Cleveland Native Steve Dettelbach Nominated For Director Of ATF

WASHINGTON DC —The Joe Biden Administration will announce additional steps to combat gun crime on Monday, one of which will be nominating former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Steve Dettelbach to serve as the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF).

Dettelbach, a Cleveland native and Democrat, ran for Attorney General in Ohio in 2018, losing to Dave Yost. He currently is a partner at Baker Hostetler, a law firm in Cleveland, according to Cleveland.com.

In a release about the announcement, the administration highlighted the fact that Dettelbach has received bipartisan praise and support from law enforcement, including being unanimously confirmed for U.S. Attorney.

"He has a proven track record of working with federal, state and local law enforcement to fight violent crime and combat domestic violent extremism and religious violence —including through partnerships with the ATF to prosecute complex cases and take down violent criminal gangs," the administration said in the release.

The administration said Dettelbach has worked closely with local law enforcement and community leaders to develop and implement data-driven and neighborhood-based efforts to prevent and fight violent crime.

"(Dettelbach's) leadership and his record of innovation in fighting crime and violence make him ready from day one to aggressively and creatively address these pressing issues as the director of ATF," the administration said.

Dettelbach's nomination was scheduled to be officially announced during a Rose Garden press conference featuring Biden and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

Dettelbach will need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

In addition to the nomination, the administration also announced that the U.S Department of Justice has issued a final rule on the proliferation of "ghost guns," which are unserialized privately-made firearms that law enforcement are increasingly recovering at crime scenes in cities across the country.

This final rule bans the business of manufacturing the most accessible ghost guns, such as unserialized "buy build shoot" kits that individuals can buy online or at a store without a background check and can readily assemble into a working firearm in as little as 30 minutes with the equipment they have at home, the administration said.

Additionally, the administration has issued a rule that firearms with split receivers are subject to regulations requiring serial numbers and background checks when purchased from a licensed dealer, manufacturer or importer.

Meanwhile, federally licensed firearms dealers are required to retain key records until they shut down their business or licensed activity.

In his 2022 State of the Union address, Biden highlighted his administration's comprehensive strategy to make communities safer and reduce gun crime.

On Monday, according to the White House, Biden also will call on Congress to deliver the funding and essential legislation to continue working toward those goals.