NSSF warns of threat to ammunition availability, calls for action

[StarDust1]

Hoarding is what those who failed to act accuse those who didn't of doing whenever they can't land a few boxes of ammo at the local walmart store!
I haven't purchased ammunition from a retailer in years and I don't reload...I happened to drop into Bill's Gun shop(MN)and Gander Mt(MN) recently and had to laugh, Gander is still selling a box of twenty 9mm(hollow points, pick your flavor)anywhere from $49.00 to $60.00 per!
Bill's was no better, and had far less to choose from. I last bought ammo several weeks ago, 2,000 rounds of Winchester 180gr Bonded PDX in boxes of fifty at just $19.99 per box, which is remarkable when you consider that Gander is selling the 165gr version in boxes of twenty for almost $50.00....

 

[Mad Chemist]

Maybe we could get a link to the text of the bill? Or a synopsis of the critical elements regulating components as hazmat?

On the hoarding thing...

One positive development of the ammo shortage is that it has created a LOT of new reloaders, this is a good thing.

Brass IS available. (even if you don't load it you should be saving it)
In most areas primers are now available.
Missouri Bullets ships lead bullets quicker than anyone else and for extremely good prices, jacketed and plated can be found online if you look around.


No matter how you feel about it, calling people names because they don't agree with you is childish. It is also pretty cowardly when the anonymity of the internet is applied.
My own rule is to avoid typing anything that I wouldn't say in person, directly to the individual concerned.

 

[BlisteringSilence]

Time to get this discussion back on track....

OK all, enough with the hoarding. Start your own hoarding thread if you want to discuss it.

Below, the text of the amendment:

AMENDMENT TO H.R. 4016, AS REPORTED
OFFERED BY MR. GRAVES OF MISSOURI
In section 402(a) of the bill, in the matter proposed
to be inserted as section 5117(a)(1) of title 49, United
States Code, strike ‘‘under procedures’’ and insert
‘‘under procedures and criteria’’.

In section 402(a) of the bill, in the matter proposed
to be inserted as section 5117 of title 49, United States
Code, amend subsection (j) to read as follows:

1 ‘‘(j) CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES.—
2 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall issue a
3 rule governing applications for special permits and
4 approvals that contains the criteria and procedures
5 the Secretary will utilize to determine whether a per-
6 son is fit, willing, and able to conduct the activity
7 authorized by the special permit or approval. The
8 criteria and procedures shall provide adequate con-
9 sistency, predictability, and transparency in making
10 the determinations.
11 ‘‘(2) FINAL RULE.—After providing notice and
12 an opportunity for public comment, the Secretary
13 shall issue a final rule under paragraph (1) not later
1 than 180 days after the date of enactment of the
2 Hazardous Material Transportation Safety Act of
3 2009.
4 ‘‘(3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary
5 shall make the criteria and procedures established
6 under paragraph (1) available to the public on the
7 Department of Transportation’s Internet Web site.
8 ‘‘(4) UPDATES.—The Secretary shall review
9 and update the rule issued under paragraph (2) as
10 the Secretary determines appropriate.
11 ‘‘(5) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this sub-
12 section shall affect the Secretary’s existing authori-
13 ties under section 107.113 of title 49, Code of Fed-
14 eral Regulations, as in effect on the date of enact-
15 ment of the Hazardous Material Transportation
16 Safety Act of 2009.’’.

What does all this mean, you may ask?

Well, how about a summary (emphasis in colors is mine):

Graves Amendment to
H.R. 4016, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Act​

Summary:

* The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has the primary responsibility for the issuance of DOT special permits and approvals to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR).



* A special permit is a document which authorizes a person to perform a function that is not currently authorized under the authority of the HMR. DOT issues approvals to perform a function for which prior authorization by the agency is required under the HMR.



* H.R. 4016 requires the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and PHMSA to establish and issue “guidance” to applicants for special permits and approvals that contains the criteria and procedures the Secretary will use to determine if a person is “fit, willing, and able” to conduct the activity authorized by such special permit or approval.



