It looks like the current administration is back to its old tricks of seeking backdoor gun control that will only affect law abiding gun owners. The ATF is apparently in the process of attempting to ban a popular type of 5.56mm round that is popular with AR-15 owners. Based on new proposed regulations, the ATF is essentially seeking a ban on the popular M855 round (aka “green tip”). The NRA-ILA weighed in on the measure:
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.
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.”.
Obama to ban green tip 5.56 ammo
Anyone who has spent time in the military and has been issued this ammo knows it has no armor piercing capabilities. That won't stop Obama from banning it or any other ammo he feels like banning in the future.