{"id":1388,"date":"2015-03-16T16:05:00","date_gmt":"2015-03-16T16:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/2015\/03\/16\/my-response-to-atf-framework\/"},"modified":"2019-08-16T18:25:18","modified_gmt":"2019-08-16T18:25:18","slug":"my-response-to-atf-framework","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/?p=1388","title":{"rendered":"My Response To The ATF Framework"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='__iawmlf-post-loop-links' style='display:none;' data-iawmlf-post-links='[{&quot;id&quot;:10813,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.atf.gov\\\/sites\\\/default\\\/files\\\/assets\\\/Library\\\/Notices\\\/atf_framework_for_determining_whether_certain_projectiles_are_primarily_intended_for_sporting_purposes.pdf&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:10791,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com\\\/2015\\\/03\\\/m855-ban-shelvedfor-now.html&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/web-wp.archive.org\\\/web\\\/20260419010904\\\/https:\\\/\\\/onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com\\\/2015\\\/03\\\/m855-ban-shelvedfor-now.html&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-24 04:06:30&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200}],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-24 04:06:30&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:10814,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com\\\/2015\\\/03\\\/is-your-senator-on-this-list.html&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:10815,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com\\\/2015\\\/03\\\/is-your-congressman-on-this-list.html&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:10816,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.biggerhammer.net\\\/armpistol\\\/variants.html&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biggerhammer.net\\\/armpistol\\\/variants.html&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;}]'><\/div>\n<p>\nGiven that I put the &#8220;pro&#8221; in procrastinate, waiting to submit my comment on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.atf.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/assets\/Library\/Notices\/atf_framework_for_determining_whether_certain_projectiles_are_primarily_intended_for_sporting_purposes.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ATF Framework<\/a> (and M855 ban) until the last day is par for the course. While I have submitted other comments using some of the comment generators, I really wanted to submit a fairly comprehensive comment as to why the ATF Framework was flawed. My comment is a mixture of original research along with some good research done by others.<\/p>\n<p>The BATFE is accepting comments through the close of business today. While they have decided to <a href=\"http:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com\/2015\/03\/m855-ban-shelvedfor-now.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">punt a final decision until a later date<\/a> and have suspended the ban on the M855 bullet for now, I thought it was important to get this on record. Below is my comment which I submitted by fax just a few minutes ago.<\/p>\n<p>I do plan to send copies of this comment to Senators Burr and Tillis and to Rep. McHenry. I am pleased to note that all three signed the <a href=\"http:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com\/2015\/03\/is-your-senator-on-this-list.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Congressional <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com\/2015\/03\/is-your-congressman-on-this-list.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letters<\/a> to the BATFE demanding an end to a potential ban on the M855 bullet and cartridge.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"tr_bq\">\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">15<br \/>\nMarch 2015<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Denise<br \/>\nBrown<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Enforcement<br \/>\nPrograms and Services<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Office<br \/>\nof Regulatory Affairs<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Bureau<br \/>\nof Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">99<br \/>\nNew York Ave. NE<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Washington,<br \/>\nDC 20226<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">By<br \/>\nfax: 202-648-9741<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Dear<br \/>\nMs. Brown:<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">I am<br \/>\nwriting in response to your solicitation of comments regarding the proposed ATF<br \/>\nFramework for Determining Whether Certain Projectiles Are \u201cPrimarily Intended<br \/>\nfor Sporting Purposes\u201d Within the Meaning of 18 USC 921(a)(17)(C).<br \/>\nSpecifically, your agency requested comments regarding how it best can<br \/>\nimplement the withdrawal of the exemption for M855\/SS109 ammunition while<br \/>\nminimizing disruption to the ammunition and firearm industry and maximizing<br \/>\nofficer safety.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">While<br \/>\nI am pleased that your agency has decided to back down from this proposal to<br \/>\nban M855\/SS109 ammunition for now, I would still like to make my opinion known<br \/>\nin the event that your agency revives this proposal and framework.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">The<br \/>\nATF Framework states that M855\/SS109 ammunition was previously \u201cnot classified<br \/>\nas \u2018armor piercing\u2019 under the statute because there no handguns that could \u2018use\u2019<br \/>\nit.