President Barack Obamas administration plan to ban green tip ammunition is drawing fire from a Republican congressman from Florida who has introduced a bill against this latest gun grab.
The White House announced on Monday that it was behind a proposal from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) to ban the manufacturing and sale of 5.56 mm/.223 caliber M855 green tip ammo which is commonly used in hunting, especially with AR-15 rifles.
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest praised the idea as good for public safety, especially for law enforcement officials.
We are looking at additional ways to protect our brave men and women in law enforcement, and believe that this process is valuable for that reason alone, said Earnest on Monday, insisting Obama was behind common-sense steps that balance Second Amendment rights and public safety.
That certainly wasnt enough for conservatives like U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., who is pushing his Second Amendment Rights Act.
Rooneys bill, which he spotlighted at the end of last week, would ensure the ATF and other federal agencies would not be able to stop the manufacture and sale of that kind of ammunition.
The Obama administrations proposal would unilaterally strip law-abiding hunters and sportsmen of their Second Amendment rights, Rooney said on Friday. Congress has made its intentions clear that this ammunition is for sporting purposes and should not be restricted. We cannot and we will not stand by while the Obama administration tramples on the Constitution, the rule of law, and the Second Amendment rights of hunters in my district and across the country.
Rooney is not alone in his efforts. The National Rife Association (NRA) has been pushing back against the proposal. U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., has been gathering signatures for a letter to the ATF against the proposal with more than 170 congressional representatives having already signed it.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
