“You spoke, we listened,” tweeted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in response to public pushback against a proposal to ban AR-15 ammunition.
“[T]he vast majority of the comments received to date are critical of the framework, and include issues that deserve further study. Accordingly, ATF will not at this time seek to issue a final framework,” the ATF announcement says. ”After the close of the comment period, ATF will process the comments received, further evaluate the issues raised therein, and provide additional open and transparent process (for example, through additional proposals and opportunities for comment) before proceeding with any framework.”
House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R., Va.), who led the criticism of the proposal from the House, celebrated the announcement. “I am pleased that the Obama Administration has abandoned its attack on the Second Amendment,” Goodlatte said Tuesday. “Congress will continue to steadfastly protect the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens and it is entirely inappropriate for President Obama to stretch his regulatory authority to implement partisan policies that Congress has refused to enact. Such an abuse of power would impact many law-abiding gun owners and restrict the American people’s ability to legally and responsibly exercise their Second Amendment rights.”
ATF had pitched the ammo ban as a means to protect police, according to the Washington Examiner.
“[I]t has concerns that the popularity of AR-15 pistols might mean a greater threat to police,” as Paul Bedard explained. “Foes of the move, including a top police group, however, say there is no evidence the $1,000 pistols have been used against police. Others note that the metals used in the ammo are not included in the old law’s description of armor-piercing bullets.”