The Trump administration’s removal of a gun violence memorial at ATF headquarters has reignited fierce debate between gun control advocates and Second Amendment supporters over the government’s proper role in regulating firearms.

At a Glance

• A memorial honoring 120 gun violence victims was removed from ATF headquarters after being installed during the Biden administration
• Justice Department spokesman Chad Gilmartin stated the removal was not politically motivated
• Gun control advocates have condemned the action, while supporters view it as protecting Second Amendment rights
• The memorial included photos of police officers and children killed in shootings, along with digital biographies
• This move comes as the Trump administration plans significant budget reductions to the ATF

Memorial Removal Sparks Outrage

The Trump administration has removed a memorial dedicated to gun violence victims from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) headquarters, prompting strong reactions from both sides of the gun debate. The “Faces of Gun Violence” exhibit, established under the Biden administration, featured 120 portraits of gun violence victims alongside a digital kiosk containing their biographies. The memorial honored victims of mass shootings, school shootings, domestic violence incidents, suicides, and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Justice Department spokesman Chad Gilmartin defended the decision, emphasizing it was not politically motivated. “The ATF will continue to honor the memory of all victims of violent crime while at the same time preserving the rights of law-abiding Americans,” Gilmartin stated. According to administration officials, the ATF is considering alternative ways to honor victims of violent crimes that would not potentially politicize the agency’s mission or alienate law-abiding gun owners.

Competing Perspectives on Memorial’s Purpose

Former ATF Director Steven Dettelbach, who spearheaded the memorial’s creation, had originally described it as serving an important mission-focused purpose. “The ‘Faces of Gun Violence’ exhibit is a permanent reminder of what ATF comes to work to do every day — a reminder of why agents risk their lives and why everyone at ATF dedicates their careers to this mission: to honor the fallen and protect the living,” Dettelbach said during the memorial’s dedication in April 2024.

However, reports indicate some ATF officials had opposed the memorial from its inception, expressing concerns it might traumatize agents who regularly confront violent crime scenes. The memorial had been dedicated less than a year ago, with plans to honor a new group of 200 victims annually. The Biden administration had already selected the next group of honorees before the installation was halted following the change in administration.

Victims’ Families and Advocates React

For families of gun violence victims, the memorial represented meaningful recognition of their loss. Brenda Joiner, whose father was among those honored in the exhibit, expressed profound disappointment at its removal. “It was absolutely an honor and a very proud moment and I felt like this country was actually taking recognition and taking note of all the lives that are lost to gun violence,” Joiner said. She later joined Brady: United Against Gun Violence to advocate against gun violence.

“For people who were already traumatized enough by gun violence, just the unceremonious lack of care taken here is deeply, deeply troubling,” said Kris Brown, president of Brady: United Against Gun Violence.

Gun control advocates view the memorial’s removal as part of a broader effort to weaken firearms regulations. Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the Parkland school shooting, also expressed disappointment over the removal. Brown further criticized the action, stating “120 portraits of gun violence victims at the ATF had ZERO impact on the ‘rights of law-abiding citizens’ and the Trump Administration knows it. They took down these photos because their allegiance is to the gun industry only.”

Broader Changes at the ATF

The memorial’s removal comes amid significant changes at the ATF under the Trump administration. The agency, responsible for enforcing federal gun laws and regulating the firearms industry, faces proposed budget cuts of approximately one-third. Critics argue these cuts could potentially impact the agency’s law enforcement capabilities, while supporters view the reductions as necessary corrections to overreach that occurred during the previous administration.

Recently, administrative oversight of the ATF’s 10,000 employees was transferred from FBI director Kash Patel to Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, placing a civilian military leader in charge of a domestic law enforcement agency. While critics have questioned this unusual arrangement, administration officials attribute the change to Patel’s existing workload and Driscoll’s Senate confirmation, which provides necessary authority for the role.