Ammunition Accountability?
It would seem that two members of the Tennessee General Assembly, Senator Reginald Tate (D-Memphis) and Representative Larry Miller (D-Memphis), have decided to make ammunition accountable for itself. That’s right folks, the “Ammunition Accountability Act” HB3245/SB3395, sponsored by the two Memphis legislators, will finally take ammunition to task for its’ dastardly ways.
Ok, I’m sure you can detect the sarcasm directed at the ignorant name of the bill. I haven’t known too many inanimate, non-living things to be held accountable for their actions.
This is yet another bill, in a long line of bills to mandate serial codification on bullets. Starting in January of 2009, manufacturers would be required to print serial numbers on the base of each bullet to be sold in the state of Tennessee.
Basically a case of bullets of any caliber will go up in price, possibly to prohibitive prices for some, in order to place laser stamping on the bottom. A TBI database will be created that will contain the names and information of those who purchase a range of serialized bullets. This will undoubtedly affect Tennessee ranges, ammo manufacturers, and gun retailers. This gun grabbing legislation will make it even more cost prohibitive in Tennessee to protect one’s self. In usual economic fashion, you’ll see people traveling to neighboring states to purchase cheaper, non-stamped ammunition (not to mention avoiding the “big brother effect”).
Also, this will severely reduce the availability of ammunition in the state. People wont be able to protect themselves, and could lose their lives because of this legislation.
Rubbish bills like this have been introduced in several states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington.
Here’s a good laugh from the bill text:
By January 1, 2011, all non-coded ammunition for the calibers listed in this bill, whether owned by private citizens or retail outlets, be disposed of.
I’d love to see them enforce this one. Speaking of enforcement, does this mean that local and state police departments have to use serialized bullets as well? This sounds like a good question for your legislator, but my guess is, they don’t have to play by the same rules.
However, what the esteemed legislators from Memphis may not realize is that per the Tennessee Constitution, the Legislature only has the power to regulate the wearing of arms. The Legislature does not have the power to mandate the destruction/disposal of ammo.
“That the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.”
- Tennessee Constitution, Article I - Declaration of Rights, Section 26
The bills have been shuffled to the Judiciary Committee for now, and since the 105th General Assembly has been adjourned, are in no danger of being voted on. Don’t let that stop you from writing your representative and senator today.
I have a few questions for the sponsors of the bill.
- Do you think that criminals will buy the laser engraved bullets?
- Do you think that if criminals do purchase the engraved bullets, that they wont take them apart and remove the numbers?
- What is to stop people from going to different states to buy ammo (other than the penalties you define in your bill)?
- Will law enforcement and the State Guard be required to use serialized bullets?
- Will you enforce rationing of serialized bullets to citizens if law enforcement and military are not able to replenish their supply?
- What will a law abiding citizen have to go through if someone steals a box of their serialized ammo?
- Criminals and criminal immigrants are able to purchase black market guns, what makes you think there wont be a thriving market for “illegal” ammo?
- Can you not see you are emboldening criminals via this legislation, and leaving us law-abiding gun owners high and dry?
I’ll be watching this one closely. Watch my blog to see if you need to make a run for the ammo store in the coming months.
on June 17th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Here’s another questions: Who are the criminals that are bribing you to make it so hard for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves? Is the Memphis Mafia back in full effect?
on June 17th, 2008 at 7:09 am
another question*
It’s early. Sorry.
on June 17th, 2008 at 7:39 am
[...] tells us gunnies to listen up: Jesse tells us that there’s a bill trying to get pushed through by a couple of Memphis Senators that [...]
on June 17th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Another question.
I don’t see any mention of reloads. Would everyone who reloads be lumped into the manufacturer category?
on June 17th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I think they are just trying to score points with the Democrat national party or something.
That, ot they’re st00pid.
on June 17th, 2008 at 8:36 am
[...] Lone Libertarian discusses something called the “Ammo Accountability Act”: It would seem that two members of the Tennessee [...]
on June 17th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
[...] on a bill which will require stamping an identification number on ammunition. Our friend over at The Lone Libertarian has the scoop. Post a comment | Trackback [...]
on December 4th, 2008 at 8:37 am
We (as a family unit) are opposed to HB-3395 sponsored by State Senator Reginald Tate (District 33) and HB-3245 sponsored by State Rep. Larry Miller (District 88). This is another attempt by the U.S. government to interfere in States Rights by having treasonist within our Tennessee legislative body do the will of their puppet masters. We asked our State Representative Steve McDaniel and State Senator Delores Gresham team up and strongly and vocally oppose both of these bills. These two bills pose a serious threat to our right to keep and bear arms and needs to be stopped immediately . . . dead in its tracks. Do not betray our founding fathers.
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin
“The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates.” – Cornelius Tacitus 90AD Rome
on December 6th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
This is self serving stupidity on multiple levels. The inceptors are two men who have a vested interest in selling this snake oil solution to the hoplophobes. For them it a get rich scheme, that will profit them at the detriment to those who manufacture ammunition and those who use it. The chance that it will be an effective crime solving technique is miniscule. We can only hope that the majority are smart enough to let any sort of legislative proposal to enrich ammunition accountability die in bureaucratic limbo.
on January 2nd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Is is amazing that a stealth organization is behind the effort to create this legislation. I woould like to know the names, party affiliation and location of all who are part of Ammunition Accountability.org. After all, they are the ones who are getting the state legislatures to propose the legislation in a number of states, not just Tennessee.
on January 2nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
BTW, those who reload will no longer be able to do so. The way the proposed bill is worded, all handloaded ammunition will have to be destroyed along with all other uncoded ammunition.
I guess this will also have an impact on those who have black powder guns.
This whole mess is just another way to suck more money out of the public for some “public purpose” that is yet to be defined.
on January 9th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Why is the media not covering this. I feel this is more important than whether or not Mrs. Obama will jump start the fashion economy with her sense of fashion not to mention the media pushing the concept that Mrs. Obama is equal to Jackie Kennedy when it comes to First Ladyship.
And speaking of people doing their jobs, like the media, why is the government worried about something so tiny compared to the economy and state budgets not yet being balanced. The government has gone way out of bounds and we the people need to take our country back. We hired this people to run our country and they are not doing their jobs. If I don’t do my job, I don’t get paid. Why do they continue to get paid for not doing what they were “hired” to do?
I too have these same questions for this waste of time and tax dollars:
Do you think that criminals will buy the laser engraved bullets?
Do you think that if criminals do purchase the engraved bullets, that they wont take them apart and remove the numbers?
What is to stop people from going to different states to buy ammo (other than the penalties you define in your bill)?
Will law enforcement and the State Guard be required to use serialized bullets?
Will you enforce rationing of serialized bullets to citizens if law enforcement and military are not able to replenish their supply?
What will a law abiding citizen have to go through if someone steals a box of their serialized ammo?
Criminals and criminal immigrants are able to purchase black market guns, what makes you think there wont be a thriving market for “illegal” ammo?
Can you not see you are emboldening criminals via this legislation, and leaving us law-abiding gun owners high and dry?
on January 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
this action is meant to disarm all of us. How will they assign serial numbers on shotgun pellets? Are they going to do this with beer and liquor ? It save many more lives.