Through executive action, Obama has banned ammo for the top-selling AR-15 style semi-automatic, labeling them ‘cop killers’, and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will put the ban of 5.56 mm ammo on a fast track, which already driving up price and demand.
Gun stores are now reporting an increase in price of 30% and an increase in demand of 1000%.
Wednesday night, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, stepped in with a critical letter to the bureau demanding it explain the surprise and abrupt bullet ban. The letter is shown below.
The National Rifle Association, which is working with Goodlatte to gather co-signers, told Secrets that30 House members have already co-signed the letter and Goodlatte and the NRA are hoping to get a total of 100 fast.
“The Obama administration was unable to ban America’s most popular sporting rifle through the legislative process, so now it’s trying to ban commonly owned and used ammunition through regulation,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA-ILA, the group’s policy and lobby shop. “The NRA and our tens of millions of supporters across the country will fight to stop President Obama’s latest attack on our Second Amendment freedoms.”
At issue is so-called “armor-piercing” ammunition, an exemption for those bullets mostly used for sport by AR-15 owners, and the recent popularity of pistol-style ARs that use the ammo.
The inexpensive 5.56 M855 ammo, commonly called lightgreen tips, have been exempt for years, as have higher-caliber ammunition that also easily pierces the type of soft armor worn by police, because it’s mostly used by target shooters, not criminals. The agency proposes to reclassify it as armor-piercing and not exempt.
But now BATFE says that since the bullets can be used in semi-automatic handguns they pose a threat to police and must be banned from production, sale and use. But, as Goodlatte noted, the agency offered no proof. Federal agencies will still be allowed to buy the ammo.
“This round is amongst the most commonly used in the most popular rifle design in America, the AR-15. Millions upon millions of M855 rounds have been sold and used in the U.S., yet ATF has not even alleged — much less offered evidence — that even one such round has ever been fired from a handgun at a police officer,” said Goodlatte’s letter.
Even some police don’t buy the administration’s claim. “Criminals aren’t going to go out and buy a $1,000 AR pistol,” Brent Ball, owner of 417 Guns in Springfield, Mo., and a 17-year veteran police officer told the Springfield News-Leader. “As a police officer I’m not worried about AR pistols because you can see them. It’s the small gun in a guy’s hand you can’t see that kills you.”
Many see the bullet ban as an assault on the AR-15 and Obama’s back-door bid to end production and sale.
“We are concerned,” said Justin Anderson with Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte, N.C., one of the nation’s top sellers of AR-15 style rifles. “Frankly, we’re always concerned when the government uses back-door methods to impose quasi-gun control.”
Groups like the National Shooting Sports Foundation suggest that under BATFE’s new rule, other calibers like popular deer hunting .308 bullets could be banned because they also are used in AR platforms, some of which can be turned into pistol-style guns. “This will have a detrimental effect on hunting nationwide,” said the group.
Just some more grandstanding. What a bozo.
TREASON….
If that were the case 22 on up would be ban. a 22 lr will go through a vest just as a 556.
This S.O.B has got to go now, I dont care how.
why is this on my wall.. old new already failed.. for real
can stop the guns so he wants to stop the ammo
Funny just like the screaming about the last smelter closing made a run on ammo,i see truckload sales of shells going for twenty five dollars for shotgun shells.
CNN-A proposal to ban a bullet that can pierce armor has upset the gun industry and its supporters. The President can only create a proposal, but Congress would have to make it law. Seems a shame the NRA might lose armor piercing bullets, that can penetrate a bullet proof vest. I guess they want to put our Police Force in more danger. These men and women do a dangerous job and don’t need more to worry about.
Actually, true armor piercing rounds have been banned for many years. Only law enforcement can get armor piercing rounds. What the article is talking about is standard rounds in .223 caliber. Obama administration is claiming that these “standard” rounds still have the ability to pierce through the lightweight vests that police wear. The truth is the police vests can only stop very small pistol rounds. Pretty much any true rifle round can actually pierce through the police vests. The Obama administration can say this about any rifle round. If they ban the .223 caliber I am sure they will follow up with multiple other calibers. The police will always be in danger. It comes with the job. The criminals that put the police in danger are already breaking the law. You think just because Obama creates another law that will stop them? If a criminal is willing to break the law and kill a police officer do you really think this new law would stop them? You will never hear a career criminal say, “I am willing to shoot at police, but since it is against the law to have this ammo I won’t get one.” We already have a process for law abiding citizens to purchase and carry handguns. Make it the same for this rifle. I am pretty sure the criminals who are shooting at police do not have a carry permit in their wallet. So they are already breaking the law. Putting a ban on everyone owning them will not make a difference.
I’ve always been proud to be a leftie until I see this!!
He can do anything he wants. Not one person will impeach him.