DOD reverses policy about destroying brass! Thanks NRA/ILA!

[Louis of PA]

And thanks to all who belong to NRA and to all the others who mounted a protest. You did good!

STATEMENT FROM NRA CHIEF LOBBYIST CHRIS W. COX
Military Surplus Cartridge Case Issue Resolved

Wednesday, March 18, 2009


Yesterday morning, the Department of Defense informed NRA-ILA that fired military small arms cartridge cases are once again eligible for sale, following a temporary suspension in such sales instituted last week. NRA-ILA began discussions with DoD shortly after the suspension took effect, and we were assured from the beginning that efforts were underway to resolve the issue favorably.

Yesterday afternoon, DoD additionally confirmed the lifting of the suspension to pro-Second Amendment United States Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who sent the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) a joint letter vigorously opposing the suspension, on the grounds that it had "an impact on small businesses who sell reloaded ammunition utilizing these fired casings, and upon individual gun owners who purchase spent military brass at considerable cost savings for their personal use."

Everyone who would have been impacted by the suspension, had it become permanent, owes thanks to Senator Baucus for his leadership on this issue, as well as to Sen. Tester and U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), who also weighed in strongly on behalf of gun owners and the suppliers from whom they obtain ammunition reloaded with surplus military brass.

In announcing that the suspension has been lifted, DoD also made clear that no cartridge cases that, in the absence of the suspension, would have been sold for reloading purposes were destroyed while the suspension was in effect. Such cases were instead protected by DoD during the suspension, and are again eligible for sale. With ammunition currently in short supply, that was welcome news, to be sure.

DLA also put to rest various theories and rumors that were circulated on the internet, concerning the reason for the suspension. As DLA explained to Senators Baucus and Tester, and to NRA-ILA, DoD officials responsible for the demilitarization of military property temporarily halted the release of the cartridge cases last week, pending review of a policy change issued last year by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which, in the interest of national security, halted the sale of items within a broad category of government property including, but not limited to, surplus small arms cartridge cases.

To make cartridge cases eligible for sale once again, DoD demilitarization officials verified that the cases could be appropriately placed in a category of government property allowing for their release for use within the United States, and then executed the recategorization. Whereas during the brief suspension, fired cartridge cases would have been releaseable only if the purchaser crushed or smelted them, now the cases may be sold as before, intact and reloadable.

DoD also assured NRA-ILA that companies previously authorized to purchase cartridge cases under Trade Security Controls need no further vetting at this time, and are eligible to resume purchasing cases under the policy adopted yesterday.

In sum, a problem that could have had serious repercussions for the remanufactured ammunition industry and the countless gun owners who support it, appears to have been resolved quickly.

For more information:
http://www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/DLA.MilitaryBrass.pdf
http://www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/DLA_mcunningham.pdf

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Dan Wilson]

Sorry but the NRA/ILA had nothing to do with the lifting of this crap

The thanks almost solely rests with the head of the Montana shooting association (or something like that) as he is the one who principally contacted his congressmen.

All the NRA is doing is passing along the message.

Dan

[Louis of PA]

Sorry but the NRA/ILA had nothing to do with the lifting of this crap

The thanks almost solely rests with the head of the Montana shooting association (or something like that) as he is the one who principally contacted his congressmen.

All the NRA is doing is passing along the message.

Dan

Dan, thanks for the explanation; didn't NRA get involved?If not, do you know why?
Lou

[2571]

NRA didn't even know about it until everybody was grumbling. Heard, too, that some MN group was the first to do anything that helped.

I've also heard that it was Mrs Obama who whispered in the presidential ear and suggested the DOD was out of line.

Can't vouch for any of the three but believe the most likely is that the Lairds of Fairfax were last in line to get involved.

[Fick_2141]

Gun sales up 70%, ammo shortages, hoarding, symbolic tea parties, all actions of the silent majority. These Dems know something is happening in America, and if they don't get out of it's way it will run them over politically speaking. Sixty five Dems have also signed a letter to the Atourney Gen. stating that they would not support a reauthorization of the AWB.
The silent majority didn't vote in numbers to stop Obama, but their actions are being noticed by people that fear their wrath in the mid-term.
The NRA-ILA is our organization. Without them and our support there would be no Second Amendment to defend. The NRA is very powerfull with respect to the DOD if not the administration. You have no idea how many flag grade officers could have voiced their opinion. I'm sure there were many, and none too few were NRA life members as well. The complete 180 on this is the effect of political power despite the spin in the letter.
I believe that this move by the DOD was a toe in the water to check the temp. The water is too cold and it is full of piranna, and the biggest fish is the NRA-ILA. That means you and me.

[shooterg]

I support NRA-ILA and am a Life Benefactor member of the NRA, BUT they were late on the bandwagon, albeit with a loud voice. This was indeed a grassroots effort in swamping legislators with email/phone calls/etc. The 2 Democratic Senators from Montana responded to the heat before the NRA hardly knew whuzzup . Wish we still had Dems like that in Virginia !

[GBA]

I'm a Life Member of NRA and support them. But, as in this case, Heller was not initiated nor was it pursued by the NRA until the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. THEN the NRA jumped in and provided lots of welcome support. The case was cooked up by a few Libertarian lawyers, and initially opposed by the NRA because they (the NRA) felt that the case could be lost, and that possibility was too risky to contemplate.

[Dan Wilson]

I don't know why they didn't know about what was going on but in all the traffic it credits the two congressmen from MT for getting the situation fixed and they were contacted by that shooting organization there in MT.

However, I did get a nice email from the NRA patting themselves on the back for fixing it, losers.

Dan