In the News

Talk of a federal ammunition ban has gun owners running to store shelves to stock up. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has proposed a ban on the sale of M855 bullets, claiming it's dangerous for police officers in the line of duty.

"As a gun owner and a person who follows this really closely, it's a major concern," said Nathan House, General Manager of Arkansas Armory Gun Store. "If you remove one type of ammunition from the market that's otherwise commonly available, it's going to make the price of ammo across the board go up."

Stores around the state have run low or run out of M855 and some gun enthusiast believe any possible regulation is unnecessary.

"If it fits in my gun, I should have a right to that ammo," said Jimmy Franks, a regular at Arkansas Armory. "I don't need it today, but nobody can tell me what I need tomorrow."

The ATF claims the ammunition is an armor-piercing projectile, which puts officers at an increased risk in the field.

"It's not being shown to be any more dangerous than any other projectile that's out there on the market," House said.

"No, the bullet don't harm anybody unless we pull the trigger," Franks said.

But even the threat of a ban has driven customers to stock up across the state.

"People are concerned about it," House said. "You know this is a very commonly available round and for that source to dry up so quickly is a concern to shooters."

The AR-15 handgun uses M855 bullets. In House's opinion, the ban stems from the fact that those weapons are more widely used in recent years. But he said an AR-15 isn't common enough to ban one of the many kinds of ammunition that can be used for the gun.

"It's not something that is routinely going to be under somebody's seat in their car that they're going to be carrying around," he argued.

Bob Estes, Chair of the Arkansas Coalition for Peace and Justice, said this kind of regulation is under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

"The Gun Control Act of 1968 gave the authority to regulate armor-piercing bullets," he said. "This regulation in general has been supported by police unions and police organizations because it is a mechanism to help protect them."

Right now, the ban is in a 30-day review period while the ATF looks for feedback from the public.

Virginia congressman Bob Goodlatte wrote a letter to the ATF upset the possible ban. Arkansas legislators like French Hill and Rick Crawford have both signed it.

"If you have a concern either for or against, I would encourage you to express that," Estes said.

But Franks said he hopes the ATF won't go through with the ban.

"Way too much governmental control, they don't need to be so much in our lives in every aspect of it," he said. "They could back up some. A lot!"

After the 30-day public comment period ends, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will make the final call based on recommendation of the public.

###