Trump nominated former national President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Chuck Canterbury to head the ATF last year. The FOP, with Canterbury at the helm, had endorsed Trump in the 2016 presidential election. The ATF has been without a permanent director since 2015, although Regina Lombardo has been the acting director since May 2019.
Canterbury was grilled by a number of Republicans during a confirmation hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee last July, with many questioning his commitment to gun rights. The former police officer said little about his personal opinions but insisted that was a “strong supporter of the Second Amendment.” He said that his previous support for an assault weapons ban had only been given in his capacity as FOP president when questioned by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).
“As an advocate for the FOP it’s been my position that I support what the members voted on,” Canterbury said at the hearing. “As ATF director, looking through a different lens, I would much prefer to talk with the expert witnesses at ATF and the other professional staff before I would render an opinion on the ban.”
Canterbury also said that previous support of universal background checks for gun ownership was only based on the stance of FOP membership, although he did express personal support for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
“As FOP president it’s my job to be the spokesperson for the resolutions and motions passed by my elective body,” said Canterbury. “As far as the legislation of universal background checks, I would have to look at the exact language to have a firm opinion on that, but I do believe that state and local agencies should be encouraged to get quick, concise and accurate information into the NICS system.”
Canterbury’s answers were not well received by many conservatives, some of whom accused him of being “evasive” during the hearing. A number of prominent Republicans publicly expressed concerns about Trump’s pick in the press, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) telling The Hill in October that the nomination was “very problematic.”
A vote to confirm Canterbury that had been set to take place in September was put on hold after some expressed concerns that there might not be enough votes to approve the nomination. Trump nominated him again in February, but support for Canterbury had not significantly increased and he looked unlikely to be confirmed even if a vote were to take place.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment. This article will be updated with any response.
