A point well made by Dave Kopel in this NRO piece, The Return of a Legislative Legend. Opening line:
As the Senate considers legislation to prohibit abusive lawsuits against Second Amendment rights, Sen. Ted Kennedy is offering an amendment to ban ammunition. Kennedy claims that he is aiming at “cop-killer” bullets, but he appears to be badly misinformed on the issue.
Well! Color me shocked.
If Ted Kennedy was anything but misinformed I’d be amazed. Wasn’t Senator Kennedy quoted as saying that the .30-30 was armor-piercing?
Quote:
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…Another rifle caliber, the 30.30 caliber, was responsible for penetrating three officers’ armor and killing them in 1993, 1996, and 2002. This ammunition is also capable of puncturing light-armored vehicles, ballistic or armored glass, armored limousines, even a 600-pound safe with 600 pounds of safe armor plating. (What has Senator Ted been smoking?)It is outrageous and unconscionable that such ammunition continues to be sold in the United States of America. Armor-piercing ammunition for rifles and assault weapons is virtually unregulated in the United States. A Federal license is not required to sell such ammunition unless firearms are sold as well. Anyone over the age of 18 may purchase this ammunition without a background check. There is no Federal minimum age of possession. Purchases may be made over the counter, by mail order, by fax, by Internet, and there is no Federal requirement that dealers retain sales records.
Via the Geek with a .45.
Why is it that the only people who really get their underwear in a twist over the “armor-piercing” capabilities of ammunition – especially the “magical” ability of rifle ammo to penetrate “armored limousines” – are the high and mighty lawmakers who ride around in armored limousines?
Kopel’s article is quite informative, but he doesn’t mention the non-existant “Black Rhino” ammunition that was announced just about the time Congress was last debating “Cop Killer” ammo. I’m surprised that it wasn’t hauled out again.
Here’s an idea: Let’s just issue all police officers (and legislators) Level IV vests that’ll stop anything up to and including an armor-piercing .30-06 round. That’ll protect them!
Of course, they won’t wear the stiff, heavy bastards, but hey! It’s the thought that counts, right? We’re well-intentioned. We’re caring. And feeling is so much more important than thinking, right?