AmmoLand.com

EPA Declares It Cannot Regulate Traditional Ammo

Virginia Shooting Sports Association

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- Last Wednesday, VSSA put out the call to gun owners to contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and urge them to reject a petition submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), asking EPA to ban led fishing sinkers and lead ammunition.

By Friday, things had changed dramatically.

It was no longer just something being talked about in the firearms media – the story had been picked up by the mainstream media including US News and World Report, Investors Business Daily, and The Weekly Standard.

According to sources close to the firearms industry, the EPA had received tens of thousands of emails from gun owners and sportsmen and by Friday afternoon,EPA assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Steve Owens, announced that EPA was rejecting the petition only two days after opening a comment period saying: “the agency does not have the legal authority to regulate this type of product under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).”

But, according to Jim Shepherd of “The Shooting Wire” an online newsletter, that was not what really had the gun rights community cheering. It was the clause following that explanation: “…nor is the agency seeking such authority.”

For shooters and sportsmen, this decision has at least for now laid to rest the fear that the administration would find a way to move against guns that didn’t employ what has been demonstrably proven to be the political suicide in most of the nation-gun bans.

Friday’s announcement however is only one part of what is a very complex interrelation between individual rights and the outdoors. The same statement being celebrated as a win for the firearms community should also serve as a call to action for anglers to continue to make their voices heard.

“As there are no similar jurisdictional issues relating to the agency’s authority over fishing sinkers,” the statement reads, “EPA-as required by law- will continue formally reviewing a second part of the petition related to lead fishing sinkers.”

If you’re strictly a shooter, Friday’s decision is certainly reason to celebrate. If, however, you also love to fish, you still need to speak out against acceptance of any portion of that petition.

The Environmental Protection Agency will continue to accept public comment on the petition- this time directed specifically to the fishing tackle issue – until September 15. You can find more information that can be included in your comments related to fishing sinkers by clicking here.

Filed under: Ammunition News by Ammoland No Comments »

Laser Pistols To Replace Air Guns At London 2012 – WTF?
By Lee Min Kok

2010 Youth Olympic Games

London - -(Ammoland.com)- Laser guns have shot their way into the modern pentathlon competition at the 2012 Olympics.

The technology was showcased at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), replacing the standard pellet-firing air pistols for the first time in the sport’s history.

Said Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) president Klaus Schormann: “We will have laser shooting for the London Games. Based on this new technology, all countries in the world can compete in our sport.”

Although Dr Schormann declined to give figures, he said that the cost of shooting would be cut by two-thirds.

He was also adamant that the introduction of laser guns will herald a new dawn, saying: “We can hold competitions in parks and even shopping malls. Safety issues will no longer be a big concern.

“We spoke to a few of the female athletes after their competition (on Saturday) and not one of them had a bad thing to say about the guns.”

Said YOG girls’ champion Leydi Laura Moya Lopez of Cuba: “It’s already easier in a way because it’s lighter.” (ASSN: They should consider replace the metal in weight lifting with plastic dumbbells)

It marks the second major change made since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The sport had already combined its two final events – running and shooting – into a single run/shoot finale.

Kim Dae Beom, 18, triumphed in yesterday’s final to become Asia’s first Olympic medallist in the sport. “I can’t believe this. It is really a gift from the heavens,” he said, after finishing well ahead of silver medallist Ilya Shugarov of Russia.

He had trouble getting used to the gun. (ASSN: if he can’t Shoot a Gun what is he competing for?)

Said the South Korean, who had practised with his new weapon only a few days before the competition: “The shooting was faster and I got nervous.”

However, he is also convinced that the future of the sport lies in the laser guns.

This is total BS and is not true to the sport of shooting, playing laser tag with targets has nothing to do with shooting ability and the use of firearms, this is a perfect example of Political Correctness gone wild at the expense of shooting sports: USA Shooting should boycott these entire Olympic games…AmmoLand.com

Filed under: Competitive Shooting News by Ammoland 1 Comment »