Posted on 03/10/2015 6:29:48 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
A majority in both the Senate and House — 52 senators, 238 House members — have joined to oppose the Obama administration's move to ban a popular type of ammo used in the top-selling AR-15 rifle and pistol because it pierces police body armor.
A week after the House members, led by Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte, sent a letter of opposition to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley echoed that in his own letter signed by 51 others.
In their letter, the senators said that the 5.56 M855 "green tip" cartridge was exempted in a 1986 law, along with other rifle ammo from bans on armor-piercing rounds. The reason: popular rifle ammo is typically not used in shootouts with police.
They also raised new concerns that the administration appears poised for a much wider ammo ban.
"Second Amendment rights require not only access to firearms but to bullets. If law-abiding gun owners cannot obtain rifle ammunition, or face substantial difficulty in finding ammunition available and at reasonable prices because government entities are banning such ammunition, then the Second Amendment is at risk," said Grassley's letter.
The ATF has proposed banning the ammo because it has concerns that the popularity of AR-15 pistols might mean a greater threat to police. Foes of the move, including a top police group, however, say there is no evidence the $1,000 pistols have been used against police. Others note that the metals used in the ammo are not included in the old law's description of armor-piercing bullets.
"These cartridges are prevalent for one of the most commonly possessed rifles, the AR-15. Congress did not, and did not intend to, ban this form of ammunition," wrote Grassley of the1986 Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act.
He also raised concerns that the administration is targeting other ammo, a charge made by the National Rifle Association last week.
"ATF's proposed restriction of the M855 cartridge is particularly serious in light of efforts to ban other forms of ammunition. The standards in the 'Framework' would make use of ammunition containing materials other than lead more difficult. At the same time, various efforts to ban lead ammunition are proceeding apace. Second Amendment rights require not only access to firearms but to bullets. If law-abiding gun owners cannot obtain rifle ammunition, or face substantial difficulty in finding ammunition available and at reasonable prices because government entities are banning such ammunition, then the Second Amendment is at risk. An outright ban is an even more serious threat to the Second Amendment than the threat to the First Amendment's protection of free press created by a TAX imposed only on voluminous purchases of paper and ink," they said.
The House opposition is also largely Republican and the issue has even become a 2016 presidential topic.
Democrats, meanwhile, are circulating a letter in support of the ban what they call "cop killer" ammo. The White House also backs the ATF proposal.
I’ve said all along that ammunition was the Achilles heel of the 2nd Amendment. Guns without ammo are clubs.
(/s)
Oh gee, yet another “warning”. Talk is cheap. When are they going to do something?
They are warning you THEY are gonna do something to take it away.
Since when does the Second Amendment only protect a right to bear unloaded arms?
This is getting absurd.
The government is our enemy. PERIOD.
Welcome to the party Senators, but you’re a little off.
And late.
It isn’t just at risk, it is under full assault and YOU idiots will do NOTHING!
“52 senators warn of sweeping ammo bans”
Jesus, I read that as: 52 senators WARM TO sweeping ammo bans.
Better make this my last cup of coffee for a few hours.
Pens without ink are useless.
Cars without gas are useless.
Printers without paper are useless.
Lights without electricity are useless.
Consumable materials are critical for operating equipment. The notion of “you can’t ban the equipment, but _can_ ban the consumables it operates on” is absurd, a flaw of the English language.
Exactly. A rifle without ammo is a platform. A rifle with ammo is an arm. Ownership of which is thus protected by the 2nd.
Barack Obama Respons To The Senators Concncerns
Talk is cheap, you complicit GOP.
OK, we appreciate the warning. Now how about doing something about it for us? Its like me telling you that your house is on fire and then standing by and watching it burn without doing anything to help you put out the fire.
Is it too much to ask our representatives to do something now and then to protect our rights? There are ways to do this; they just have to stop talking and start taking actions to constrain this out-of-control administration. At least that’s what the Republicans told us when they wanted our votes to “take control” of the congress.
legislative v executive
CONgre$$ might as well resign and go home. King Hussein, CEObama, and his collectives are the new rulers…
Witness the amassing of executive power via the agencies/cabinets. Witness the history of the republic.
Executive apparatchiks are dictating to/laughing at/working in conjunction with CONgre$$.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
http://www.usa.gov/directory/federal/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_the_United_States
CONgre$$ - Check$ and Balance$
7. It must not be forgotten that the members of the legislative body are to have a deep stake in the game. This is an essential point, and happily is attended with no difficulty. A sufficient number, properly disposed, can alternately legislate and speculate, and speculate and legislate, and buy and sell, and sell and buy, until a due portion of the property of their constituents has passed into their hands to give them an interest against their constituents, and to ensure the part they are to act.
8. The ways in which a great debt, so constituted and applied, will contribute to the ultimate end in view are both numerous and obvious. (1) The favorite few, thus possessed of it, whether within or without the government, will feel the staunchest fealty to it, and will go through thick and thin to support it in all its oppressions and usurpations. (2) Their money will give them consequence and influence, even among those who have been tricked out of it. (3) They will be the readiest materials that can be found for a hereditary aristocratic order, whenever matters are ripe for one. (4) A great debt will require great taxes; great taxes, many taxgatherers and other officers; and all officers are auxiliaries of power.
11. As soon as sufficient progress in the intended change shall have been made, and the public mind duly prepared according to the rules already laid down, it will be proper to venture on another and a bolder step toward a removal of the constitutional landmarks.
http://www.constitution.org/cmt/freneau/republic2monarchy.htm
We have ZERO representation.
Letters are not going to correct the situation. Either the Congress mans up and shuts off ATF funding or the states need to start announcing that they will ignore the ban.
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