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ATF Director Confirms It’s Not Just About M855

ATF Director B. Todd Jones spoke in a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing today, and confirmed exactly what I said when the M855 party started: the ATF is not just concerned about M855, but all 5.56 ammunition.

In a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, ATF Director B. Todd Jones said all types of the 5.56 military-style ammo used by shooters pose a threat to police as more people buy the AR-15-style pistols.

“Any 5.56 round” is “a challenge for officer safety,” he said. Jones asked lawmakers to help in a review of a 1986 bill written to protect police from so-called “cop killer” rounds that largely exempted rifle ammo like the 5.56 because it has been used by target shooters, not criminals.

His agency’s move to ban the 5.56 M855 version was condemned by the National Rifle Association and majorities in the House and Senate and as a result was pulled back though not abandoned. At the hearing Jones said that nearly 90,000 comments on the proposal were received, many negative.

As a result, he said that the ATF will suspend rewriting the “framework” used to exempt armor piercing ammo from sale or use. “It probably isn’t going to happen any time soon,” he said. Jones also said, “We are not going to move forward.”

You can read the rest here if you’re interested, but two things come immediately to mind:

  1. They want to ban all 5.56 ammo (as a start), as predicted, and will if we let them.
  2. Our response to the proposed ban worked, at least temporarily. DO NOT LET UP. Make sure your representatives know this issue will directly influence whether or not they get to keep their job.

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54 Responses to ATF Director Confirms It’s Not Just About M855

  1. Mark March 12, 2015 at 1:23 pm #

    They want it all. They have always wanted it all.

    • Quill and Penn March 12, 2015 at 4:35 pm #

      Yea 5.56 then what’s next, 300 black out then .308 then the sky is the limit…

    • Roger Helmich March 14, 2015 at 1:10 pm #

      the original drafts of the Bill that would become the National Firearms Act of 1934 included all Handguns being banned unless registered and paying the 200 dollar tax imposed by the Law. A Tax that the government had to be sued to collect because they passed the law in order to ban these weapons. FYI it has always been about banning

    • Gary Buelow March 16, 2015 at 6:41 pm #

      they can have all mine when it comes out the barrel of my GUN.

  2. Willy Rad March 12, 2015 at 1:25 pm #

    I would be willing to bet 75% of law enforcement would not agree with the BATFE. I know as a private investigator and protection specialest I’m not conserend over the 556 round anymore than I am over any firearm being fired at me. However no law is going to keep me safe because criminals don’t obey them.

    • thisguy March 13, 2015 at 12:28 am #

      Well for 1 when you became a cop you signed up for that risk of being shot just like I did when I enlisted and went to war. Nothing is going to keep you safe except your brain. Furthermore I’m more worried about being stabbed than shot.

    • Carl Humfleet March 13, 2015 at 8:43 pm #

      The head if the Fraternal Order of Police didn’t agree with BATFE. He said 5.56 rounds do not propose a substantial threat.

  3. Chris March 12, 2015 at 1:46 pm #

    We need to roll back the 7N6 ban while we are at it.

  4. Gary O March 12, 2015 at 2:07 pm #

    They finally speak what they have wanted all along. The ATF needs to go – or at least be reminded of our constitution. The police group comments that I’ve read say this is NOT against police safety. All rifle ammo can do this.

  5. Jim March 12, 2015 at 2:43 pm #

    I like the proposals made to eliminate the ATF better

    • mike.z March 12, 2015 at 6:12 pm #

      Why? Another abc agency will just pick up where they left off.

      • Ko I March 14, 2015 at 6:54 am #

        Or, depending on how ballsy Congress and the President in charge at the time feel, the next version could be worse. Better to rehabilitate the house than bulldoze it.

  6. Mark W March 12, 2015 at 3:01 pm #

    then they will target any rifle ammo that can be used in pistols which is 5.56, 7.62, and AK rounds all made as pistols currently. that’s a huge issue IMO.

