Proposed BATFE Ban of M855 5.56x45mm Ammunition: My letter to law makers. (Copy, paste, and send to your federal congressional delegation!)

RE: Proposed BATFE Ban of M855 5.56x45mm (AR-15) Ammunition

Dear Senator                ,

The BATFE is planning to ban public consumption of M855 “Green Tip” 5.56x45mm (AR-15) ammunition under the false narrative it is “armor piercing” and, thus, a threat to law enforcement. The ATF's unconstitutional and extra-legal restriction on M855 has nothing to do with public safety or protection of law enforcement, but is another example of a paranoid government depriving Americans of property and freedom. 

There has never been an incident involving an attack on a member of law enforcement using M855 ammunition solely for the purpose of penetrating LEO body armor. Statistically criminals who use firearms against law enforcement are not knowledgeable enough about ammunition, or firearms, to distinguish M855 from, say, standard “Remington” .223 caliber hunting ammunition.

Furthermore, as the ATF is well aware, any standard 55 grain .223 caliber bullet can penetrate level II body armor worn by most law enforcement officers. Therefore, under the argumentation of the ATF's proposed M855 ban, no American citizen should have access to any ammunition caliber above .22 long rifle since since most rifle ammunition can penetrate police body armor and is “armor piercing” according to the ATF's incredibly low standard for AP ammunition. 

The true classification for “armor piercing” is ammunition developed to penetrate mechanized vehicles and barricades on the battlefield. The anti-gun lobby has perverted the meaning of “armor piercing” to include 'any ammunition that can penetrate law enforcement body armor,' which is virtually every form of rifle ammunition available to the public. 

M855 projectiles do not have characteristics of military spec small arms armor piercing ammunition, which include hardened steel, tungsten or tungsten carbide, depleted uranium, pyrophoric (or “self-sharpening on impact) cores, explosive or incendiary tips to aid in penetration, copper, or cupronickel jackets surrounding a “penetrator.” As with the ATF's recent import ban on Russian 7N6 ammunition, the goal of a M855 ban is obvious: 'ban the ammunition and the guns will follow.'

Why, in this era of increasing active shootings, violent crime, and Islamic terror attacks, is the ATF constantly working to make Americans less capable of protecting ourselves from criminal deadly force? Why is the ATF not an advocate for American freedom and Second Amendment rights? Why, in a society where criminals and terrorists commit crimes with firearms, does the ATF seek to punish legal and lawful American gun owners with never-ending bans and restrictions on guns and ammunition? 

Law enforcement officers, despite their importance in maintaining order in our communities, can only respond to, not prevent, attacks on innocent citizens. Federal law enforcement agencies should, therefore, encourage and enable Americans to become more capable of protecting ourselves, not constantly depriving us of the means to do so.

Please stop the ATF from banning civilian access to M855 5.56x45mm (AR-15) ammunition.

Sincerely,