SAN ANTONIO – The Obama Administration is proposing the ban of certain ammunition used for AR-15-style rifles and in other handguns.
The ban cites law enforcement officer safety as its justification because the ammunition is armor piercing. However, long-time gun shop owner Brock Wilkerson believes the ban is unnecessary and said any possible regulation of the 5.56 millimeter rounds or M855 green tip ammunition is unnecessary.
"It does nothing than allow this to not be made anymore, which is a cheaper round to be made, so the guy that wants to shoot a lot wants to shoot that cheaper round because he likes shooting," said Wilkerson.
The ATF claims the ammunition is an armor-piercing projectile - firing steel, iron or brass, which puts officers at an increased risk in the field.
"Right now, the problem of steel core ammo being used in violent crimes is non-existent basically, " said Wilkerson.
The Bexar County Sheriff's office isn't backing the plan.
"We believe that law-abiding citizens have the right to buy guns and to buy ammunition, and that's of any size," said Bexar County Sheriff's spokesman James Keith.
Keith said the sheriff's office would like to see Washington concentrate on keeping weapons and ammunition away from people who have bad intentions.
"We've seen cases where people have committed acts of violence with pencils, scissors, with small caliber guns. If somebody wants to hurt you, they're not necessarily going to be picky on the weapon that they choose many times they'll use what they have available," said Keith.
Wilkerson hopes the ATF won't go through with the ban.
"It's just a ban on the people who want to use this cheaper round for target practice or whatever, they just can't get it, " said Wilkerson.
The agency is accepting public comment about the proposed change until March 16. A final decision will be made later this year. You can send your comments by email to apacomments@atf.gov, fax, or postal mail. A final decision will be made later this year.