Democrats are making efforts to strategically navigate around the Second Amendment, aiming to limit Americans’ firearm rights by imposing restrictions on ammunition availability. A coalition of progressive attorneys general is urging the gun control team at the White House to cease commercial sales from a government-owned ammunition factory. In response, all Republican attorneys general across the nation have joined forces in opposing this proposal.
Established in 1941, the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) located in Independence, Missouri, has been manufacturing substantial quantities of small arms ammunition in standard NATO rifle and machine gun calibers. As the primary provider of ammunition to the US military, this facility, federally owned, has been under the operation of various commercial entities since its inception.
Presently, Winchester Ammunition oversees its operations on behalf of the government. Under the terms of Winchester’s contract with the US Army, the company is obligated to sustain the capability to manufacture 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition annually.
Additionally, as stipulated in the contract, Winchester is permitted to sell ammunition in the civilian market, generating revenue to support the workforce required to fulfill substantial military orders.
Starting in 2022, the Biden Administration has been indicating the possibility of prohibiting the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) from distributing 5.56mm NATO ammunition, the caliber commonly utilized by AR15-style sporting rifles, to civilians.
As of now, the administration has not acted on that specific warning. Nevertheless, in response to an article in The New York Times suggesting a connection between military-grade ammunition and mass shootings, 20 Democratic Attorneys General penned letters to both President Biden and the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, urging a cessation of commercial ammunition sales by LCAAP.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey of Missouri, along with his 27 Republican counterparts, has composed a separate letter. They are urging President Biden to disregard the Democratic request, asserting that it is riddled with numerous inaccuracies.
Additionally, they are reminding him of the rights safeguarded by the Second Amendment and highlighting that a prohibition on commercial sales of 5.56mm ammunition, the predominant output of LCAAP, would result in the elimination of 500 to 700 jobs at the plant.
Furthermore, they expressed that without the presence of those workers, the plant would be unable to fulfill the Army’s mandated production target of 1.6 billion rounds. If the Democrats emerge victorious in this matter, there is a concern that at some point, our troops might find themselves without ammunition for their rifles when facing potential threats.
