New ATF director says there’s “no one solution” to ending gun violence

Steven Dettelbach, the newly sworn-in director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, mentioned there isn’t a overarching reply to fixing the nation’s gun violence, whilst weapons have turn into the main reason behind loss of life for youngsters within the U.S. 

“One of the things that makes this problem so hard is that it looks way different depending on where you are,” Dettelbach instructed “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell in an interview Tuesday. 

Dettelbach acknowledged that the issue is “urgent,” however mentioned it is onerous to examine the problem as seen in giant cities like New York City and Chicago with locations like South, Alaska and small cities. 

“The reason that we’re having a hard time coming up with one solution is because there is no one solution. The solutions are different, based upon where things are,” he mentioned. 

Following his affirmation final week, Dettelbach was ceremonially sworn in as ATF director earlier Tuesday, making him simply the second Senate-confirmed director within the company’s historical past and the primary everlasting director the company has had in additional than seven years. 

He is helming the ATF amid a wave of mass shootings and an increase in gun violence throughout the U.S., which have fueled a renewed push for gun management measures. Last month, President Biden signed into legislation essentially the most important gun management invoice in many years, although it nonetheless fell in need of what gun management advocates wished. 

Although he has known as for an assault weapons ban up to now, when requested Tuesday what legal guidelines he would really like to see modified to assist the ATF cease gun violence, Dettelbach punted to Congress. 

“As the ATF director, my focus is and is going to have to be on taking whatever laws Congress provides, what is already there, taking the technology that’s there, taking the resources that are there, and catching the bad guys,” he mentioned. “The ATF director’s job and ATF, our mission is to catch people who have violated the laws we already have.” 

But when pressed on what the ATF can do about mass shootings, he did concede a part of the main focus wants to be on “prevention,” together with giving individuals within the jail system “options other than going back to doing the same thing that got them there.” 

“I’m coming into this position with a sober view of the challenge ahead,” he mentioned.