Opposition to the Sale of Armor-Piercing and Tracer Ammunition

Submitted by the IACP Board of Directors and the Firearms Committee

BOD.027.t2017

WHEREAS, there is no sporting or other purpose for armor-piercing ammunition or tracer ammunition, other than overwhelming the protections available to law enforcement in the course of their work; and

WHEREAS, such ammunition simply should not be available for civilian use; and

WHEREAS, legislation currently under consideration in the United States Congress (H.R. 3668 - The Sportsman Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act) would reduce the ability of government agencies to prevent or prohibit the sale of armor-piercing ammunition; and

WHEREAS, current federal law does not define "armor-piercing" in the practical terms of a handgun round's actual performance—i.e., whether it is capable of piercing ballistic armor—but in terms of round content and weight; and

WHEREAS, H.R. 3668 further weakens that standard by stating that to be classified as armor piercing, ammunition must have been specifically designed by the manufacturer for that purpose, regardless of whether or not it actually can penetrate body armor; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP opposes H.R. 3668 and supports legislation and policies that will prohibit the sale or transfer of armor piercing ammunition; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP believes that current federal law should be modified to establish that the process utilized to determine whether a round of ammunition is armor piercing should include performance based testing conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.