Thomas Massie: “Back in March, the ATF backed off on a controversial proposal to restrict the use of so-called ``green tip'' ammunition…”

“Back in March, the ATF backed off on a controversial proposal to restrict the use of so-called ``green tip'' ammunition, some of the most popular ammunition in the country. In fact, it is used in the popular rifle, the AR-15. The BATFE received over 80,000 comments, primarily from citizens who opposed the Bureau's attempt to restrict their Second Amendment rights. And so the ATF rescinded its proposal. In my opinion, the proposed restriction was based on a flawed application of chapter 44 of title 18 of the United States Code. If you go back and look at the debate that occurred in Congress, you will see that the legislation that was written was clearly meant to cover handgun ammunition. It was never meant to cover rifle ammunition. In fact, there was a debate at the time whether they should limit so- called ``armor-piercing'' ammunition by its functionality--in other words, its efficacy--or whether they should limit it by its design. And they chose to limit it by its design. Because if you limit it by its functionality, what you will find out is darn near all rifle ammunition, unfortunately, will penetrate the common vest. In fact, the most lethal are deer rifles. And so a deer rifle is more lethal in terms of penetrating a vest than would be, say, a so-called assault rifle that shoots a much smaller caliber.…”