Obama & ATF To Ban Common AR-15 Rifle Ammo

pile of ar15 rifles
Obama & ATF To Ban Common AR-15 Rifle Ammo
National Rifle Association Institute For Legislative Action (NRA-ILA)
National Rifle Association Institute For Legislative Action (NRA-ILA)

Fairfax, VA –-(Ammoland.com)-  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.

5.56 mm 62 gr NATO Green Tip Ammo
5.56 mm 62 gr NATO Green Tip Ammo

By way of background, federal law imposed in 1986 prohibits the manufacture, importation, and sale by licensed manufacturers or importers, but not possession, of “a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely . . . from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium.” Because there are handguns capable of firing M855, it “may be used in a handgun.” It does not, however, have a core made of the metals listed in the law; rather, it has a traditional lead core with a steel tip, and therefore should never have been considered “armor piercing.” Nonetheless, BATFE previously declared M855 to be “armor piercing ammunition,” but granted it an exemption as a projectile “primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes.

Now, however, BATFE says that it will henceforth grant the “sporting purposes” exception to only two categories of projectiles:

Category I: .22 Caliber Projectiles

A .22 caliber projectile that otherwise would be classified as armor piercing ammunition under 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(17)(B) will be considered to be “primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes” under section 921(a)(17)(C) if the projectile weighs 40 grains or less AND is loaded into a rimfire cartridge.

Category II: All Other Caliber Projectiles

Except as provided in Category I (.22 caliber rimfire), projectiles that otherwise would be classified as armor piercing ammunition will be presumed to be “primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes” under section 921(a)(17)(C) if the projectile is loaded into a cartridge for which the only handgun that is readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade is a single shot handgun. ATF nevertheless retains the discretion to deny any application for a “sporting purposes” exemption if substantial evidence exists that the ammunition is not primarily intended for such purposes.

BATFE is accepting comments until March 16, 2015 on this indefensible attempt to disrupt ammunition for the most popular rifle in America. Check back early next week for a more in-depth analysis of this “framework” and details on how you can submit comments.
How to comment – from the BATFE

ATF will carefully consider all comments, as appropriate, received on or before March 16, 2015, and will give comments received after that date the same consideration if it is practical to do so, but assurance of consideration cannot be given except as to comments received on or before March 16, 2015. ATF will not acknowledge receipt of comments.

Submit comments in any of three ways (but do not submit the same comments multiple times or by more than one method):

  • ATF email: [email protected]
  • Fax: (202) 648-9741.
  • Mail: Denise Brown, Mailstop 6N-602, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Enforcement Programs and Services, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 99 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20226: ATTN: AP Ammo Comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Brown, Enforcement Programs and Services, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Department of Justice, 99 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20226; telephone: (202) 648-7070.

About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org

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Ross

Ban Americans from 2nd amendment, sell weapons to Nam. I say ,give the moron his legacy,impeach his ass.then change their oath of office to read I swear to the constition and bill of rights as written,and no crossed fingers behind the back either,hillary.

ex marine

If the U.S. wants to remove weapons from its citizens and wage wars for contrived weapons of mass destruction why are they being so hypocritical having weapons of mass destruction and millions of small arms and ammunition. Do they want to make slaves of us. They should remember when people rise up like what happened to Mussolini. We have been taken over internally like Kruschev said and have communists controlling this government. Perhaps the fema camps are destined to be concentration camps for those who refuse to be government sheepl If we want to keep America free we might have… Read more »

claude edmonds

All we can do is call write allof your senate and congressmen and woman each and day.let it be known that u watch the votes they cast in congress and let it de the way u vote inthe future

Tony

Ahh, bullets aren’t that hard to make. Who says you have to buy them?

Tim James

if Obama can ban gun he will try the bullets any thing too help the Muslims win a war in the usa I will give up my guns and bullets when they pry my finger from the triger

Steve Cullen

I’ve got a rather dumb question here but I need to ask it…

The ban (proposed) on 223 ammo applies to ALL 223 ammo or only certain type of .223 ammo?

I’ve recently purchased 2 AR15’s and have some ammo, but not where I’d like to be…+10,000 rounds….

I’ve had some people tell me only certain type of .223 is prosed to being banned and others have said all .223 ammo….

