Did the M885 Ammo Ban Just Escalate?

[thirtydaZe]

Or is this just the same thing issued back a couple weeks ago?  I ask, because it was posted on the Drudge today in an article written today, however it seems more confiscative now...



http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2560750

Obama to ban bullets by executive action, threatens top-selling AR-15 rifle

It’s starting.

As promised, President Obama is using executive actions to impose gun control on the nation, targeting the top-selling rifle in the country, the AR-15 style semi-automatic, with a ban on one of the most-used AR bullets by sportsmen and target shooters.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives this month revealed that it is proposing to put the ban on 5.56mm ammo on a fast track, immediately driving up the price of the bullets and prompting retailers, including the huge outdoors company Cabela’s, to urge sportsmen to urge Congress to stop the president.

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 that 30 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 M885 ammo, commonly called green 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.

RELATED: Colorado politician who survived Columbine wants concealed carry in schools

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, 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-15s, some of which can be turned into pistol-style guns. “This will have a detrimental effect on hunting nationwide,” said the group.

[grumpy old man]

This is a ban the ATF has been warning about for the past week.  They encourged everyone to email their thoughts.  Today Obama decided he didnt need the ATF and issued an Executive Order and banned them.  Even though this will go through the courts his ban will still be in effect until its decided in the courts.  That is if the NRA grows a pair and takes it to court.

I wrote a long email to the ATF, our senators, and congressmen and guess how many responded?  NOT A FREAKING ONE!

As Thomas Jefferson said, "The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood or patriots and tyrants."  I am ready!

[thirtydaZe]

thanks for the clarification.

[FarmerRick]

This is a ban the ATF has been warning about for the past week.  They encourged everyone to email their thoughts.  Today Obama decided he didnt need the ATF and issued an Executive Order and banned them.  Even though this will go through the courts his ban will still be in effect until its decided in the courts.  That is if the NRA grows a pair and takes it to court.

I wrote a long email to the ATF, our senators, and congressmen and guess how many responded?  NOT A FREAKING ONE!

As Thomas Jefferson said, "The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood or patriots and tyrants."  I am ready!

There is no such order as of today.  http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/executive-orders

The article is referring to the high probability that Obama is using Executive Action(his pen and phone) to direct the ATF to rescind the ban waiver that had been put on M855/SS109 projectile-containing ammunition.

[Lorimor]

Once again, thanks Obama voters.

[RedDot]

The ATF report lacked facts and evidence to back the decree up because it's not important to what they want to accomplish.  They want to set a precedent for the "banning" process as a model for use later on.  Labeling things as "cop-killers" whether a weapon, a type of ammunition, or whatever makes it easier to get the uninformed to go along with it.

For myself, I have yet to see anything in the last 12 months that would indicate this Administration gives a crap about the dangers facing LEO's, unless of course you're referring to members of Obama's Alphabet Army (BATFE, IRS, EPA, etc..).

[skydve76]

For further clarification, this does not affect normal 223 ammo such as FMJ, JHP, ballistic tip etc.  Is that correct?  Its just the green tipped ones?

[skydve76]

Just educated myself and answered my own questions.