\u201d (p. 6) This statement by ATF is erroneous. Prior to the passage of the<br \/>\nLEOPA and the granting in 1986 of an exemption from classification as armor<br \/>\npiercing to M855\/SS109 projectiles, there was in fact a semi-automatic handgun<br \/>\nthat did fire the 5.56&#215;45 cartridge. This was the Bushmaster Armpistol<br \/>\nintroduced by Gwinn Firearms Company in 1977. After the purchase of Gwinn<br \/>\nFirearms Company by Bushmaster, it was continually made up through 1990. This<br \/>\npistol used standard M16\/AR-15 magazines much like the more modern AR-15<br \/>\npistols do today. Photos of the Bushmaster Armpistol may be seen on the<br \/>\nInternet at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biggerhammer.net\/armpistol\/variants.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.biggerhammer.net\/armpistol\/variants.html<\/a>.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Furthermore,<br \/>\nBATFE does not have any statutory authority to prohibit civilian distribution<br \/>\nor possession of M855 cartridges under 18 USC 921(a)(17)(B) regardless of any \u201csporting<br \/>\npurpose\u201d determination made by the Attorney General under 18 USC 921(a)(17)(C).<br \/>\nNor does the BATFE have any statutory authority to prohibit civilian distribution<br \/>\nof NATO STANAG 4172 specification cartridges (SS109) under under 18 USC<br \/>\n921(a)(17)(B). The statutory language of under 18 USC 921(a)(17)(B) defines<br \/>\narmor piercing projectiles as follows:<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (B) The term \u201carmor piercing<br \/>\nammunition\u201d means\u2014<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;\">(i)<span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">a projectile or projectile core which may be<br \/>\nused in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of<br \/>\ntraces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys,<br \/>\nsteel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium; or<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;\">(ii)<span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">a full jacketed projectile larger than .22<br \/>\ncaliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a<br \/>\nweight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">The<br \/>\nprojectile specified in M855 specification ammunition, US Army TACOM ARDEC<br \/>\nDrawing 9342869, has a combined steel and lead core. 18 USC 921(a)(17(B)i<br \/>\nspecifies that the core must be constructed entirely of one of the specified<br \/>\nsubstances. M855\/SS109 projectiles fail this test.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Continuing, 18 USC 921(a)(17)(B)ii states that the<br \/>\nprojectile must be \u201clarger than .22 caliber <u>designed and intended<\/u> for<br \/>\nuse in a handgun\u201d. Again, the M855\/SS109 specification ammunition fails this<br \/>\ntest as a) the projectile is not larger than .22 caliber; b) MIL-C-63989C (AR),<br \/>\nthe US Army specification covering M855 cartridges does not mention handguns as<br \/>\na use for which the cartridge was intended; and c) the gas port pressures<br \/>\nrequirements established in Section 3.10.3 of MIL-C-63989C (AR) constructively<br \/>\nexclude the \u201cAR Type handguns\u201d cited in the ATF Framework as an application for<br \/>\nM855 cartridges.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"tr_bq\">\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">The sporting purposes exemption given to M855\/SS109 based<br \/>\ncartridges in 1986 was made in error. They were not then nor are they now what<br \/>\ncan be classified as \u201carmor piercing\u201d. As such, no exemption for sporting<br \/>\npurposes was even needed. I will leave it to the BATFE to determine the<br \/>\nhistorical rationale for this superfluous action.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"tr_bq\">\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">BATFE Director Jones in his recent Congressional<br \/>\ntestimony has expressed concern about the ability of any 5.56&#215;45 bullet to<br \/>\npenetrate soft body armor. Virtually all center-fire rifle cartridges used in<br \/>\nhunting and target shooting will penetrate soft body armor which was only designed<br \/>\nto stop pistol caliber bullets. 5.56 bullets and especially M855\/SS109 bullets<br \/>\nare no more amenable to misuse by criminals than any other rifle cartridge. I<br \/>\nwould ask that BATFE permanently retract their proposal to ban M855\/SS109 based<br \/>\nammunition.<\/span>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"tr_bq\">\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Finally, your intended framework for future<br \/>\ndeterminations of \u201csporting use\u201d regarding ammunition that can be used in<br \/>\nhandguns is flawed. Under Category II, the BATFE states that the presumption<br \/>\nthat a cartridge is \u201cprimarily intended for sporting uses\u201d only applies to<br \/>\nthose cartridges for which the only handgun readily available is a single shot<br \/>\nhandgun (bolt or break-open). There currently exist revolvers readily available<br \/>\nthat chamber such cartridges as the .30 Carbine, the .30-30 Winchester, and the<br \/>\n.45-70. These revolvers are large, heavy, can mount scopes, and are intended<br \/>\nprimarily for the sporting purpose of hunting and target shooting. To presume<br \/>\nthat a revolver weighing five pounds has anything other than a sporting purpose<br \/>\nis, to be blunt, ridiculous. <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Thank you for consideration of my comments.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;\">Sincerely,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 4pt;\">\n<span style=\"font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;\">John P. Richardson<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Given that I put the &#8220;pro&#8221; in procrastinate, waiting to submit my comment on the ATF Framework (and M855&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2305],"class_list":["post-1388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-m855-ammo-ban"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1388"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10266,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1388\/revisions\/10266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}