Posted on 03/27/2010 5:34:04 AM PDT by marktwain
Just over a year ago, we discussed an alarming new policy, implemented by the Department of Defense, whereby once fired small arms cartridge brass would be destroyed, rather than sold to ammunition manufacurers. I call that policy "alarming," because that's what it was, on more than one level.
1. With this enormous source of cheap cartridge brass now cut off, ammunition prices--already very high, due to other factors--would go still higher, making exercise of gun rights much more difficult. 2. Shooters among the private citizenry were not alone in being adversely affected--law enforcement agencies, already scrambling to obtain enough ammunition for training purposes, would now have to deal with both further decreased availability and further inflated prices. 3. Taxpayers got the shaft under this policy, because scrap brass loses about 75% of its value on the resale market, as compared to once-fired cartridge brass, suitable for reloading.
Fortunately, grassroots activism, by American gun owners, inspired some congressmenn with pull in defense budget circles, to "encourage" the DoD to rescind this extremely ill-advised policy--which they did.
That's the good news. The bad news is that it seems to have been a temporary fix. Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Sports Shooting Association (MSSA), whose leadership played a very large role in winning last year's battle (I've mentioned his leadership recently in another context), brings us some disturbing news.
Basically, ATK/Alliant Techsystems, a private company with huge government munitions contracts, offers military installation commanders the option of selling the used cartridge cases directly to ATK, allowing ATK to destroy the brass right on-site, using portable shredders. The shredded brass is, as mentioned earlier, worth only about a quarter the value of intact, once-fired cartridge cases. The reason installation commanders accept the deal anyway, despite it being such a ripoff to taxpayers,
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
Remember, Obama said he would build HIS civilian defense force (aka/ secret police) to be as big and as strong as the military. It’s coming to an SEIU chapter near you. Which will come first, Dear Leader or November elections?
ATK and the base commanders are probably looking at some big trouble if this continues. Govliquidation.com has a contract with DOD as the sole source surplus liquidation avenue and the ATK activity is in direct violation of that contract.
This is second hand information here so take it as such, an executive at govliquidation.com is looking into legal avenues against ATK. We may see civil litigation for contract violation against bases and base commanders as well.
Everytime I see stuff like this, it makes me want to cut .gov off more and more with my company. sigh.
I think there's "martial law" declared in here somewhere. I only hope the military (I'm a combat vet myself) will NEVER bow to a commie dictator like the Chicago thug. (that's putting it mildly compared to what he really is!)
They could use a good freeping.
I know what he is trying to say regarding "civilian-useable", but I think, with the current gaggle of FAR-left gun-grabbers running the country (into the ground), Marbut and we may get a euroweenie-like delineation of just what "civilian" calibers are "allowed" (no 50 bmg, 45 acp, 9mm, 7.62, 5.56, etc.).
We must fight this at every turn, because, as was the case when the country was founded and the Constitution written, WE the people have the RIGHT and RESPONSIBILITY (as real or defacto members of the militia) to keep and bear "military-grade"/military-style firearms and ammunition for those firearms.
ATL is just trying to increase their profit since they manufacture small arms munitions for civilians.
No, I don’t support the idea, but that’s their motivation.
Someone needs to stop this.
They are sore afeerd and want naught but total control. We will fight them with all our might.
“ATL is just trying to increase their profit since they manufacture small arms munitions for civilians.”
They also are one of the largest suppliers for reloaders. They own Speer (bullets), Alliant Powder (self explanatory), RCBS (reloading equipment), and CCI (primers).
So, if they’re trying to increase their profit in the civilian sector by attacking those same customers, that’s going to backfire.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.