The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is supposed to regulate the gun industry and protect the American public from gun crime. But the ATF often falls short of that mandate. This is no accident.

This episode of The Gun Machine draws on host Alain Stephens’ seven years of reporting on the ATF to chronicle how the gun lobby and its Congressional allies worked to limit the agency’s enforcement powers and resources.

Stephens speaks to Steve Dettelbach — the ATF’s first permanent director in seven years — about the challenges agents face trying to do their jobs. Stephens also talks to retired ATF agent David Chipman about how controversial episodes like the Ruby Ridge standoff and the Waco siege turned public opinion against the agency, paving the way for budget cuts and legislative restrictions.

About:

Stare down the barrel of America’s most controversial, protected and lethal industry: guns. Find out how America was forged by the gun industry on this new podcast series from WBUR & The Trace, The Gun Machine.


You're listening to The Gun Machine in Short Run — the best long-form audio series from WBUR, Boston's NPR, all in one feed.

We’d appreciate your help to better understand The Gun Machine's listeners and get feedback on the podcast — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/thegunmachine