On the recordJune 3, 2015
I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I must rise and oppose this amendment. Earlier this year, ATF recognized the threat posed by armor-piercing handguns and tried to limit the sale of the green tip 556 round, which is the military-made armor-piercing round that fits into pistols. This would have made sense. When ATF tried to make that change, the industry decried executive overreach and hidden administrative agendas and shouted down this commonsense proposal. I supported the ATF's proposal then, and I still believe that this and other commonsense regulations on armor-piercing handguns are sorely needed. I introduced the APB Act to enact the ATF's proposed change into law because we have a responsibility to protect our police and our communities from these unreasonably dangerous weapons. A hunter does not need a Sig Sauer P556 or an Extar EXP or any of the other pistols that can fire these armor-piercing rounds. These concealed weapons serve only one purpose: to kill human beings wearing body armor. ATF needs the authority to monitor and regulate firearms and ammunition. When technology advances, like it did with the green tip, ATF needs to be able to act to protect our neighborhoods and our law enforcement. This amendment, I believe, would needlessly strip ATF's authority to regulate dangerous armor-piercing bullets and put cops, kids, and our communities at risk. I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
