Senate amendment 2619 (To S1805) - TED KENNEDY'S AMMO BAN - AG can ban ANY centerfire ammo

Thomas | 2-27-04 | Ted Kennedy

[Dan from Michigan]

SA 2619. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1805, to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages resulting from the misuse of their products by others; as follows:

On page 11, after line 19, add the following:

SEC. 5. ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION.

(a) EXPANSION OF DEFINITION OF ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION.--Section 921(a)(17)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in clause (i), by striking ``or'' at the end;

(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

``(iii) a projectile that may be used in a handgun and that the Attorney General determines, pursuant to section 926(d), to be capable of penetrating body armor; or

``(iv) a projectile for a centerfire rifle, designed or marketed as having armor piercing capability, that the Attorney General determines, pursuant to section 926(d), to be more likely to penetrate body armor than standard ammunition of the same caliber.''.

(b) DETERMINATION OF THE CAPABILITY OF PROJECTILES TO PENETRATE BODY ARMOR.--Section 926 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``(d)(1) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Attorney General shall promulgate standards for the uniform testing of projectiles against Body Armor Exemplar.

``(2) The standards promulgated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall take into account, among other factors, variations in performance that are related to the length of the barrel of the handgun or centerfire rifle from which the projectile is fired and the amount and kind of powder used to propel the projectile.

``(3) As used in paragraph (1), the term `Body Armor Exemplar' means body armor that the Attorney General determines meets minimum standards for the protection of law enforcement officers.''.

[Shooter 2.5]

READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH.

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I mentioned that there had been a homicide in Massachusetts recently, over 18 months. It was juvenile homicide. I ask that the Record be so corrected.

As we all know too well, the debate about gun violence has often been aggressive and polarizing with anti-gun violence advocates on one side of the debate, pro-gun advocates on the other. There are deep divisions in the country on the issue of gun safety, and the current debate on the gun immunity bill has thus far only served to highlight those divisions.

I believe, however, that there are still some principles on which we can all agree. One principle is that we should do everything we can to protect the lives and safety of police officers who are working to protect our streets, schools, and communities.

The amendment I am offering today is intended to close the existing loopholes in the Federal law that bans cop-killer bullets. Police officers depend on body armor for their lives. Body armor has saved thousands of police officers from death or serious injury by firearm assault. Most police officers who serve large jurisdictions wear armor at all times when on duty. Nevertheless, even with body armor, too many police officers remain vulnerable to gun violence.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, every year between 50 and 80 police officers are feloniously killed in the line of duty. In 2002, firearms were used in 51 of the 56 murders of police officers. In those shootings, 34 of the officers were wearing body armor at the time of their deaths. From 1992 to 2002, at least 20 police officers were killed after bullets penetrated their armor vests and entered their upper torso.

Some gun organizations have argued that cop-killer bullets are a myth. The families of these slain police officers know better. In fact, we know that armor-piercing ammunition is not a myth because it is openly and notoriously marketed and sold by gun dealers.

I direct my colleagues' attention to the Web site of Hi-Vel, Incorporated, a self-described exotic products distributor and manufacturer in Delta, UT. You can access its online catalog on the Internet right now. Hi-Vel's catalog lists an entry for armor-piercing ammunition. On that page you will find a listing for armor-piercing bullets that can penetrate metal objects. The bullets are available in packages of 10 for $9.95 each. Hi-Vel carries armor-piercing bullets for both the .223 caliber rifles such as the Bushmaster sniper rifle used in the Washington area attacks in October 2002, and the 7.62 caliber assault weapons. Over the past 10 years, these two caliber weapons were responsible for the deaths of 14 of the 20 law enforcement officers killed by ammunition that penetrated body armor.

In a recent report, the ATF identified three, .223 and the 7.62 caliber rifles, as the ones most frequently encountered by police officers. These high-capacity rifles, the ATF wrote, pose an enhanced threat to law enforcement, in part because of their ability to expel particles at velocities that are capable of penetrating the type of soft body armor typically worn by law enforcement officers.

Another rifle caliber, the 30.30 caliber, was responsible for penetrating three officers' armor and killing them in 1993, 1996, and 2002. This ammunition is also capable of puncturing light-armored vehicles, ballistic or armored glass, armored limousines, even a 600-pound safe with 600 pounds of safe armor plating.

[e_castillo]

Thanks for the post.

[Dan from Michigan]

Another rifle caliber, the 30.30 caliber, was responsible for penetrating three officers' armor and killing them in 1993, 1996, and 2002.

I heard part of it on CSPAN, looked for it, and was just about to post that before you did. That's my uncle's hunting round.

[Shooter 2.5]

I would like to think a comment like this will finally get the Elmer Fudds off the couch and vote the anti's out of office.

Anyway, that's what I would like to think.

[supercat]

Another rifle caliber, the 30.30 caliber, was responsible for penetrating three officers' armor and killing them in 1993, 1996, and 2002. This ammunition is also capable of puncturing light-armored vehicles, ballistic or armored glass, armored limousines, even a 600-pound safe with 600 pounds of safe armor plating.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't deer actually somewhat tough critters, at least compared with people? It seems to me that almost any round that can reliably put down a deer is going to be powerful enough to go through most bullet-resistant vests.

[Don Joe]

Source? I had heard that Bush had encouraged a clean bill only because he was concerned that it might otherwise be delayed. I never heard of the veto threat.

Frankly, I have a hard time accepting the idea that he'd break his 100% veto-free record by vetoing a bill that has a rider that has a provision he's gone on record as saying he'd sign (the AWB renewal).

[FreedomCalls]

"W" has sent written word to Frist - if it is not a "clean" bill, he will veto it!

That is BS! Bush has not vetoed a single bill his entire term. Rove will never let him give the Democrats the argument that the only bill he ever vetoed was one for 'killing our children' or something like that.

[Shooter 2.5]

Kennedy's amendment is even worse than that. Second Chance is being sued by an officer's family because a vest failed. The perp fired multiple times and a round finally made it through the material. In short, if any round eventually penetrates the material, It could be judged an armor piercing round. Especially by people who think a 30-30 drills through bank vaults like butter.

[skip2myloo]

Bump for later

[fire_eye]

(3) As used in paragraph (1), the term `Body Armor Exemplar' means body armor that the Attorney General determines meets minimum standards for the protection of law enforcement officers.

Yeah, right. Hey Senator Souse... Don't fry your one remaining braincell trying to define "armor piercing" and "armor", etc. the way Schumerstein did defining "assault rifle".

We need to attack this as another useless ill-defined expensive non-solution to whatever nonexistent problem it is the Demonrats have conjured up this time. Possibly, we could propose legislation adding further criminal penalties for shooting somebody using armor-piercing ammunition... that ought to make liberals happy.

Not to change the subject, but that reminds me... what happened to Fiendswine's attempt to ban possession of body armor by anyone other than der Politzei? Don't tell me it actually died the horrible death it deserved...

[Indie]

STOCK UP ON MORE .223 AND 30-30 WINCHESTER. NOW!! These nazis will NOT have their way without a fight....I use the term fight very loosely.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I'll do you one better and stock up on .30-06 AP for my two M1 Garands:^)

[Dan from Michigan]

BUMP

[kstewskis]

Joe, do you have me on your "bang" list?

[Joe Brower]

"Joe, do you have me on your "bang" list?"

I do now! $;-)

[Dan from Michigan]

BUMP!

[Dan from Michigan]

BTTT

[Jasper]

Joe, please add me to your Bang List also.

Thanks

[Joe Brower]

"Joe, please add me to your Bang List also."

Done.

[Jasper]

Thanks

BUMP this puppy to the top!