    • John Luxom March 12, 2015 at 10:42 pm #

      Never-mind that there are companies making stupid pocket pistol derringers in everything up to .45LC now.
      If this passed we would be on an uphill battle just to be able to buy .410 shotgun ammo because they make revolvers that chamber it.

  7. Denis Jackson March 12, 2015 at 3:03 pm #

    5.56 is a crap round. But we shouldn’t let them ban anything. Bring it all back, armor piercing, full auto, no registration on or tax on pistols, manufacturing of new machine guns and purchase. No if and or buts. No taxation without represention.

    • Joe Z March 12, 2015 at 6:40 pm #

      Right on brother!

  8. J. Todd March 12, 2015 at 3:13 pm #

    Tyranny plain and simple. The 2nd admentment was written so that its citizens could protect themselves from government run amok. If police and military are the only ones allowed to possess certain ammunition then they are ignoring our constitution.

    • Jason March 15, 2015 at 1:44 pm #

      Ok. So WHEN, exactly, do we organize to begin protecting ourselves to deal with and “throw out” this tyrannical government leadership to replace it with a Constitution obeying leadership?

  9. Robert March 12, 2015 at 3:18 pm #

    When the ATF said they were dropping the issue for the moment, people on Facebook acted like the battle was over, but if they read the statement from the ATF on this then they would know it’s not over by a long shot. They’ll wait until something else has the attention of most Americans, (since we have no attention span), and pass it then. People need to think about the long game, this issue will never be over for the left.

  10. Randy Meyers March 12, 2015 at 3:20 pm #

    It’s like plucking a chicken. They will pluck one feather at a time until all the feathers are gone.Then they will kill it. We must keep gun rights.

  11. john March 12, 2015 at 3:22 pm #

    The 7n6 ban is an executive order in response to putin’s posturing and invasion of Ukraine. The ATF has nothing to do with that one it’s all o

    • Roger V. Tranfaglia March 12, 2015 at 7:14 pm #

      Correct me if I’m wrong, John, I believe 7n6 was banned some months before the troubles in Ukraine……….

  12. Jim Fortini March 12, 2015 at 3:28 pm #

    Definitely not over by any means…. Keep up the fight or we will lose all our freedoms one by one….

  13. MARK March 12, 2015 at 4:35 pm #

    All it’s going to take is one moron to fire a 556 round at law enforcement and the ATF will go after this ban again in full force and don’t think that our beloved government wouldn’t fabricate this situation just so they could ban this round and many others.

  14. Steve March 12, 2015 at 4:43 pm #

    any rifle ammo will defeat the armor LE wears.. my .270, 30-30 etc.. there is an easy fix supply LE with the proper armor..

    • Jack Rose March 12, 2015 at 10:37 pm #

      Great idea. Seriously. Level 3 or better required for duty, if statistical significance of threat can be proven.

      Most departments carry it anyway, though many officers don’t often wear it. Militarization? Here’s the trade: body armor to protect police, to allow them to uphold and defend the Constitution. If that looks scary to you, then develop a new and better paradigm that is not a direct assault against the most basic foundation of this country.

  15. Chris Johnson March 12, 2015 at 5:18 pm #

    5.56 being the smallest commonly used centerfire rifle round, and the weakest, what does this say about their intent with regard to all the larger calibers? You don’t need to be a genius to figure it out. Fortunately, they’re not going to get what they ask for.

  16. Lou March 12, 2015 at 5:41 pm #

    I think we need to fully embrace our 2nd Amendment. We all know that guns make us safer…that is the reason why the NRA fights so hard for our rights. So on that spirit, why is our firepower being limited? Why can’t we buy machine guns? Why is that not an infringement on our Constitution? Let your Congressman know!

    • obammiesmammie March 13, 2015 at 10:21 am #

      You CAN purchase a machine gun (if you have $25,000+ laying around) and pay the $200
      transfer tax.

      • Jason March 15, 2015 at 1:47 pm #

        Saw a Mk III Sten gun available for $5000 last weekend. ABout the cheapest full auto gun around…..and mags are very affordable!

