Gun rights groups hail Trump’s pick to lead ATF: ‘First ever truly pro-Second Amendment nominee’ (Robert Cekada)

NY Post ^ | 11/20/25 | Victor Nava

[Libloather]

President Trump’s nominee to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is being hailed Wednesday as the “first ever truly pro-Second Amendment” choice to lead the agency.

ATF Deputy Director Robert Cekada’s nomination to the top job at the bureau was quietly transmitted to Congress on Tuesday and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Cekada, a former NYPD detective, has been with the federal law enforcement agency in various roles since 2005 and has served as deputy director since April.

“In his role as Deputy Director, we have worked closely with Robert Cekada to ensure law-abiding gun owners have a seat at the table in shaping policy,” Knox Williams, president and executive director of the American Suppressor Association, said in a statement.

“If confirmed, he would be the first ever truly pro-Second Amendment nominee to head the agency,” Williams added. “By nominating an ATF Director who understands our community and respects our constitutional rights, President Trump and his administration are further underscoring their commitment to standing up for the Second Amendment and gun owners.

“We urge the Senate to confirm him without delay.”

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) said it was “encouraged” by Trump’s nomination of Cekada.

“The men and women of ATF, and the firearm industry which they regulate, deserve a Senate-confirmed director to lead the bureau,” the pro-Second Amendment group said in a statement. “NSSF respects the experience, wisdom and confidence of Cekada’s colleagues to effectively lead the ATF.”

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; History; Outdoors; Science
KEYWORDS: atf; banglist; guns; nominee

[Enterprise]

Here's a friendly suggestion since states which are anti self defense keep enacting laws which infringe on the right to carry. Maybe something like this would work.

If a person passes the FBI background check, authorize the FFL licensee to immediately issue a Federal concealed carry permit, good for 5 years.

[anton]

Maybe suppressors will be deregulated. This has always been the least logical prohibition. Safety demands it.

[KingLudd]

“Maybe suppressors will be deregulated. This has always been the least logical prohibition. Safety demands it.”

My first thought exactly.

[riverrunner]

Color me skeptical.

A career ATF agent that worked his way up to a leadership position.

[Phlyer]

A career ATF agent that worked his way up to a leadership position.

I am concerned, too. What were his positions during all the time that he was in the ATF under Biden and Obama? If he were truly pro-2nd Amendment, then he must have hid it, and if he were good enough to hide it during those administrations, what is he hiding now?

[anton]

Now with the introduction of high pressure air guns the limited effect of a suppressed powder cartridge is inconsequential if someone really wants to shoot someone silently in the restroom and not bring the house down.