Democrats Beg ATF to Revive AR-15 Ammo Ban

On March 12, House Democrats drafted a letter to the ATF that urges them to revive and implement the ban on the M855 round for AR-15s.

Lawmakers expected to sign the letter include Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Steven Israel (D-NY), and “dozens” of others.

According to The Hill, the Democrats will use the letter to tell ATF Director B. Todd Jones that they are “very disappointed” that the ban was shelved to begin with, and they want it revived and implemented “swiftly.”

Democrats want the ATF to go through the comments received—numbering over “90,000” at this point—then “issue a revised proposal that will address the danger posed by handguns that fire 5.56 mm and other rifle ammunition.”

House Democrats stress that the ATF has “existing authority” to do this, and they want the agency to use that authority now. The letter says, “We urge you not to drag out this delay and to act swiftly to keep armor-piercing ammunition that can be used in handguns off the street.”

Prior to the ban’s cancellation, Representative Tom Rooney (R-FL) put forth legislation that would revoke the ATF’s regulatory powers regarding ammunition. And Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) put forth legislation to completely “eliminate” the ATF as an agency.

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