* My amendment requires the DOT to issue a “rule” which provides the regulated entities protection under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), rather than a sub-regulatory “guidance” process. This increases transparency, accountability, and consistency without compromising safety.



Rulemaking vs. Guidance:

* Without the transparency, accountability, and consistency of a formal “rulemaking,” regulated industries (fertilizer, ammunition, explosives etc.) cannot be certain that their performance will merit a determination of fitness.



* The industry’s ability to operate and the jobs they provide could all be lost if the fitness determinations issued by an agency lack industry input and an agency assessment of such input.



* The sub-regulatory “guidance” process will lead to arbitrary fitness determinations issued by an agency and individual States, which will negatively impact businesses and the U.S. economy.



* “Guidance” issued by an agency does not provide transparency, accountability, and consistency.


Industry Supporters:

National Rifle Association, Institute of Makers of Explosives, The Fertilizer Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Association of Hazardous Materials Shippers, American Pyrotechnics Association, Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Gases and Welding Distributors, National Association of Chemical Distributors, National Propane Gas Association, National Private Truck Council, Radiopharmaceutical Shippers & Carriers Conference, Reusable Industrial Packaging Association, Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, Alliance of Special Effects & Pyrotechnic Operators

 

[BlisteringSilence]

It's amazing how much information you can amass with one (1) phone call and one (1) email.

In other words, this amendment is a good idea. My best friend is the fleet manager for a company that hauls explosives (1.1a - 1.4d) from the US to Canada, and this amendment is a top priority item, as it removes ambiguity from the permitting process. As as everyone (should) know, ambiguity in governmental regulations is NEVER a good thing,

 

[huntsman]

Time to get this discussion back on track....

Thank You

 

[dom1104]

hmm. no problem in Indiana. been fully stocked pretty near everywhere since the fall.

 

[BlisteringSilence]

hmm. no problem in Indiana. been fully stocked pretty near everywhere since the fall.

This doesn't deal with the shipping of completed (loaded) ammo per se, as much as the shipping of the components, specifically primers and powder. Loaded ammo is very stable, classed as a 1.4d for shipping purposes. The components, however, are classified more stringently. Smokeless powder, black powder, and primers are all a higher (more dangerous) grade of hazmat materials. Also, the classification and permitting has a lot to do with what can be packed with what in the back of a trailer, or in a rail car, etc. For example, while you can ship a trailer full of loaded ammo, you cannot ship a trailer that is half smokeless powder and half primers.

This amendment is really bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo, but it's important mumbo-jumbo.

 

[StarDust1]

By the time a thread reaches 4-5 pages in length, it's virtually impossible to keep it on topic, indeed, often by that time it's spawned or morphed into multiple new topics....

 

[BlisteringSilence]

This thread only took three posts.

 

[Boba Fett]

Technically it only took one two. The OP started the thread and then holycrikey brought up the idea of hoarding and his outrage at the practice. Which had to be answered of course.

The OP, the link, nor the bill mention hoarding.

By the time a thread reaches 4-5 pages in length, it's virtually impossible to keep it on topic, indeed, often by that time it's spawned or morphed into multiple new topics....

That's why we have moderators

 

[mustang_steve]

So basically, this is a bill asking for mandatory oversight on the safety measures a company takes to produce/transport ammo, am I correct?

If so, this isn't too unusual. It will impact shipments until they get the kinks rolled out though. This is similar to the crapfest the US electronics production industry dealt with when RoHS (reduction of hazardous substances) went live...lots of suppliers refused to take any non-RoHS compliant materials and it was very difficult to get compliance info from materials suppliers (in my case, the customer we produced for had to supply it, but they couldn't...I had to go around them and get it myself...unconventional thinking lead to a 6 month issue solved in 30 minutes, but I'm an expert at gathering info).

Point being, regulations are obnoxious as all let out, but so long as the regulation is fair, then game on. It seems this is oriented towards shipment of anything hazardous, not firearms in specific.