Judicial Watch has filed a federal lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in an effort to obtain records of communications related to the 2015 proposal to reclassify certain ammunition for the AR15-type rifle as “armor piercing.”
According to Judicial Watch, the lawsuit was filed in US District Court for the District of Columbia. A press release from the organization alleged that the ATF is “reportedly reconsidering its February 2015 proposal to revise the 2014 Regulation Guide regarding the reclassification of certain ammunition.”
Back in March 2015, when the controversy had generated much attention among gun owners and gun rights activists, more than 200 members of Congress sent a letter to then-ATF Director B. Todd Jones regarding the proposal, and how it might violate the Second Amendment.
The regulation was seen by many as a not-so-subtle attempt by the Obama administration to dry up the ammunition supply for AR15-type rifles. This ammunition, known as “green tip,” was inexpensive and readily available for all kinds of legitimate sporting purposes, the letter explained.
Judicial Watch is seeking “All records of communications, including emails, to or from employees or officials of the ATF related to the decision to revise the ATF 2014 Regulation Guide to no longer exempt 5.56 mm. SS109 and M855 (i.e., ‘green tip’ AR-15) ammunition from the definition of ‘armor-piercing’ ammunition.”
At the time, it was argued that this ammunition did not meet the statutory definition of “armor-piercing” ammunition, which can be found in federal statute. There was enough of an uproar that ATF withdrew the proposal.
“This is yet another example of how Obama’s wanton use of the ‘pen and the phone’ attempted to undermine the constitutional rights of all Americans, as opposed to upholding the rule of law,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The Obama ATF simply ignored our request on their ammo ban. Let’s hope the Trump administration finally brings transparency to this out-of-control agency.”
