We talked yesterday about a new mandate from the Department of Defense--one that further indicates the Obama administration's hostility toward guns. Surplus military brass has been mandated to be mutilated before being resold, essentially making it worthless for reuse in ammunition. This will not only squeeze an already tight ammunition supply, but at a time when the U.S. government is desperately overburdening us with debt, it makes no sense to turn off a ready source of revenue (the move effectively cuts the value of the brass in half).
Some of you in "Comments" challenged the authenticity of these claims. I'd like to share some proof that should set doubts aside. As I indicated in reply comments, I sent an email to Government Liquidation, "the exclusive contractor of the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for the sale of surplus and scrap assets of the United States Department of Defense (DOD)." Here is their reply:
And here is the attachment from the email:
If anyone still has doubts, you can do what I did and contact them. Because doubts were raised though, and are still being argued over in some gun-related online forums, I want to share with you the process I went through before committing my name to posting on this story.
First, I relied on multiple sources who have proven their excellent reputations and reliability in the past.
I first learned of this from Gary Marbut, President of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, through an alert sent out by Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership.
I was then advised of new developments by Gordon Hutchinson, "The Shootist," an established and respected writer, author of "The Quest and the Quarry" and co-author with Todd Masson of "The Great New Orleans Gun Grab."
I checked out Mr. Hutchinson's source, Georgia Arms, and their website verified what he was saying.
Finally, I referenced Tom Gresham's Gun Talk Radio, a nationally-syndicated program with a respected host who has earned a reputation for being credible and knowledgeable based on years of being just that.
Understand I didn't commit a word to my article until I'd gone through these hoops. Then, after doubts were raised, I further validated the information on Shootingwire.com, which confirmed:
No Longer Just Paranoia...
Today, however, a report that has nothing to do with rhetoric, hyperbole or rumor.
A very disturbing report that points to a very real assault on ammunition supplies.
The Department of Defense has issued a directive that bans the sale of military brass to ammunition re-manufacturers.
Without that brass, a very large dent is put into civilian ammunition supplies.
New Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) requirements call for the "mutilation of shell casings". Mutilation, incidentally, is the destruction of the property "to the extent that prevents its reuse or reconstruction".
Why am I giving you such details of my "sausage-making" process? First, because for someone who puts his name on his product, believability is everything. Every responsible writer dreads the prospect of issuing a retraction and losing credibility--one mistake can literally haunt you for years, and cause people to automatically dismiss whatever else you say. I want Gun Rights Examiner readers to know when they read something here, responsible steps have been taken to ensure it is truthful and accurate, and that I am painfully aware of the consequences of working without a net.
But the other thing I want to point out is a total failure of "mainstream media," the ones going belly up, the ones deriding alternative media, bloggers, activists, et al, to bring this story to the public's attention. This isn't a case of them getting it wrong--this is a case of them not getting it at all. Here's the irony: If we had read about this on any of the establishment outlets that traditionally fail us, most would have accepted it without question. And lest you think this just affects a handful of shooters and isn't really worth talking about in more general circles, guess again.
- Kurt Hofmann, the St. Louis Gun Rights Examiner tells us ammunition for police will also cost taxpayers more--assuming it's available.
- Seattle Gun Rights Examiner Dave Workman, shows us how this latest flap is but a piece of a larger anti-gun puzzle being assembled by Team Obama.
- And Atlanta Gun Rights Examiner Ed Stone tells us of the impact all this is having in Georgia.
We'll get important gun rights-related information to you, even if the big guys remain oblivious that a story is even happening.
But now that we have--what are you going to do about it?
Check out the latest from other Gun Rights Examiners:
Atlanta Gun Rights Examiner: Atlanta ammunition supply is severely constrained
Austin Gun Rights Examiner: DC gun control and ‘Governor’ Fenty
Charlotte Gun Rights Examiner: Dial 9-1-1 and die ... again, and again, and again
Cleveland Gun Rights Examiner: Armed citizens as first responders
DC Gun Rights Examiner: DC City Council afflicted by pistolgriphobia
Denver Gun Rights Examiner: Economics 101: guns and monkeymeat
LA Gun Rights Examiner: Sovereignty in 2009.
Milwaukee:
Minneapolis Gun Rights Examiner: 'From my cold dead hands' and gun-owner apathy
Obama administration ‘supports’ 2nd Amendment, but takes steps to prevent its exercise
St. Louis Gun Rights Examiner: New DoD ammunition policy will be bad for law enforcement
Wisconsin Gun Rights Examiner: Why does your health data get reported
Comments
Excellent overview of both how the story is created and the impact of the news it contains.
I say this in all sincerity, not to be smart mouthed at all...
Just what in the world can we do about it?
And don't say to write to legislators! If they were in the least interested in preserving our rights, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
That train left a very long time ago, and we are not going to catch it.
Think of something else. Quick.
One thing that was raised on a blog I frequent. We could demand that ammo companies sell to civilians first. This is not going to affect the military, they have there own supply. If firearms companies had any guts, they should refuse to sell to the govt. at all.
What I mean is, that companies like Hornady, who sell ammo to law enforcement and to sportsmen, make sure that sportsmen are served first. The cops work for us after all.
I know it sounds really dumb, but Barret Firearms told the State of California to jump in a lake. These companies depend on us. Maybe we can ask them to stand up on our behalf.
The fault of the legislators reflects our fault as a free people, MML. So I'm doing what I can to bring information to as many people as I can.
So you can help by being a force multiplier for spreading this information, as you do on Price of Liberty, etc.
But don't discount affecting legislators--what they may not do out of principle they may yet do out of fear. Unfortunately, one of the main organizations capable of producing that fear has been silent on this so far.
