Biden to Unveil Actions on Guns, Including Naming New ATF Boss

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden will unveil a series of executive actions aimed at addressing gun violence on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the plans, delivering his first major action on gun control since taking office.

He's also expected to nominate David Chipman, a former federal agent and adviser at the gun control group Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, to be director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that Chipman's nomination is expected to be announced Thursday. The people could not discuss the matter publicly ahead of an official announcement and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. If confirmed, Chipman would be the agency's first permanent director since 2015. Biden has faced increasing pressure to act on gun control after a spate of mass shootings across the U.S. in recent weeks, but the White House has repeatedly emphasized the need for legislative action on guns. While the House passed a background-check bill last month, gun control measures face slim prospects in an evenly divided Senate, where Republicans remain near-unified against most proposals.