ATF to ban popular ammo?
A while back, I noted they were taking comments and this usually precedes some new regulation. Well, looks like I was right:
In a move clearly intended by the Obama Administration to suppress the acquisition, ownership and use of AR-15s and other .223 caliber general purpose rifles, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives unexpectedly announced today that it intends to ban commonplace M855 ball ammunition as “armor piercing ammunition.” The decision continues Obama’s use of his executive authority to impose gun control restrictions and bypass Congress.
It isn’t even the third week of February, and the BATFE has already taken three major executive actions on gun control. First, it was a major change to what activities constitute regulated “manufacturing” of firearms. Next, BATFE reversed a less than year old position on firing a shouldered “pistol.” Now, BATFE has released a “Framework for Determining Whether Certain Projectiles are ‘Primarily Intended for Sporting Purposes’ Within the Meaning of 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(17)(c)”, which would eliminate M855’s exemption to the armor piercing ammunition prohibition and make future exemptions nearly impossible.
Meanwhile, gun nuts gonna gun nut. Everybody panic!
February 15th, 2015 at 6:17 pm
For some reason, a lot of people can only afford extra ammo when the price goes up.
February 15th, 2015 at 6:23 pm
The memo that floats the idea of this ban relies on “sporting purposes.” How does “sporting purposes” square with self-defense?
Is this another one for Gura? Dave Hardy?
February 15th, 2015 at 10:24 pm
Yeah, it is harassing fire aimed a AR folk. Let’s look ahead, if that’s okay.
This is about pistols in rifle calibers, is it not? What other military rifle rounds are found in ATF-approved “pistol” actions?
7.62×51 NATO
7.62×39 AK
5.45×39 AK
I don’t own an AR, but I do have rifles in two of the other three chamberings.
I’ll guess that this will soon eliminate military ammo for 95% of militia-appropriate rifles.
Another guess: without help from our Congresscritters, lawyering up is not a suitable answer, it just takes too long to get results.
My suggested remedy: Congress sends a note to Obama suggesting he rescind the rule or have the entire BATFE unfunded4, and any other agency trying to do the BATFE’s erk will be unfunded as well.
Raise the price of poker high enough & Obama will fold.
February 16th, 2015 at 2:52 am
Rivrdog, ATF already banned importation of AP 5.45×39. This is first time that domestically produced ammo is being attacked.
February 16th, 2015 at 9:14 am
As much as I despise the M855, I may have to break down and buy another case, just because they don’t want me to have it. I like my M193 better. ALL the rifles are armor piercing SHH! don’t tell them that.
February 16th, 2015 at 11:33 am
Is this the one with the green tip? What’s it good for anyway, except that it’s cheaper than the genuine AP tungsten one?
February 16th, 2015 at 4:34 pm
BATF needs to be defunded and then disbanded. Federal Gov’t has NO delegated powers for what it does!
February 16th, 2015 at 7:50 pm
Well Obama just said he is going to ‘squeeze every last little bit of change’ he can in the last two years of office.
Time to defund the White House, ATF, IRS, DHS, etc….
Do it by just passing small funding bills for everything else and just not put forth a bill to fund those folks.
Meanwhile, sue them at every turn.
Lets squeeze very last bit of money from his office.