Thune, Rounds join group of Senators challenging potential ammo ban

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Both of South Dakota's representatives in the U.S. Senate have joined a group of lawmakers challenging a potential ban of a popular type of ammo by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Earlier this year, the ATF proposed a ban of some types of 5.56 mm rounds — or .223-caliber — used in widely available and popular AR-15-style rifles because the bullets can also be used in some new types of handguns. The ban was considered due to concerns the bullets can pierce a police officer's protective vest when fired from a handgun. The rule change would affect only "M855 green tip" or "SS109" rounds with certain types of metal cores.

Sen. John Thune and Sen. Mike Rounds joined a group of 52 U.S. Senators sent a letter to the ATF condemning the agency's proposal. In a statement, Thune says the ATF's proposal infringes on constitutionally-protected right to bear arms.

According to the Associated Press, armor-piercing handgun ammunition has been banned since 1986 as a way to protect police officers under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act. However, Thune says the types of ammo now being considered for a ban are protected from prohibition by a "sporting purposes" exemption in that 1986 law.

Meantime, the ATF appears to have stepped back from the ban. Officials recently released a "notice of publishing error," which states that the bureau was not planning on removing the "sporting purposes" exemption for the so-called "Green Tip" or "SS109" ammo. The ATF says these types of ammunition were left off a proposed exemption list released earlier this year by mistake.