Posted on 02/26/2015 9:11:30 PM PST by Perseverando
Jeff Knox explains why latest move by BATF is 'ridiculous'
The Obama administration’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, or BATF, recently announced its intention to ban the manufacture, importation and distribution of popular SS109/M855 ammunition commonly used in AR-15 type rifles, based on the construction of the projectile it uses. This ammo served as the standard issue, 5.56 x 45mm round used by the U.S. military and most NATO countries around the world. It is commonly referred to as “Green Tip” because the military puts a bit of green paint on the tip of the bullet to help soldiers easily identify it.
Since the AR platform is the single most popular rifle in the country, and M855 is one of the most common types of ammunition used in AR rifles, banning this ammo would have a significant effect on the market, by reducing ammo supply, driving up prices and forcing the military to spend money to destroy their older stocks, rather than making money by selling it to shooters. And since the U.S. recently transitioned to a new, slightly different loading as their primary round, designated as M855A1, being unable to sell surplus M855 and its European equivalent SS109 to U.S. consumers could become a costly problem.
The proposed ban won’t apply to other common types of 5.56 ammunition, only the SS109/M855 rounds. It also won’t ban possession of this ammunition, just manufacture, importation and distribution. So someone with a crate of this stuff in his basement won’t have to worry about becoming a felon overnight. But that is small consolation.
The justification for banning M855 arises from a 1986 law that was supposed to help protect police officers. As more police were wearing body armor, handgun ammunition capable of penetrating their vests was considered a serious threat.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
So paint a blue tip on it, alter the bullet slightly and keep selling ammo under a new name.
...Identify it - as what?
As a bullet? As a NATO bullet (as opposed to a Warsaw Pact bullet)? Sloppy writing!
Regards,
The BATF has invited comments on their ban announcement – not whether it’s a good idea or reasonable, but rather how best to implement it with the least disruption to manufacturers and importers. We’re asking people to comment on the announcement anyway, and to share those comments with elected officials.
Comments may be submitted via email to APAComments@atf.gov.
In your comments, point out that M855/SS109 does not have a core made entirely of steel, and that it does not penetrate police-style body armor any better than other common 5.56 ammunition. Tell them that removing M855/SS109 from the market will cause great disruption to the hundreds of thousands of people who buy and shoot millions of rounds of this ammunition every year, and that this massive consumption of this ammunition – with extremely rare use in any criminal activity – clearly demonstrates that it is primarily used for sporting purposes. The proposed ban on manufacture, importation and distribution of this ammunition serves no legal or officer safety function and should be tabled permanently.
The message need not be long or detailed, but we need as many comments against this proposal as possible, and we need them immediately. The window for comments closes on March 16. Once you submit your comment, please forward a copy to each of your U.S. senators and your representative, and ask them to sign on to Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s, R-Va., letter to BATF. This ridiculous action must be stopped.
Just an odd question, but of the million-odd occurrences a year where some exchange occurs with a gun within the US....is there a database that lays out the event and the type of gun used?
I read the news of various states on a frequent basis, and frankly....nine times out of ten when you see a shooting reporting....it’s a pistol used. And for AR-15 type events...I just don’t see these ever mentioned. Or am I simply missing these events?
I seem to remember green tipped rounds indicated it was a Tracer.
Put a pink tip on it, code-name it “lipstick” and market it to female shooters.
That should bunch their panties up in a knot.
To identify it as 62gr steel core ammunition. It’s not armor piercing by any means.
And since the can ban that by executive fiat BATF can ban any bullet using a copper jacket, uses lead, uses metal. Who knows what BS they come up with next.
Nah... they will just ban lead bullets too.
Shouldn’t that be “Tonto”? ;)
Coat them with pigs blood and ship them to Iran.
Yep. It never was and never has been.
If they get away with this ban they will "suddenly discover" that the vast majority of hunting rounds, i.e. .308, 7.62-51, 7.62-54, 30:06, 8mm, 300 win mag, etc. will easily defeat body armor and thus must "also be banned, even if they do not have a steel penatrator tip or steel core."
They fear a free and armed public. This is back door confiscation of our right to KEEP AND BEAR ARMS!
ss109s won’t stabilize in a pistol length barrel. They impact the target sideways more likely than “pointy end” first. For this reason, I’m not convinced that they they would reliably penetrate a bullet proof vest when fired from a pistol length barrel. Furtheremore, I have never once heard of a LEO being killed with an AR15 pistol firing M855 ball ammo. I don’t believe it has ever happened. this is a virtually non-existent threat. It’s complete BS as we all know, a ruse to deny mil-surp ammo to Americans and nothing more.
They should call it “Bullets for Obama”
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