ATF is permitted by law to inspect each federally licensed gun dealer once per year, but the funding-strapped agency has set a more modest goal of inspecting all dealers at least once every five ...

If confirmed, Jones would be the first ATF chief since 2006 -- the point at which Congress, at the NRA's behest, changed the law to make the post that requires Senate approval.

That last point is of particular interest -- Jones is already serving as the acting ATF director, though he splits his time with the agency, also serving as a U.S. Attorney. Sen.

The full Senate has never confirmed an ATF chief since it was given the power to do so in 2006. Jones has been the agency’s acting director since 2011 and is also the U.S. Attorney in Minnesota ...