Proposed M855 Ban Part I. Even if you do not care, you need to care enough.

Both are 5.56 caliber rounds.
Both will go through a Level IIA vest.
Only one is considered "armor piercing"

As many already know, the BATFE is proposing a ban on a specific type of common ammo, the 5.556 caliber M855 round. The "green tip" is a very popular round by many shooters. It is normally an affordable and abundant military surplus round. It used for target practice, competitive shooting, hunting in some States and a good option for self defense.

First the back story on the round

The M855 was developed for use in the military's M-16 family of rifles and carbines and became the standard round in 1980. Since that time, it has become very popular with civilians due to the already mentioned abundance and low cost of it's surplus being sold on the open market.  

But due to a technicality the ATF (BATFE) wants to ban it from civilian use because they know consider it an "armor piercing" handgun round. This because of the AR-15 "pistol." I put "pistol in quotes because it is only a technicality, because of the ATF description of the firearm, that  it is called a pistol. It's really just a short barreled AR-15 rifle without a butt stock. 

For all practical purposes, the AR-15 pistol in nothing more then an expensive (yet fun) range toy. It still has a long barrel, commonly around 8 to 12 inches in length depending on model. It still has the large receiver / frame and a buffer tube that sticks out the back where the butt stock should be. It is not practical to carry on your hip like a true pistol and it's very difficult to shoot with one or both hands on it's pistol grip.

Why the Ban

Even though the M855 has been around since the 1980's and AR-15 pistols have been around for decades as well, now out of the sudden, the ATF feels the combination is a threat to LEOs. Since the M855 fired from a AR pistol will penetrate the most common bullet proof vests Law Enforcement Officers wear. 

The logic makes sense.... for about a second. Then you realize that ANY 5.56 or .223 round fired from a AR pistol will pass through the most common bullet proof vest that LEOs wear. 

Why is that? It's because the AR pistol is chambered for a RIFLE cartridge and the most common bullet proof vests LEOs wear are rated to stop pistol cartridges. When I say pistol cartridges, I mean cartridges like 9mm and 45 ACP.

This excuse by the ATF to ban M855 has no logical merit. Like I said, the AR pistol and M855 have been around for decades. Why ban the M855 now? Has there been a rash of Police deaths caused by criminal shooting them with M855 loaded AR pistols? Have LEOs been recently shot by criminals with AR pistols loaded with other ammo and the vest stopped the bullet?

The proposed ban it being brought on by only one of two reasons

1) People employed by the ATF have no understanding of firearms. 

They legitimately think there is a real difference between an AR pistol and a AR rifle and the M855 is the only round that can be fired from the an AR pistol that can defeat a pistol rated bullet proof vest.

If this option is plausible, we are in deep trouble. It would mean that we have people with no practical knowledge about firearm, working for a Federal Agency with "firearms" in it's flipping name, making laws regulating firearms. 

2) People employed by the ATF are proposing this ban as a political motive.

There is no denying that many politicians and unelected government officials want to restrict, if not completely eliminate, our 2nd Amendment rights. 

Some may want to do this because they naive enough to believe that criminals will actually follow gun control laws and will be hindered from breaking other laws. I'm sure countless lives have been saved by those "no firearms allowed" signs on doors. I'm sure would be murderers who have no problem ending someone's life and no concern of life in prison are stopped in their tracks buy a $200 fine for ignoring the "no firearms allowed" sign. (insert eye roll here)

Sadly many want to infringe upon our rights because they don't think civilians should have the right to be armed. I feel strongly this is the reason for the proposed ban on M855. They know they can repeal the 2n Amendment and large bans have failed to pass in Congress. But an agency can easily chip away at our rights with arbitrary rules like the one proposed.

That's why even if you do not care, you need to care enough

They get away with "back door bans" like this because there are enough people who don't care enough. Many infringements have been put in place through the year. They come to pass because many pro 2A people say thing like "well it's just one round, there's still plenty of choices for my AR." Or "I  don't have an AR, it not a problem for me." Or even worse "I'm just one person, I won't make a difference. The ATF or my representatives in Washington DC will just ignore my calls and letters anyway.

I am convinced that if just a small percentage of the people who say my voice won't make a difference would actual use their voice they would make a difference. I am also convinced that this needs to take place whenever a proposed law or ban on anything firearms related is made. 

If you believe in and support the 2nd Amendment, you need to voice your objection against any infringement. Regardless of if it affects you directly or not. Fight bans on ammo that you don't use. Fight bans on firearms you don't have or want. Fight rules hindering the right to carry even if you have no interest in carrying yourself. 

We who enjoy our liberty are all in this together, regardless of how we exercise our individual rights.

If you enjoyed this post, there is a part two:
Proposed M855 Ban Part II. This Will Happen Because It Doesn't Mean Anything To You