Talk about phoning it in!

[1911 guy]

So I e-mailed folks in Washington about the M855 deal. One of them was Sherrod Brown. He's a tool, but I did my duty and contacted him. Here's what I got back:

Dear <<Salutation>>:

Thank you for getting in touch with me regarding a recently proposed framework from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) concerning armor-piercing ammunition.

BATFE, working in conjunction with the Department of Justice (DOJ), proposed a framework to enforce current law regarding ammunition. Gun and ammunition laws were amended in 1986 through the Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act, which prohibited of the manufacture, import, and distribution of armor-piercing ammunition that may be used in a handgun. This law was passed with the purpose of protecting law enforcement officers. The law has an exception for ammunition that is primarily intended for sporting purposes. On February 13, 2015, BATFE published a framework outlining how they will determine whether certain ammunition or projectiles are primarily for sporting purposes.

Some Ohioans have expressed concerns that the recent BATFE framework would limit access to popular ammunition used for AR-15 rifles. The February 2015 proposed framework would treat certain types of 5.56-by-45-millimeter ammunition as armor-piercing ammunition. This ammunition, which was once used exclusively for rifles, can now be used in pistols and handguns. These types of bullets, if used in a pistol or handgun, could put law enforcement that rely on body armor in serious danger and led the BATFE to determine that the ammunition is no longer intended for sporting purposes and no longer exempt from the current law. This notice was provided for public comment until March 16, 2016. Comment may be made by emailing [email protected].

It is imperative that we take steps ensure the safety of our law enforcement officers. The shocking numbers of public shootings throughout the country in recent years, demands that we engage in a serious national discussion about gun violence, not just in terms of weapons and bullets, but also including mental health access, public safety officers, and our responsibility both as individuals and a society.

Should any legislation concerning ammunition come before the Senate for a vote, I will keep your thoughts in mind.

Thank you again for getting in touch with me.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
United States Senator

So not only is he repeating tripe, apparently his office can't even take the time to type a name into a mass e-mail.

 

[OilyPablo]

Actively campaign against him. Make it perfectly clear to him.

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

Yeah, and remind him that the M855 doesn't even fit the description of armor piercing ammo. They are trying to apply a section of the law that is irrelevant regarding the M855. It isn't armor piercing per the law. They are trying to disingenuously claim it no longer falls under the "sporting purposes" clause exception for armor piercing ammo when it isn't armor piercing to begin with.

Woody

 

[barnbwt]

<witty comeback not found>

 

[USAF_Vet]

Better than what I got from mine. One Senator couldnt even be bothered to return my e-mail, the other sent a rubber stamp "I support the second amendment, but..."

 

[HOOfan_1]

Didn't contact my senators Kaine and Warner...they told me they supported all of Obama's assault weapon ban BS 4 years ago.

E-mailed my congressman though...Brat and saw his name on the objection letter sent to the ATF

 

[Iktomi]

Both my congressman and senator are on record as being pro-gun control in the extreme. Congressman Mike Thompson and Senator Diane Feinstein need no introduction to any pro 2nd amendment advocate. Wasn't worth writing to them, though I did write to the ATF during the comment period.

 

[Ryanxia]

Make sure you know when he is up for reelection and make a push to support a pro second amendment candidate for that race. If no one's willing to get active, these people will take everything from us. Thankfully there was a decent amount of house cleaning done in several States this past election.

 

[tyeo098]

This ammunition, which was once used exclusively for rifles, can now be used in pistols and handguns. These types of bullets, if used in a pistol or handgun, could put law enforcement that rely on body armor in serious danger

He needs to be called out on this statement.
How does ammo fired from a firearm with a shorter barrel make it extra dangerous?

 

[HOOfan_1]

He needs to be called out on this statement.
How does ammo fired from a firearm with a shorter barrel make it extra dangerous?

Just another incident in a long line of incidents where legislators are trying to legislate what they don't understand....e.g. barrel shroud = the shoulder thing that goes up.

The anti-gun people cry bloody murder that the NRA and gun industry are whispering in the ears of Congress, but the anti-gun bills proposed and sponsored by people who prove they don't understand the content of their bills, just shows that the Brady Bunch and Bloomberg Crew are whispering their own poison into the ears of their supporters in Congress. Those bills are probably written by the anti-gun lobby and rubber stamped by gun grabbers in Congress.

 

[denton]

He needs to be called out on this statement.
How does ammo fired from a firearm with a shorter barrel make it extra dangerous?

Darn right he needs to be called out. This is just additional evidence that no knowledge of a subject is required in order to pass laws concerning it.

Of course, the round is not armor piercing according to the law. The "legitimate sporting use" exemption that was granted was completely gratuitous.

Further, M855 will NOT penetrate AR500 personal armor plate. But 55 grain 5.5x45 ammunition with a lead core and copper jacket WILL.

Per Ardvisson, a NATO official whose entire job is working on ammunition, has stated repeatedly that when the M855 was developed, there was no body armor piercing requirement. So the military doesn't think it is armor piercing. That task is left to the M995, which has a tungsten core.

There is absolutely nothing uniquely dangerous about the M855.

 

[Drail]

Back in the 90s I worked for the NRA and what I found was that most politicians will have two different form letters printed up - one agreeing with you and one explaining why you are mistaken in your position. And on occasion they would get them mixed up and send them to the wrong people. We supplied form letters for NRA members to mail to their Congress animals and they would show me letters from the same politician agreeing AND disagreeing with the same NRA letter sent to them. You cannot believe anything these idiots tell you. Almost every one of them got where they are by lying to everybody. They really don't care what the constituency thinks.

 

[Speedo66]

How much money are you contributing to my campaign? That is the only thing that matters to them.

They follow the money.

 

[Armybrat]

Anytime a politician or an antigunnut starts saying "I support the 2nd Amendment, but...." - just politely respond "No you don't because there are no buts about it".

They are simply lying with their fake support.

 

[morcey2]

He needs to be called out on this statement.
How does ammo fired from a firearm with a shorter barrel make it extra dangerous?

I've run into more than a couple of people who think exactly that. They think that a bullet fired out of a pistol will always be more deadly than a rifle round. One guy explained that the shorter pistol barrel had less friction than long rifle barrel so the pistol was much deadlier. He also thought that a bullet was a bullet was a bullet. Any round could go in any gun and fire in it. I invited him to go shooting with me and he wouldn't have anything to do with it.

I have the feeling that the forgotten "<<Salutation>>" in the reply may have been more of a passive-aggressive way of telling you that he didn't care what you said since you disagreed with him than an actual oversight.

Matt

 

[DHJenkins]

They are simply lying with their fake support.

A politician that lies? Say it ain't so!

If the guy wanted to or could understand anything about the specifics of firearms, he wouldn't have sent you that email. Of course, that's assuming his aids didn't send it, which is what happens 99% of the time. I highly doubt that any letters which aren't from donors or representatives of groups ever get seen by the person in office.

They only care about the numbers, so a short "As a voter, I'm against this" letter likely carries the same weight as a long, technical one.

You can always spend the $8 to register an internet domain and put up a couple of pages that make it look like you're an organization with a decent roster - then they might actually pay attention.