What can we do? Use your ingenuity and do something. It's better than wringing hands and saying we can't do anything.
Who knows what creative ideas will be thought up if we can just propagate the message?
So if you are resigned that writing legislators will do no good, think up some other way to do that--it could be as simple as posting a link to this column on a gun board or blog to lead to the attention this needs.
Boycotts have worked in the past, however how do you boycott something that can't be found on shelves as it is? So that won't work.
However, one avenue that could be pursued is through stakeholders in the company. Pursuade them to stop selling first to the government based on profit margins alone and I think you will make a good case.
Also, appeal to their sense of business longevity. They should realize that if citizens can't buy ammo, there goes a huge market for their product.
We could also have a Shell-Off, where average citizens collect spent shells and casings for them to be reloaded by ammo manufacturers. This could happen at firing ranges all across the country (it may already). This would send an incredibly strong message to companies and boost their bottom line by providing a way to get processed materials and direct customer involvement. They could also make a policy dis-allowing sales of civilian contributed brass to government entities. If they were to pay for it from civilians, then I'm sure the response would be nearly overwhelming.
Just some ideas.
The mainstream media doesn't report it because the vast majority of Americans don't care one bit about this issue. The rest of us are more concerned with getting our economy back on track and getting people back to work.
This is a pet issue whether you like or not.
I just wrote my Senator, Richard Burr, and layed out exactly what David Codrea was saying. David is right, that what they may not do out of principle, they may do out of fear. But the only way they are going to be afraid is if enough people write to them. Try it. It's only some time and electrons.
PolyKahr
Ralph:
A pet issue? This is a core issue.
A person could forward very strong argument that one proper and constitutionally-consistent role of government is to facilitate an adequate and affordable supply of arms and ammo to the citizenry (who make up the militia). One could also strongly argue that an executive branch actively diminishing or frustrating access to such supplies is violating the spirit, and the letter, of the constitution.
After all, the constitution provides that a well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state. The militia can not be effective, nor well-regulated (trained) without access to affordable arms and ammunition.
This is a CORE issue, Sir. Our security depends on it.
This becomes a core issue when you realize that this move is costing the government money, because the shell casings, when shredded, only bring 20% the income as scrap brass than they would if sold as spent shells. The Pentagon is willfully taking a step that will cost them more money, in the midst of a recession. Bad mojo.
I doubt your honesty after reading the attachment. If the letter is from the Defense Logistics Agency, it wouldn't be signed DOD Surplus. There is no DOD agency with that name. Nice Try.
Got me, Skip. I guess nothing gets past you.
"I doubt your honesty after reading the attachment. If the letter is from the Defense Logistics Agency, it wouldn't be signed DOD Surplus. There is no DOD agency with that name. Nice Try."
Before accusing someone of lying, doing a bit of fact checking of your own is generally a good idea. David never claimed that DOD Surplus, LLC is a government agency. It does exist, and is located in Scottsdale, AZ:
maps.google.com/maps?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=scottsdale,+AZ+DoD+Surplus,+LLC&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&latlng=12426402111424168985
That's a private company that does business with the government, but is not in government itself.
Nice try, your self.
Funny. HugObama is working to create the same conditions as we've seen for years in hellholes around the world. Unemployment. Oppressive government. Government control over industry. Lack of options for self defense.
We've seen the outcomes in places like France, Greece, and taken to the extreme Gaza.
He's boiling gasoline and either woefully ignorant of the term flash point or eagerly rubbing his hands, licking his lips and praying to some twisted perverted "god" that his schemes work, just like we heard Cheney accused of doing for 8 years.
We have active military units stationed here to "help" with events that happen. Others were used for Katrina.
The war against us has been planned. It's being carried out as we speak.
How much response do you get from your "representatives"? I just yesterday got a letter from my senator about the Holder nomination. That was how long ago?
I'm holding onto the thought that this is part of an effort to keep china happy. We're selling them the brass that they will kill us with.
I've just sent letters to both of my Senators (Brownback and Roberts) and Congressman (Moore).
Thank you for providing this information and the linked resources, as well as for following up to determine the veracity.
The result of the story is one would want to buy and store as much ammo and firearms as possible before the next shoe drops.
David, I am certainly not saying do NOTHING. I'm only saying that writing letters to legislators is a waste of time. Another commenter here hit it on the head. It would take millions of us to inspire any "fear" in politicians, and our three percent just isn't every going to go there - especially with the mainstream media definitely against us!
How does writing letters to legislators create millions of people to write them letters - even if they gave a darn or could be intimidated?
But never fear, ALL of the gun rights Examiners have a link on the front page of The Price of Liberty, all the time.
I'm not against you. I just think there are other things we need to be doing. I'm doing all I can, or think I can. Seems to me we need to come up with some better ideas.
Sorry, MML, but the policy has been reversed because people contacting Senators Tester and Baucus resulted in them contacting DoD and getting the new policy rescinded. Much credit goes to Gary Marbut of MSSA. JPFO has posted an alert and Georgia Arms has confirmed this on their website--and they credit our making noise with helping to bring this about.
One thing I've learned is never say never.
Of course, Skippy will just tell you I'm lying...:)
"but the policy has been reversed"
Source? I haven't seen that.
Like I just said, check the JPFO and Georgia Arms websites. Done posting for today, will have more tomorrow. Click on the Georgia Arms link in this column, because the page has changed to reflect this announcement.
Sorry David, read that fast and thought that was referencing the initial alert for some reason. Wish they had an "edit for stupidity" button of comments sometimes, like right now.
There's a reason he is called "skip". Not all his synapses are firing.
So,in the manner of the generous spirits that we are, I suggest we not be too hard on him/her? Rather, we should concentrate on those able to pay attention. Just my $.02.
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