Bonz
03-03-2015, 06:04 AM
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/blast-40-of-house-oppose-obamas-ar-15-bullet-ban/article/2560867
With lightning speed, opponents of President Obama's bid to ban (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-to-ban-bullets-by-executive-action-threatens-top-selling-ar-15-rifle/article/2560750) a popular cartridge used in the top selling AR-15 semi-automatic rifle have won support from 40 percent of the House of Representatives, and Senate foes are also moving fast to build opposition.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, working with the National Rifle Association (https://www.nraila.org/), has collected the signatures of 172 House members in just two days on a letter questioning (https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1677223/ap-ammo-ltr-to-director-jones.pdf) the surprise proposal targeting the 5.56 M855 used by gun enthusiasts, associates told Secrets Saturday.
And in the Senate, Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is spearheading a new drive to collect signatures from his chamber to stop the move.
The shocking swiftness at building opposition to the proposal (http://www.atf.gov/sites/default/files/assets/Library/Notices/atf_framework_for_determining_whether_certain_proj ectiles_are_primarily_intended_for_sporting_purpos es.pdf) by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the latest display by many in Congress to leave Second Amendment issues alone, and it also is a testament to sportsmen and pro-gun groups like the NRA to derail the president's gun-control efforts.
Much of the opposition is driven by the concern that the ban is a backdoor bid to outlaw the AR-15 (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-to-ban-bullets-by-executive-action-threatens-top-selling-ar-15-rifle/article/2560750), the nation's most popular rifle. Opponents call the military-style rifle an "assault weapon" because it can be fitted with a magazine capable of carrying 30 or more cartridges.
The proposal came earlier this month and went viral when retailing giants like Cabela (http://www.cabelas.com/browse.cmd?categoryId=630609480&WT.tsrc=EML&WT.mc_id=email-nl&eid=14810931&cmp=EP20150225&seg=EPP0ALL&cnt=11516&ctb=SUBFEAT1)'s and the NRA put users on notice that the inexpensive and popular plunking cartridge used by AR-15 shooters was in jeopardy of being banned for all but U.S. government agencies.
BATFE wants to classify the ammo as "armor piercing," making it unlawful to buy once a ban is in effect. The cartridge has been exempt since 1986 largely because it wasn't seen as one used by criminals. But with the new popularity of AR-style pistols, that opinion has changed, though BATFE has provided no evidence it has been used against police. It is accepting public comment through March 16.
In their notice (http://www.atf.gov/sites/default/files/assets/Library/Notices/atf_framework_for_determining_whether_certain_proj ectiles_are_primarily_intended_for_sporting_purpos es.pdf), BATFE explained, "Some ammunition that was previously exempted as 'primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes,' specifically 5.56mm constituent projectiles of SS109 and M855 cartridges, will again be regulated as 'armor piercing ammunition.' Except as provided by law, no person may manufacture or import such ammunition, and manufacturers or importers may not sell or deliver such ammunition."
In his letter (https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1677223/ap-ammo-ltr-to-director-jones.pdf), Goodlatte said that the agency's "framework" for pulling the bullet from the market is too broad and could impact other cartridge sizes. What's more, he said that the 5.56 M855 doesn't meet the government's description of armor-piercing ammunition.
"ATF should refocus its efforts on serious threats to law enforcement officers from specially designed armor piercing projectiles that are intended for use in the sort of handguns commonly carried and concealed by criminals. Under no circumstances should ATF adopt a standard that will ban ammunition that is overwhelmingly used by law-abiding Americans for legitimate purposes," said the letter.
It requests information about the plan from BATFE by mid-March, including whether the agency is looking at other ammo to classify as armor-piercing and ban.
With lightning speed, opponents of President Obama's bid to ban (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-to-ban-bullets-by-executive-action-threatens-top-selling-ar-15-rifle/article/2560750) a popular cartridge used in the top selling AR-15 semi-automatic rifle have won support from 40 percent of the House of Representatives, and Senate foes are also moving fast to build opposition.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, working with the National Rifle Association (https://www.nraila.org/), has collected the signatures of 172 House members in just two days on a letter questioning (https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1677223/ap-ammo-ltr-to-director-jones.pdf) the surprise proposal targeting the 5.56 M855 used by gun enthusiasts, associates told Secrets Saturday.
And in the Senate, Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is spearheading a new drive to collect signatures from his chamber to stop the move.
The shocking swiftness at building opposition to the proposal (http://www.atf.gov/sites/default/files/assets/Library/Notices/atf_framework_for_determining_whether_certain_proj ectiles_are_primarily_intended_for_sporting_purpos es.pdf) by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the latest display by many in Congress to leave Second Amendment issues alone, and it also is a testament to sportsmen and pro-gun groups like the NRA to derail the president's gun-control efforts.
Much of the opposition is driven by the concern that the ban is a backdoor bid to outlaw the AR-15 (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-to-ban-bullets-by-executive-action-threatens-top-selling-ar-15-rifle/article/2560750), the nation's most popular rifle. Opponents call the military-style rifle an "assault weapon" because it can be fitted with a magazine capable of carrying 30 or more cartridges.
The proposal came earlier this month and went viral when retailing giants like Cabela (http://www.cabelas.com/browse.cmd?categoryId=630609480&WT.tsrc=EML&WT.mc_id=email-nl&eid=14810931&cmp=EP20150225&seg=EPP0ALL&cnt=11516&ctb=SUBFEAT1)'s and the NRA put users on notice that the inexpensive and popular plunking cartridge used by AR-15 shooters was in jeopardy of being banned for all but U.S. government agencies.
BATFE wants to classify the ammo as "armor piercing," making it unlawful to buy once a ban is in effect. The cartridge has been exempt since 1986 largely because it wasn't seen as one used by criminals. But with the new popularity of AR-style pistols, that opinion has changed, though BATFE has provided no evidence it has been used against police. It is accepting public comment through March 16.
In their notice (http://www.atf.gov/sites/default/files/assets/Library/Notices/atf_framework_for_determining_whether_certain_proj ectiles_are_primarily_intended_for_sporting_purpos es.pdf), BATFE explained, "Some ammunition that was previously exempted as 'primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes,' specifically 5.56mm constituent projectiles of SS109 and M855 cartridges, will again be regulated as 'armor piercing ammunition.' Except as provided by law, no person may manufacture or import such ammunition, and manufacturers or importers may not sell or deliver such ammunition."
In his letter (https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1677223/ap-ammo-ltr-to-director-jones.pdf), Goodlatte said that the agency's "framework" for pulling the bullet from the market is too broad and could impact other cartridge sizes. What's more, he said that the 5.56 M855 doesn't meet the government's description of armor-piercing ammunition.
"ATF should refocus its efforts on serious threats to law enforcement officers from specially designed armor piercing projectiles that are intended for use in the sort of handguns commonly carried and concealed by criminals. Under no circumstances should ATF adopt a standard that will ban ammunition that is overwhelmingly used by law-abiding Americans for legitimate purposes," said the letter.
It requests information about the plan from BATFE by mid-March, including whether the agency is looking at other ammo to classify as armor-piercing and ban.