Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is hoping to flood the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) with public comments in an effort to get the agency to back off of its “backdoor” attempt to ban the popular “green tip” bullet.
“President Obama is determined to cement his anti-gun agenda into law,” begins a letter signed by Paul and posted to the website of his political action committee, RANDPAC.
“I’m counting on your immediate action to
help RANDPAC flood the agency with a message from America’s pro-gun majority,” Paul writes in his letter.
BATFE is accepting public comment until March 17 on its proposal to ban .223 M855 “green tip” ammunition. The Obama administration backs the effort, arguing that it is needed because the bullets can pierce bullet-proof vests worn by police.
“This seems to be an area where everyone should agree that if there are armor-piercing bullets available that can fit into easily concealed weapons, that it puts our law enforcement at considerably more risk,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said this week.
BATFE and the White House claim that the bullets, which the agency approved in 1986, will be used in more handguns, which are increasingly being manufactured to be able to hold the ammunition.
But gun rights supporters and nearly 240 lawmakers oppose the effort saying that “green tips” do not pose an increased risk for police.
Chris Cox, the executive director of the National Rifle Association, told Fox News earlier this week that according to the FBI there have been no reported incidents of officers being shot with handguns containing one of the bullets.
