IS S. 397 A TROJAN HORSE?
You may have heard a lot of praise for S. 397, which last
week passed the U.S. Senate. This bill is supposedly
intended to protect firearms manufacturers against nuisance
lawsuits.
There's been minor grumbling about the "safety lock"
provisions in the proposed legislation, but otherwise S.
397 has had overwhelming support.
Just about the time we were wondering why even some usually
gun-unfriendly senators like Herb Kohl (D-WI) were in favor
of this bill, an alert Congresswatcher contacted us with a
warning.
"The only thing I see that's good about the bill," this
sharp-eyed observer wrote, "is that it hasn't become law."
After taking a closer look, we agree.
As our correspondent pointed out, the real problem lies in
Sec. 6 "Armor Piercing Ammunition."
THIS SECTION COULD ALLOW ALL CENTERFIRE RIFLE AMMO TO BE
BANNED
Here's how.
Part One of Sec. 6 makes it illegal to make, import, sell
or deliver any "armor-piercing" ammunition EXCEPT:
1) For the use of state and federal government departments
or agencies.
2) For export
3) For Attorney General-approved testing.
Part Two "enhances" criminal sentences for anyone who
possesses "armor-piercing" ammunition during the commission
of a crime.
Part Three is where the trap is really sprung. Because this
part instructs the U.S. Attorney General to "conduct a
study to determine whether a uniform standard for the
testing of projectiles against Body Armor is feasible."
NOTE WELL: The tests to determine whether or not ammo is
"armor piercing" are NOT to be conducted against armor
plate, such as that used on military combat vehicles. The
tests are to be conducted against body armor. And as anyone
knowledgeable about firearms knows, VIRTUALLY ALL RIFLE
AMMO WILL PENETRATE BODY ARMOR. So will some pistol ammo.
We asked firearms maker Len Savage if the warning we
received was well-taken or whether this was simply a
misinterpretation of the proposed law. Here's Len's reply:
"Yes. This gives the A.G. the power to say what is and is
not "armor piercing." There is no language for what type of
test is to be conducted (other than ballistic vests). If
the test were on 1 inch "rolled homogeneous armor plate"
then there would be no problem. If the test is a level I
"vest" material, then EVERYTHING including .22 longs, are
going to be illegal ammo.
"The bill would effectively give the power to decide to ONE
person. NO vote, NO appeal, NO rights. (Just like the
current mess with [the sloppy, no-standards testing
practices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and
Firearms].)
"I figured it was a matter of time before they got around
to figuring out: Control the ammo and you control the guns.
Of course there would be born a "black market" for ammo,
very close to the black market for marijuana, in size,
scope, and risks. Next will be the sentencing
recommendations for possession, and distributing (dealing).
Components will be viewed as constructive intent of illegal
manufacturing of "terrorist material."
"This is a dangerous path for America. I am forced to ask
myself: Why the continued attack and obvious methodical
disarming of American Citizens? There is only one answer:
control and power."
Just as "Saturday-Night specials," "military-style assault
weapons," "cop-killer bullets," and "sporting purposes"
have all been used as deceptive, emotionally loaded key
words to justify regulations and outright bans, it now
appears that the designation "armor-piercing ammunition" is
likely to be mis-applied in an attempt to deprive Americans
of their rights.
We should all be asking some serious questions about the
real impact S. 397 will have on our freedoms if it becomes
law. One important question is: Why are our "leaders" so
desperate that they would attempt to slip such a
potentially draconian provision into a supposedly pro-gun
bill?
The Liberty Crew
LINKS:
S. 397, Sec. 6
http://tinyurl.com/9u8mt (click on [S.397.ES])