Conservative sites have been on fire this weekend as the ATF published a memo indicating they are planning to classify the popular m855 rifle round as armor piercing.
Here is the memo:
http://www.atf.gov/...
Here is the NRAs take on it:
https://www.nraila.org/...
The net result of the hint of a ban is that m855 has completely sold out. It had previously been trending towards around 30 cents/round. Now it is for sale on auction sites for $1 and is sold out in all online stores.
If you would like to monitor prices here are two links:
http://ammoseek.com/...
http://www.gunbot.net/...
I have posted a couple of threads from various sites so you can see the discussion from gun owners (or nuts if you prefer).
http://www.thehighroad.org/...
http://www.thehighroad.org/...
http://thefiringline.com/...
http://www.survivalistboards.com/...
Some key concerns are:
-All centerfire rifle rounds are soft armor piercing, including all 223/5.56. So if the BATF could get away with it, virtually all rifle ammunition would be illegal.
-Sporting purposes is not a criteria of the second amendment but is a criteria of the ban on certain types of ammunition.
-Whether a pistol exists that is able to fire the round should be irrelevant, but is a key criteria. Guns that are basically AR15s that lack a shoulder stock are considered to be pistols.
-Some states have no mechanism to grandfather existing owners, so owners of this ammo would automatically become felons.
-The net effect of a ban would be to take out a huge source of cheap surplus ammo thus raising prices of all 223/556 ammo and making the vaunted black rifles too expensive to shoot.
-Very few crimes/murders are committed using this ammo or using "assault rifles". The ban would not reduce crime/murders/violence.
I suspect most on this site think that this is a great strategy, which it is. But I thought I would make you aware of it so you can enjoy the show.
EDIT: Just as a reminder, I didn't post this to convince anyone. Just to bring it to your awareness as most on dailykos would view it in a positive light and it wasn't getting any coverage. As with all my posts I try post with civility and courtesy. Obviously I don't expect the same back but do appreciate it.
EDIT: also in case you aren't aware, lead is the other primary material used in bullets. California has banned lead bullets for hunting purposes. The federal government will most likely move in this direction. Once steel and lead are banned then guns will effectively be clubs.