the obama administration has put the brakes on its plans to ban a popular type of rifle ammunition after an onslaught of criticism from both the public and lawmakers 'you spoke, we listened,' the agency said tuesday afternoon on twitter the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives says the agency received more than 80,000 public comments on the proposal to outlaw some types of 556 mm rounds – also known as 223 caliber ammunition the agency said tuesday that comments ran overwhelmingly against the proposal, which it first floated in february the ammunition targeted by the atf is commonly known as 'green tip' because of its distinctive appearance green tip: the popular rifle ammunition is no longer being targeted for extinction by the atf  hunters and target shooters use the bullets, primarily in ar 15 style rifles like this one, but the ammo could travel fast enough from a handgun to pierce a police officer's body armor  uncle: the atf decided tuesday that it couldn't withstand an onslaught from legislators and the public  '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,' the agency said in a press release 'accordingly, atf will not at this time seek to issue a final framework' that carefully parsed language leaves open the possibility that the government could revive the idea in the future the atf plans to keep collecting comments until march 16 hundreds of lawmakers, including 52 us senators, also objected the atf had proposed banning the ammunition, most commonly used in the popular ar 15 style rifles, because they could potentially penetrate a police officer's protective vest if fired from a handgun instead the law enforcement officers protection act banned armor piercing handgun ammunition in 1986 green tip ammo has long been exempt because it's primarily used in hunting and target shooting rifles the atf's proposal would have removed that exemption, effectively banning its sale in the united states virginia republican rep bob goodlatte took a rhetorical victory lap on tuesday from his perch as chairman of the house judiciary committee 'after much pressure from a large, bipartisan majority in the house of representatives, i am pleased that the obama administration has abandoned its attack on the second amendment,' goodlatte said in a statement 'it is entirely inappropriate for president obama to stretch his regulatory authority to implement partisan policies that congress has refused to enact,' he added 'such an abuse of power would impact many law abiding gun owners and restrict the american people's ability to legally and responsibly exercise their second amendment rights' last week goodlatte and 238 other house members, including seven democrats, sent a verbal stop sign to the atf 'under no circumstances should atf adopt a standard that will ban ammunition that is overwhelmingly used by law abiding americans for legitimate purposes,' the lawmakers wrote to atf director b todd jones on monday a group of 53 republican senators complained in a similar letter to jones that efforts to respect the second amendment to the us constitution – which protects the 'right to bear arms' – 'require not only access to firearms, but to bullets' 'if law abiding gun owners cannot obtain rifle ammunition, or face substantial difficulty in finding ammunition available and at reasonable prices because government entities are banning such ammunition, then the second amendment is at risk,' they claimed only one gop senator, mark kirk of illinois, chose not to sign the letter he faces a brutal re election fight next year in a blue state where gun control advocates have a strong presence the national rifle association also claimed victory on tuesday 'vast majority of the comments  are critical': atf's message to americans admitted that hardly anyone supported them  the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives (atf) is a justice department agency in charge of regulating access to a wide variety of materials  rifle owners complained that without the green tip ammo, their guns could become useless overnight  'today's announcement proves what we have said all along – this was 100% political,' nra executive vice president wayne lapierre said in a statement 'president obama failed to pass gun control through congress, so he tried impose his political agenda through executive fiat but every gun owner in america needs to understand barack obama's hatred of the second amendment has not changed' the nation's largest gun rights group is preparing for its annual convention next month in nashville, tennessee, where potential presidential candidates including former texas gov rick perry, texas sen ted cruz, former florida gov jeb bush and wisconsin gov scott walker will rally thousands of the second amendment lobby's backers the controversy has also brought a legislative brickbat out of the house, with florida republican rep tom rooney introducing the protecting second amendment rights act that bill proposed to generally limit the atf's power to regulate ammunition speaking of tuesday's resolution, texas republican rep kevin brady said: 'this was way out of step with reality and i’m glad it’s over'
national rifle association atf democrats house
'green tip' bullets were oni the endangered list as atf wanted to remove its exemption from a federal law that protects police officers  it's mostly used in hunters and target shooting rifles, but could pierce body armor if it's fired through a handgun  53 senators and 239 house members – including seven democrats – signed protest letters to the atf's director  atf gave in, saying it would shelve the proposal  national rifle association called it a polical plan 