Gun control group criticizes Obama for failing to nominate ATF chief

One of the nation's most prominent gun control groups criticized President Obama today for failing to nominate a Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued a report Wednesday claiming that the lack of leadership at ATF weakens the government's ability to crack down on violence.

“The failure to nominate an ATF director for over a year and a half is unprecedented and threatens our nation’s ability to combat gun crime and trafficking that arms criminals and terrorists,” the report reads. “No other President has allowed this critical position to remain vacant for so long.”

Ken Melson served as acting director of the agency until November 2009, but he had to step down due to legal restrictions on how long an agency can have an unconfirmed director. Melson still leads the bureau, but with the title of deputy director.

The authors of the report suggest Obama has avoided nominating a director in order to avoid a public debate over gun laws.

“Some have suggested that President Obama has shied away from making a nomination for fear of resistance from the powerful gun lobby,” they write.  “As Senator and Presidential candidate, Obama was a forceful advocate for reasonable gun laws, but as President he has been unwilling to show any leadership on the issue."

The Brady Campaign has not shied away from criticizing Obama in the past. The group gave the president an 'F' on gun control issues, lamenting his positions on background checks, trafficking, and the assault weapons ban, among others.