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.
Robert Fowler Dont be so sure of that.
I looked this up on Snopes, the ammunition he wants to ban is green tips armor piercing. If this is true, who the hell besides the military need armor piercing bullets. I’m all for the second amendment but seriously…..
Make him go away. So sad to see what he’s done to this country. Truly un-American Barry.
Its just the beginning
why cant we throw him out with no pay
ITs the Gun Lobby/ NRA propaganda so they can raise the prices of the ammo by 2 3 400 percent to all you Idiots ! Run out and buy it now Hurry before its all gone !!
If only he showed that much ambition to help the American people , he is trying to make us as weak as possible before he gets out. Washington needs to get some balls and get rid of this clown!
this cant be right is it?
he wants an internal war,he will have it,this is an outrage!!!!
background checks and more investigation by computer info is fine,this might help some to elimate crazys,but banning our ammo!!! are you people stupid?? you really think taking away our right to defend ourselfs is correct criminals will aways have the best weapons because they are out there on the streets,not at ffl dealers or on the internet,there will aways be ar15s ammo,anything you want on the street,if you got the cash you can buy anything!! stupid asses!!we are the legal law biding citizens that want to help the police not shoot them,we have paid for our classes and permits,and we have the right to buy any semi automatic weapon we want whether it be a rifle or pistol,or riot shotgun as well as the ammo