  17. Rob March 12, 2015 at 5:43 pm #

    Representatives aren’t worried about losing their jobs. They get full pay and benefits for life, sending them home means they don’t even have to show up to earn it anymore. It’s a reward, not a punishment. Bonus: whatever crap sandwiches they pass NEVER get repealed, they’re there for ALL TIME.

  18. Rich March 12, 2015 at 5:57 pm #

    you think this is bad just wait until the Liberals in stupid America elect old lady Clinton. We will then loose the rest of our rights. The left doesn’t care about our rights just their agenda. Constitution and amendments means nothing to the Liberal left and especially our current criminal and the one that will follow him unless of course it’s not Clinton. Then maybe just maybe.

  19. rkt88edmo March 12, 2015 at 6:46 pm #

    Yeah – We’re going to need to cut off your hands citizen, they pose a threat to officer safety…

  20. LibertyDwells (@libertydwells) March 12, 2015 at 6:56 pm #

    ALL the comments were negative. Not 3% supported the ban.

  21. Intrepidone66 March 12, 2015 at 8:41 pm #

    This proposed ban against the availability of M-855 and SS-109 is nothing more than another attempt to take away the ABILLITY for the American Citizen to rise against an tyrannical government.

    Do not get sucked into the discussion of “why does a civilian need” argument…it’s mute, its illogical in an constitutional sense and just a plain waste of time when talking with statists, liberals and so-called “progressives”…they will NEVER see the validity of your point, because they detest an armed populous, a populous that is willing and ABLE to fight against the government…it’s absurd notion to them.

    No other reason than the ability for an armed, civilian American People to defend themselves against an overreaching government needs to be given.

    • reba gaudet March 13, 2015 at 2:01 am #

      DITTO. DITTO. DITTO………WE ARE GONNA NEED EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO DEFEND OURSELVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

  22. paul March 12, 2015 at 8:51 pm #

    The thing that is really stupid in America is that everybody says let’s blame the liberals, blame them for this and that , yet 80% don’t even know what a liberal is. I’d be willing to bet that most on here don’t know that a Eric Prince aka founder of Blackwater said that he was a LIBERAL concervative. There are liberals in both major parties people. I for one do not support a 5.56 ban nor a magazine ban or a automatic weapons ban as long as the weapon isn’t given to a felon! You fear the man, not the weapon. I have no party affiliation because I see stupidity and lies in both parties and being a former armed services member see falsehoods and empty promises on both sides of the aisle that erode my faith in this country and the promise it once held

    • Lee March 14, 2015 at 11:25 am #

      I’m w/ you on that Paul, common sense isn’t common and any person who toes the party line just because it’s their party are the sheep people complain about.

  23. Jeremy March 12, 2015 at 10:09 pm #

    I highly recommend stock piling 5.56 and purchasing reloading components for 5.56 if you shot that round purchase enough to ride out a long court battle because that is what it will come down to

  24. Ted March 12, 2015 at 10:18 pm #

    The liberals will sing a different tune when they are herded into a FEMA camp right along with the conservatives

  25. Jeff March 13, 2015 at 12:03 am #

    Paul, I like the way you think

    • paul March 13, 2015 at 2:02 pm #

      Thank you Jeff! Stay safe out there.

  26. shawn leach March 13, 2015 at 1:39 am #

    ATF definitely needs to slow their roll, they are causing more harm than good. No matter what the law is criminals will always find a way around it because they simply don’t give a shit. Taking firearms or even just the ammo for the guns that the law abiding citizens have to protect themselves poses a much greater threat than what they believe their bullshit laws are preventing.

  27. Hillbilly Bob March 13, 2015 at 1:41 am #

    This fight will never be over until eventually a younger generation that is not into shooting becomes voting age and then it will all be over
    Of course we will be long gone but our great grandkids will be right in the middle

    • R Gronstedt March 13, 2015 at 11:22 pm #

      You are correct sir. It is a generational take over. It is in the schools. It will happen over time and we will be long gone. The only way to protect our kids and grandkids is education by our generation.

