White House reportedly denies claims that an ammunition ban is on the table

According to the Washington Examiner, the White House is denying claims that an ammunition ban is being considered as part of new gun control legislation following the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, last month.

A spokesperson from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reportedly informed the Examiner that the White House may be considering a limited ban on ammunition, specifically ammunition produced at the Lake City, Missouri Winchester Ammunition facility. Currently, under US law, the facility is allowed to sell any surplus ammunition remaining after supplying the United States military, but the NSSF claims the White House is considering ending the practice.

According to NSSF spokesperson Mark Oliva, ending the surplus sales, which currently account for 30% of US 5.56 mm/.223 caliber ammo sales, would  “significantly reduce the availability of ammunition in the marketplace and put the nation’s warfighting readiness at risk. Both NSSF and Winchester strongly oppose this action.” 

A bipartisan gun control bill is currently being negotiated, and Oliva says any move to end the practice of selling surplus ammo would hamper the negotiations. The Protect Our Kids Act, a package of gun control bills that focuses on avoiding shootings like the one in Uvalde, includes measures like red flag laws, mental health resources in schools, expanded background checks and more. 

The plan was agreed to by 10 Republican senators, which may indicate the bill would have enough support to pass the sharply divided Senate. If passed, the bill would be the first major piece of gun control legislation passed since 1994 when the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act was signed into law by former president Bill Clinton.