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March 19, 2009
Good News ....DOD Brass Ban LIfted
Feds undercut ammo supply
But Defense policy reversed after intervention by 2 Montana senators
Responding to two Democratic senators representing outraged private gun owners, the Department of Defense announced last night it has scrapped a new policy that would deplete the supply of ammunition by requiring destruction of fired military cartridge brass.
The policy already had taken a bite out of the nation's stressed ammunition supply, leaving arms dealers scrambling to find ammo for private gun owners.
Mark Cunningham, a legislative affairs representative with the Defense Logistics Agency, explained in an e-mail last night to the office of Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., that the Department of Defense had placed small arms cartridge cases on its list of sensitive munitions items as part of an overall effort to ensure national security is not jeopardized in the sale of any Defense property.
The small arms cases were identified as a senstive item and were held pending review of policy, he said.
"Upon review, the Defense Logistics Agency has determined the cartridge cases could be appropriately placed in a category of government property allowing for their release for sale," Cunningham wrote.
The Defense Department liaison was responding to a letter yesterday to the Defense Logistic Agency's Vice Admiral Alan S. Thompson from Tester and fellow Montana Democrat Sen. Max Baucus. The senators argued "prohibiting the sale of fired military brass would reduce the supply of ammunition – preventing individual gun owners from fully exercising their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. We urge you to address this situation promptly."
One of the companies that brought attention to the issue is Georgia Arms, which for the last 15 years has been purchasing fired brass casings from the Department of Defense and private government surplus liquidators.
The military collects the discarded casings from fired rounds, then sells them through liquidators to companies like Georgia Arms that remanufacture the casings into ammunition for the law enforcement and civilian gun owner communities.
But earlier this month, Georgia Arms received a canceled order, informed by its supplier that the government now requires fired brass casings be mutilated, in other words, destroyed to a scrap metal state.
The policy change, handed down from the Department of Defense through the Defense Logistics Agency, cut a supply leg out from underneath ammunition manufacturers.
The policy compelled Georgia Arms to cancel all sales of .223 and .308 ammunition, rounds used, respectively, in semi-automatic and deer hunting rifles, until further notice. Sharch Manufacturing, Inc. had announced the same cancellation of its .223 and .308 brass reloading components.
"They just reclassified brass to allow destruction of it, based on what?" Georgia Arms owner Larry Haynie asked WND. "We've been 'going green' for the last dozen years, and brass is one of the most recyclable materials out there. A cartridge case can be used over and over again. And now we're going to destroy it based on what? We don't want the civilian public to have it? It's a government injustice."
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It looks like the ban has been lifted. Brass casing sold for domestic use will not require mutilation.
from Georgia Arms
" A hardy congratulation is due to our loyal customers, our good friends, and our fellow shooting enthusiasts through out this great nation! Due to the diligent and overwhelming effort of many thousands of you, calling, writing, and emailing our elected officials, DOD Surplus, LLC, has rescinded its prior directive that ALL small arms spent casings be mutilated rather than recycled. This was a huge victory for common sense and we would like to thank each and every person who made an effort and played a role in correcting this mistake. We at Georgia Arms are proud of everyone who took the time and had the courage to stand up for our rights. We believe, that by your outpouring of anger and dismay, you not only extended our liberty and freedoms but also took a stand for economic common sense in a time when we know our government should be trying to reduce costs at all levels rather than throwing money away for some politically correct reason or the other. Again, our hat is off to everyone who helped and thanks to God as well. We will roll up our sleeves and go back to work; we have 223’s and 308’s to build! We will start shipping backorders today. "
(This was pertaining to an outstanding bid on a lot of brass that we won prior to the mutilation order. DOD sent us a bill for the brass after we had refused it due to the mutilation requirements. DOD on Monday sent us a bill for the brass and when we responded that we had already refused it due to the mutilation clause, we received this reply via email.)
Word came down that all shells 50 caliber or smaller CAN still be purchased without the mutilation requirement as long as kept in the US."
More from The Firearm Blog.....
- Prior to 11/2008, Demil B items required no mutilation for sale to the public. That policy changed in November, but several exceptions were granted. Expended munitions brass was one of those given a waiver.
