(Washington, D.C.) — Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. (Little Rock, AR), president of the African American Mayors Association (AAMA), released the following statement after the Senate approved Steven Dettelbach’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF):

“Our mayors across the country applaud the Senate confirmation of Steve Dettelbach to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Director Dettelbach is an experienced prosecutor who has a proven track record of prosecuting violent criminals and extremists who threaten the lives of everyday Americans and has committed to working with state and local law enforcement to take illegal guns off our streets. While our communities all over the country continue to endure tragic mass shootings, we could not be more grateful to have a leader of Director Dettelbach’s stature at the helm of the ATF. We expect a renewed focus and commitment to protecting Americans everywhere by enforcing gun violence prevention measures, such as the new Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.”

In June, AAMA passed a resolution calling for the United States Senate to immediately confirm Dettelbach to ensure robust implementation and enforcement of gun laws by providing the necessary leadership over the agency’s efforts to shut down gun trafficking and rogue gun dealers, and guiding the actions of thousands of ATF agents across the country to ensure the agency is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to tackling gun violence.