US lawmakers push to ban civilian sales of military-grade ammunition from Army facility |
Democratic lawmakers in the United States have introduced new federal legislation aimed at preventing military-grade ammunition produced at a US Army facility from being sold to civilians. The proposed bill, introduced on March 5, seeks to stop defense contractors and government-owned plants from selling high-caliber ammunition and certain military-style weapons to the public. Supporters say the measure is necessary to prevent American-made ammunition from reaching criminal organizations and fueling violence both in the United States and abroad.
The legislation was introduced by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim, along with Representatives Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin. The bill would prohibit defense contractors and facilities owned by the federal government from selling high-caliber ammunition, including .50-caliber rounds, to civilians. It would also prevent Pentagon contractors from selling assault-style weapons to the public.
The proposal follows a major investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and The New York Times, which found that powerful .50-caliber ammunition produced at a US Army facility had ended up in the hands of Mexican drug cartels. According to the investigation, cartel members used the ammunition in attacks against Mexican authorities and civilians, raising alarm among lawmakers and security officials.
The ammunition in question was manufactured at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, a massive facility located outside Kansas City, Missouri. The plant is the largest producer of small-caliber rifle ammunition for the US military and its allies. For decades, it has produced billions of rounds of ammunition for government use, but under certain arrangements it has also manufactured ammunition for the civilian market.
Although the facility is owned by the US government, it is operated by private defense contractors. The US Army allows these contractors to sell some of the ammunition commercially, a practice designed to reduce costs for the military and ensure the plant remains operational during........