Republican lawmakers are pushing to stop President Joe Biden’s ammunition ban following recent mass shootings in the U.S.
In a joint letter led by Missouri Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Sam Graves, the GOP is urging Biden to reverse its decision to ban the production of ammunition in a government-owned facility in Independence, Missouri.
“It has come to our attention that the United States Army is considering an unusual decision to ban the commercial production of certain types of 5.56mm caliber ammunition produced by the Government-Owned, Contractor Operated facility known as the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant,” read the letter.
Republicans claim that the ban “infringes on the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution,” and limits the ability of law-abiding gun owners to legally purchase semi-automatic rifles.
“The decision will exacerbate an already serious shortage of ammunition in the commercial market currently facing law-abiding gun owners. Severely limiting the commercially available 5.56mm ammunition, which is most popularly used in modern sporting rifles (MSRs), is effectively a politically sanctioned semi-automatic rifle ban,” the letter continued.
This comes after the Biden administration announced its plans last week to shut down sales of ammunition at the Missouri plant.
Discussions on gun control legislation were reignited after 18-year-old Salvador Ramos opened
fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, last month, killing 19 children and two teachers.
“Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde. Cecilia and I mourn this horrific loss and we urge all Texans to come together to show our unwavering support to all who are suffering,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement.
Following the deadly shooting, President Joe Biden urged lawmakers to pass more gun control laws and stand up against gun lobbyists.
“As a nation, we have to ask when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God’s name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?” he said.
Vice President Kamala Harris also called on leaders to take action while speaking at an Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies.
“Enough is enough,” Harris said. “As a nation, we have to have the courage to take action and understand the nexus between what makes for reasonable and sensible public policy to ensure something like this never happens again.”