- Enter the new administration. Since Demil B category items had been given a broad, general label as “national security sensitive” someone above the DRMS (likely in the DLA) reviewed the policy and immediately went with a CYA policy and yanked all exemptions. No thoughts or considerations were given to the implications of this policy change, but this directive was issued to DOD Surplus effective immediately last week.
- Shit storm blows up as a result. In particular, the letters, phone calls, and emails to our legislators, the media, and anyone else who would listen caused this policy to be review post haste.
- As of this morning our company was informed that expended munitions brass will now be reclassified as Demil Q –– which requires no mutilation unless sold to a foreign country.
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Wild Thing's comment.........
All little things and large, that are the basic strengths of this Republic are now under sage.
Nicholas reminded me about something. The comedian Pat Paulsen, a regular on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, first announced he was running for President in 1968 as the candidate for the Straight Talking American Government (STAG) Party. Throughout the campaign he repeatedly described himself as the "common ordinary simple savior of America's destiny." Other campaign slogans he used included "We cannot stand pat," "We can be decisive, probably," "United we sit," and "If elected, I will win." He responded to all criticism with the phrase "Picky, picky, picky."
Paulsen declared that "issues have no place in a presidential campaign." However, he did announce a position on a few issues. For instance, on the issue of gun control he favored letting everyone have guns but locking up the bullets.
Is that weird he would say that or what!
........Thank you Mark and Tom for sending this information to me. They both go together so well and make a good post on this. I am learning so much!!! I never knew about all of this before.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Tom
US Army Aviation
Vietnam 1966-68
US Army Special Forces
1970-72
Posted by Wild Thing at March 19, 2009 07:50 AM
Comments
It is questionable who initiated this attempted ban on the public sale of once fired cartridge cases. This may not have been a political event, or it may have been a test case by the new administration. Anyway, the public outcry in response got a qiuck reversal of the ban.
Obama and Holder hate the private ownership of guns. Those of us who believe in the Second Amendment are going to have to be on our toes. One thing in our favor is that a lot of Democrats believe in the right to own guns so the Dems do't have a clear majority in this fight. The two Montana Senators that lead the battle against the ban on brass sales are Democrats.
Buy more ammo while you can anyway.
Posted by: TomR at March 19, 2009 11:01 AM
Every year the at the NRA annual meeting of members 1/3 of the 75 directors terms expire and 25 new candidates are elected for a 3 year term plus one nominee for a 1 year term. Lifetime and 5 year members are eligible to vote for the directors. Of 30 names submitted the voter has to pick not more than 26, I just sent in my ballot, I hope I have done Team Theodore justice. The NRA has been our advocate by standing up to the left's encroaches and by defending the 2nd Amendment.
http://law.jrank.org/pages/8738/National-Rifle-Association.html
If you aren't a member please consider becoming one, it's not just about guns it's about our freedom and rights.
A fleeting thought, I have read the United States Constitution and no place in that document was there any mention of a political party. Article I. Sections 1-10.
Posted by: Jack at March 19, 2009 03:42 PM
TomR, I don't know how it is in Texas, but out here in sector R of the left coast communist party, everytime you purchase ammo, they take a zerox of your drivers license and a thumb print. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!
Posted by: cuchieddie (VN66/68) at March 19, 2009 04:19 PM
cuchieddie-no, we don't have that in Texas. I think it is unique to California(maybe Mass., N.J. and Ill.). I remember when Jimmy Carter had us all signing for handgun ammo so our purchases would be recorded. We have no state restrictions on ammo here.
Posted by: TomR at March 19, 2009 05:49 PM
Tom, I agree, you know I just think all these outragous things are straight from Obama and he is testing to see how much he can get away with and how fast he can do things like this. Just a gut feeling, but pretty strong.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 19, 2009 07:12 PM
Jack, I am sure you did. It is an honor to know you.
I agree too about joining the NRA.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 19, 2009 07:17 PM
cuchieddie (VN66/68), wow, they don't have that in Florida either.
OnlyI mean the first gun I bought here in Florida after we moved here they made a copy of my license and that was all.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 19, 2009 07:21 PM
Watching the mob movie 'GOODFELLAS' (1990) now and wondered why hasn't Obamessiah redistributed the mob's wealth or tried taking away Deggo Dan's or Franky The Wop's ... guns?
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at March 19, 2009 08:53 PM
Darth, good one, and a good movie too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 20, 2009 12:01 AM
