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May 28, 2019

NSSF Praises Nomination of Chuck Canterbury for ATF Director


NEWTOWN, Conn. – The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the firearms industry trade association, praised President Donald Trump’s nomination of Chuck Canterbury to become the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Canterbury would succeed Acting Director Regina “Reggie” Lombardo, who filled the position in the acting capacity since May 1, 2019.

“President Trump’s confidence in nominating Mr. Canterbury to lead the ATF shows his dedication to ensuring continued cooperation from the firearms industry,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Mr. Canterbury’s nomination by President Trump for confirmation by the Senate demonstrates the president’s commitment to our nation’s leading firearms law enforcement and regulatory agency. Mr. Canterbury brings a proven record of performance that will provide the ATF, and the firearms and ammunition industry, the leadership that is deserved.”

Canterbury, currently the President of the Fraternal Order of Police, would bring to the Director’s office 26 years of direct law enforcement experience as well as 16 years’ experience in his current role. This provides Canterbury the perspective of the field agents whom he would lead and experience in collaborating and coalition-building with affinity groups. NSSF is proud of the partnerships and cooperation it has relied upon with the ATF and is confident that will continue.

The ATF has only had one confirmed director, B. Todd Jones from 2013-2015, since the position was elevated to require U.S. Senate confirmation. Acting Director Brandon succeeded Jones in 2015 and guided the ATF through improvements benefitting manufacturers and retailers. Brandon brought a renewed focus on open cooperation between the ATF and industry, shepherded the transition to e-forms, ensuring the agency had adequate resources at both the headquarters and field offices and has been a reliable partner in NSSF’s flagship Don’t Lie for the Other GuyTM and Operation Secure Store®campaigns, to prevent straw purchase and the theft and robbery of firearms from retailers. Acting Director Brandon retired April 30 and Attorney General William P. Barr named Acting Director Lombardo to lead the ATF in the interim.

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About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.

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Media contact:
Mark Oliva
202-220-1340 ext. 204

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