Posted on 07/10/2007 12:34:29 AM PDT by neverdem
This is a WorldNetDaily printer-friendly version of the article which follows.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
WEAPONS OF CHOICE Posted: July 7, 2007 1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
The federal government is considering a series of new rules that would apply to workplaces where "explosives" are handled, giving rise to a concern that the restrictions could be used to limit or eliminate reasonable access to firearms ammunition.
Among those raising the issue is the National Rifle Association, which is publicizing a request that firearms owners express their opinion on the issue before a deadline of July 12.
"The proposed rule indiscriminately treats ammunition, powder and primers as 'explosives,'" the NRA said in a published statement, which noted the plan would:
(Story continues below)
The proposal by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration "would have a dramatic effect on the storage and transportation of ammunition and handloading components such as primers or black and smokeless powder," the group said.
OSHA's proposal would "revise" its standards for "explosives and blasting agents" to include ammunition.
"This revision is intended to enhance the protections provided to employees engaged in the manufacture, storage, sale, transportation, handling, and use of explosives," the federal agency said.
The NRA noted that it is important to note the rule at this point still is "proposed."
"So there's still time for concerned citizens to speak out before OSHA issues its final rule. The National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and Sport Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute will all be commenting on these proposed regulations, based on the severe effect these regulations (if finalized) would have on the availability of ammunition and reloading supplies to safe and responsible shooters," the NRA said.
One WND reader described the situation as the "backdoor elimination of firearms," noting that Sens. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., all are on the OSHA oversight committee.
"If you want to keep your guns we had better raise more hell than the amnesty bill caught," the writer said. "Make sure your congressman hears about this or you won't have any ammo."
The NRA said those who are interested in commenting should go to the regulations.gov website and do a search for Docket Number OSHA-2007-0032.
Another reader suggested contacting firearms industry connections and ask them to contact the Department of Defense.
"My reasoning being if the arms industry loses its civilian market that will have a very large negative financial impact on them. This could negatively impact their ability to adequately meet the needs of DOD. So, DOD would have a very vested interest in telling OSHA to put a lid on it," he wrote.
The NRA even provided a sample letter for concerned citizens to complete and forward.
I am writing in strong opposition to OSHA's proposed rules on "explosives," which go far beyond regulating true explosives. These proposed rules would impose severe restrictions on the transportation and storage of small arms ammunitionboth complete cartridges and handloading components such as black and smokeless powder, primers, and percussion caps. These restrictions go far beyond existing transportation and fire protection regulations.
The issue was sparked by a petition several years ago from the Institute of Makers of Explosives and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute to revise OSHA standards. That requested a number of changes, including the exclusion of the manufacturers of explosives from various requirements that were duplicative.
"In response , OSHA carefully reviewed the requirements," and concluded that "workplace hazards associated with explosives activities pose significant risks to employees."
Thus, the new list of rules. As substantiation, OSHA cited the April 16, 1947, explosion of the SS Grandcamp, which was docked in Texas City, Texas, when its cargo full of ammonium nitrate blew up. The explosion killed 581 and injured 5,000 others.
One of the more esoteric requirements would be for employers "to ensure that adequate precautions are taken to prevent sources of induced current, such as snow storms, from causing the accidental detonation of electric blasting caps."
A vast range of other requirements would address building requirements, distances between storage areas, vehicles used to haul any such material, and even the distance (two feet) required between shelves for small arms ammunition.
Gun advocates say it's just another in a long list of attacks on the American right to bear arms, provided under the 2nd Amendment.
As WND reported just a week earlier, the government has begun using paperwork errors as small as the abbreviation of a city name to shut down some of the nation's longest-serving gun shops.
Officials said while as recently as 15 or 20 years ago, there were 250,000 licensed gun dealers in the United States, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives today lists only 108,381.
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Has there ever BEEN the kind of safety problem that OSHA is worrying about, with respect to handguns and rifles and their ammo? Nearby lightning and snowstorms causing rounds to cook off? When has that ever happened? Even if it has, why can’t it be addressed by keeping the material in static shielding containers?
There’s no need to be asking questions about the actual safety issues here because there aren’t any that this proposed regulation addresses. It’s an attempt, like the ammunition identification requirement proposed in California, to make the sale and manufacture of ammunition so onerous that gun control will result without the necessity of having to faced the voters on the issue.
~Senator Charles Schumer
If they can't take our guns away directly, they'll try to do the same thing indirectly.
As always, it's not about guns, it's about control.
Buy up more handloading supplies and components. NOW!
Just in case.
OSHA=Risk Management Attorney’s on Crack!
This is not about safety and not about criminals.
Its about the growing arrogance of the power elites in Washington and the international globalists.
They want to assure there are no problems from the “peasants” in America as they strive to implement the kind of world state without borders they are working towards. They are concerned by the popular outrage against the amnesty bill. They resent the “intrusion” by the electorate in what they judge to be their exclusive prerogatives. They fear the possible consequences of an outraged public and the prevalent and easy availability of weapons.
With very few exceptions, most political operatives in both parties are in collusion with the same interests which are threatening America from within.
Hillary Clinton was on the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart. Bush received campaign contributions from Wal-Mart. The Clintons received millions from the Government of Dubai. Bush tried to push through a scheme to allow Dubai to run our ports.
Hillery is on an “India-America” Senatorial caucus whose function is to ostensibly work for the Indian Community in America. One of their objectives is to increase the number of work visas. The failure to effectively follow-up on expired work visas is a main contributory factor to the number of illegal aliens in America. There is one more Republican than Democrats on the India-America Central Caucus. There is a similar body in the House. The Indian American community is the most affluent identificable ethnic group in America.
The Red Chinese are building a car factory in Mexico. Their vehicles presently sell for $10,000. They plan to first mass market them in South America then in the U.S. This effort is being undertaken in collusion with Chrysler.
The President of Chrysler is a Mr. Snow, a former Treasurer of Bush II’s administration.
The U.S. Government imposes a tax of 2.5% on Red Chinese imports. Red China imposes a 25% tax on U.S. imports into Red China.
The U.S. has some kind of mutual exchange program with the Red Chinese whereby they send their military experts here to view our military operations and equipment. As part of this arrangement they are supposed to reciprocate. Apparently they do not as our military experts don’t want to waste their time going there, as such trips in the past have been non-productive.
ALL of this, along with the “Amnesty Bill” and the continuing failure to defend our southern borders exemplifies the failure or unwillingness of the power elites in both parties to protect and defend America and American interests - apparently due to the personal profits they can accumulate in the process.
Watch “Band of Brothers”. See how an entire generation of brave, courageous Americans fought and died to protect America. Not professional soldiers, but store-keepers, college grads, laborers, just ordinary citizens.
Is THIS what they died for? To allow a cabal of political prostitutes to shanghai America and make her just a geographical expression with no longer any sense of national identity?
The BEST alternative to this bunch at present is Duncan Hunter. Fred Thompson is second - a distant second. The rest are part of the problem, not the solution.
Not only that, but smokeless powder is NOT and “explosive”, it is a propellant, and is less dangerous than even dust.
As I’ve said before - Lock ‘n load...it ain’t too far off now...
Just got back into town.
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