  28. jeremy March 13, 2015 at 5:25 am #

    When will it stop! Tired of the bullcrap

  29. Michael March 13, 2015 at 8:30 am #

    Due to a recent supreme court ruling, the ATF will most likely NOT notify us in the future for changes in the “interpretation” of regulations: http://www.onpointpreparedness.net/atf-ammo-ban-recall-have-we-been-fooled/

  30. Mike Dean March 13, 2015 at 10:59 am #

    Ok first of all let me say I am in law enforcement. I am not at all concerned with someone shooting a 5.56 round at me, more than I am someone shooting anything at me. I’m actually more concerned about the guns that I can’t see right off the bat, and could be drawn and fired in a quick manner. Fact is, you just can’t effectively conceal any firearm that shoots 5.56. That includes the so called “AR pistol,” some of which still have 10″ barrels. You just can’t maneuver and operate one of those like you can a Glock or something similar. If these libs would focus on improving the education system instead of gun control, there wouldn’t be anywhere near as many of these gun toting thugs, that are the cause of worry on the streets…. but it’s not the thugs they’re really worried about is it? They really don’t give a flying flip about officer safety, because if they did, there would be a very misguided attempt on their part, at banning all 9mm and .22lr… two of the most widely used rounds used in crime. Not the round that’s most widely used by law abiding patriots!

  31. Randy Lefebvre March 13, 2015 at 11:00 am #

    Hummm, DOJ under the direction of Holder really don’t care about cops, (ask Ferguson cops), they took moneys from them under Federal confiscations,now when it suites their needs they love the police. Again I call BS

  32. Bobby March 13, 2015 at 2:29 pm #

    What law abiding citizen would shoot a police officer? Come on…criminals will not obey the law anyways. So much M855 out there now that this is pointless. Let’s protect everyone by making the strictest laws for people that commit murder. Bring back the electric chair and hangings. Criminals get 3 free meals a day and cable TV.

  33. John Gladin March 13, 2015 at 3:04 pm #

    Any center-fire rifle ammunition legal for deer hunting will do the same – and more efficiently. This is about “evil black rifles” and is purely political.

  34. Bill March 13, 2015 at 8:01 pm #

    Do they have any idea how big an AR15 pistol is?…

  35. Shawn L March 14, 2015 at 12:35 pm #

    I feel like in this day and age far too many kids and young adults are caught up in the life of being content sitting around playing video games all the time instead of going outside and doing something constructive. Sadly most of the video games that are being produced nowadays involve shooting which I see as part of the problem why shooting are far more common today than they were in years past, the reason I say that is because it seems like people think it’s ok to bring in game experiences where killing is perfectly fine to reality. At 23 I know I’m not all that old myself and I also fall into the age group that I am talking about but I was raised by parents that always told me anytime I said I was bored to go outside and find something to do and quit bitching about it. Also anytime I ever asked my parents to get a video game console I was told that if I really wanted it bad enough I would find a way to earn money so I could buy it myself, because if I bought it with my own hard earned money it would teach me the value of hard work and money. I myself am very grateful I was brought up this way and I wish others my age and younger saw things the same way and would get out and see that there are better things in life than video games. Not saying it’s a cure all for violence but I do think shootings and other forms of firearm violence would be reduced. Guns aren’t the problem at all it’s the people being allowed to purchase them. I’m 100% for being allowed to own firearms and I strongly believe everyone should have the right to own them without any sort of fear whatsoever, but I also strongly believe that it is entirely too easy for criminals and mentally ill people to obtain firearms. Where there is a will there is a way to purchase guns so putting a ban on anything firearm related is asinine because like I previously said a criminal or anyone with ill intent will find a way to get what they want. Sorry for going off topic at all I just wanted to express my outlook on things and its hard sometimes to find anyone who will listen.

  36. Joe Molina March 15, 2015 at 6:15 am #

    Wow I just went through 350 rounds on Friday for fun….