April 5, 2022

NSSF Honors Sen. Chuck Grassley as Legislator of the Year

NEWTOWN, Conn. — NSSF^®, the firearm industry trade association, proudly honored U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) as the 2021 NSSF Legislator of the Year for his determined commitment to protect the firearm industry against special-interest and partisan attacks that would have threatened the lawful commerce of firearms in America and jeopardized the Constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.

Senator Grassley was instrumental in blocking gun control lobbyist David Chipman’s nomination to become Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Sen. Grassley’s thorough examination of Chipman’s record of gun control activism prevented Chipman, and the Biden administration, from turning the bureau charged with regulating the firearm industry into a bludgeon to advance gun control policies detrimental to a Constitutionally-protected industry and the customers it serves.

“We are honored to present Senator Grassley with the 2021 NSSF Legislator of the Year Award for his bold and unfailing leadership in the U.S. Senate to protect our industry from unwarranted special-interest attacks,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Senator Grassley is an unyielding champion of the firearm and ammunition industry on Capitol Hill. His thorough accounting of David Chipman’s gun control record was invaluable in exposing his lack of fitness to lead the ATF. Senator Grassley, through his service as Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, prevented the ATF from becoming a rubber stamp for radical gun control proposed by the Biden administration.”

Senator Grassley was unequivocal of his opposition to Chipman as ATF Director. In his opening remarks at the committee’s confirmation hearing, Sen. Grassley remarked of Chipman, “There isn’t a liberal hobby horse on guns he hasn’t ridden.” Sen. Grassley’s determination to expose Chipman’s lack of fitness for the nomination uncovered allegations of racial bias against fellow ATF agents. His demands for investigation records and clarifications from The White House, Department of Justice and Chipman himself, went unanswered. This proved Sen. Grassley’s instincts were correct and Chipman was not qualified to fulfill a position requiring special trust and confidence of a public official.

Due to Sen. Grassley’s steadfast opposition, The White House withdrew Chipman from consideration which preserved the ATF from unwarranted political interference. His demand for transparency from a special-interest gun control nominee prevented the firearm industry from being subjected to endless attacks. Sen. Grassley’s resolute clarity to prevent confirmation of this unqualified nominee stopped untold and irreparable damage to the ATF and the firearm industry which it is charged with regulating.

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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm 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, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.

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Media contact:
Mark Oliva
203-426-1320 ext. 204

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