So I’m asking to clarify for my own knowledge…

Thanks

chrls1911

.22 ammo is very hard to find these days, Obama doesn’t want are kids to shoot guns, or let people stay sharp by shooting cheap ammo. Anyway cross off the.22 ammo its pretty well been band. The 223 is the gun that could win back the USA and Obama and the ATF knows it.

RJinCO

I’ve read the ATF Framework several times and cannot determine with any certainty if this ban goes through will it then also make reloading at home of the SS109 bullets illegal?

Also, will owning M855 ammo before any ban make it illegal? Will “grand-fathering” of M855 ammo and or reloading components occur? Or will it be outright illegal to own any of these items?…how can LEAs even enforce any of this?

askeptic

When guns and ammo are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns & ammo.

We’re all outlaws now!

Bruce

FIRST: IF Obama leaves office , and a republican is elected he or she can follow the same path Obama has followed. The republican president can issue an executive order , giving away 1000 rds. of .223/5.56 ammo to any gun owner who owns a weapon that fires these rounds. SECOND: The reupblican president can oder ammunition manufacturers to produce .223 / 5.56 ammunition through executive orders. THIRD: Get a copy of their voting record to see how your elected officials in congress voted on any issue related to guns/gun ownership.

Matthew

Wouldn’t that be a wonderful day

RDNK

@Jaybird,don’t need a lecture from you about about a damn thing ! Just how many representatives and politicans do you communicate with daily ? I vote to put politicians in office to stop this tyranny. The Republicans have total congressional control and still don’t do a damn thing to stop the black muslim. Just what the hell should we tell the son of a bitches when we write?

Jason

The BATFE is one of several agencies which is given free discretion to define and enforce the law as they see fit and without consequence, instead of following the law to the letter. The interpretation of “.22 caliber” as .22LR and 40 grains is entirely of their invention, and found nowhere in the LEOPA. Nor is “sporting purposes” strictly defined anywhere within the GCA, despite referencing it on numerous occasions. Someone needs to put a leash on these puppies, but the most of you (commenters and readers) are too god damn lazy to write your representatives or organize to push… Read more »

Janek

Unfortunately a lot of politicians, after being elected, have a ‘mind of their own’ and think they know what’s best for you. In earlier times this would be called “Taxation Without Representation”.

Dan

Jason, I write my “Republican” congressman and both Senators (from Texas) at least twice a week to comment on every action taken by the president to shred the constitution and steal our freedoms. I have come to the conclusion they have no power against this communist dictator and often most of our elected officials are only concerned about the next election. The “leaders” in government have turned our Constitutional Republic into a Banana Republic. It is time for the electorate to wake up and smell the coffee. We are losing our country while the majority of the residents are concerned… Read more »

DanVB

We ARE doing something about this . see http://WWW.CONVENTIONOFSTATES.COM and get in on this historic effort by the People to demand their STATE legislators (that’s right – State legislators) use their Constitutional authority to call a Convention of States to propose amendments to the Constitution that will “limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, limit taxing and spending and place term limits on our elected officials”. COS is active in all 50 States and has gotten the Application Bill passed in three already and has the Bill introduced in an additional 28 states this year alone! Once we… Read more »

RDNK

There aint a damn thing wrong with buying lots of ammo esp.with that african born muslim still stinking up the White House ! I buy in bulk 1K cases all the time.I had to slow down a little because I aint got no place to store anymore right now. A man can never have ‘too much ammo’ ! 855 green tip is my favorite all around ammo for my 3 AR’s and Ruger Mini14. Some people think 1K is plenty. A man needs at least 5K minimal ! How the hell does it hurt gun owners to buy ammo ?… Read more »

Nunya

STOP FUELING AMMO HOARDERS. Even though this hasn’t even gone into place, and it is only this particular kind of ammo, ALREADY people are freaking out and buying up ammo. The every day shooter is going to be left at the bottom of this barrel and it’s because of garbage like this.

STOP HURTING GUN OWNERS

Caleb

Interesting since California is banning lead bullets for hunting, this means that we have to use steel or “metal” bullets for 22lr and other types of ammo. Since those calibers are used in HANDGUNS this means that other ammo will be interpreted as armor piercing? Which will lead to more ammo bans. What does everyone think???

Mark from CA

I live in CA. I assume the plan is to make lead bullets illegal and all non lead bullets are “armor piercing” therefore illegal. so if lead bullets and non-lead bullets are illegal, all ammo is illegal. As they said in book “Catch 22″….”that is some catch that catch 22”