Great News: ATF Backs Down (For Now) on Big Ammo Ban

Agency admits "the vast majority of the comments received to date are critical" of the plan

I reported a couple of weeks back on the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) unwarranted new attempt to ban common AR-15 ammo (M855 "green tip") as "armor piercing" even though by its own statutory definition it isn't.

A happier followup, ATF announced in a press release today:

Although ATF endeavored to create a proposal that reflected a good faith interpretation of the law and balanced the interests of law enforcement, industry, and sportsmen, the vast majority of the comments received to date are critical of the framework, and include issues that deserve further study. Accordingly, ATF will not at this time seek to issue a final framework. After the close of the comment period, ATF will process the comments received, further evaluate the issues raised therein, and provide additional open and transparent process (for example, through additional proposals and opportunities for comment) before proceeding with any framework.

This may indicate more a delay of bad behavior from ATF than cessation of this planned ammo grab, but at least ATF understands the politics of this issue now, and that those politics works against them. (Though as a mere agency, they can often afford not to care what mere citizens or even lawmakers think.)

Townhall has some more context. Associated Press reports that "the agency received more than 80,000 public comments" and that "Hundreds of lawmakers, including 52 U.S. senators, also objected."