the ATF’s regulatory power. The article notes that the news comes as the European Commission President and the EU College of Commissioners are in India, focusing on strengthening strategic partnerships and discussing global political issues. The connection between these two events is unclear.
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