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Fifty Caliber Armor Piercing Military Ammunition in the United States Civilian Market
House Committee on Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans' Affairs, and International Relations
House Committee on Government Reform
Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans' Affairs, and International Relations
Abstract
The Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations of the House Committee on Government Reform investigated the availability of ammunition for long-range fifty caliber sniper weapons, which has the ability to pierce armor-reinforced vehicles, puncture bulletproof and ballistic glass, and ignite or explode armored targets. Due to the lack of a recreational use for these weapons, the subommittee analyzed purchasing records to determine who was in possession of the ammunition. They found that fifty caliber ammunition was readily available due to the Conventional Demilitarization Program, which requires the DOD to pay a US company to take possession of surplus ammo. These companies then refurbish the ammo and sell a portion to the civilian market. Ultimately, the investigation found that the sale of the ammunition posed a threat to public safety as previous purchases were traced to suspected terrorist groups, drug cartels, doomsday cults, among others. Similarly, an undercover operation revealed that distributors of the ammunition employed an "ask no questions" approach and still allowed purchases by individuals with suspect purposes.
Date
1999-06-18
Document Type
House Minority Staff Report
Serial Number
Document Length
13 pages
Congress
106
Relation
DOI
Keywords
Staff Reports
PAP Major Code
12: Law, Crime, and Family Issues
PAP Minor Code
1209: Police, Fire, and Weapons Control
Related Hearings
Press Releases and Contextual Information
https://web.archive.org/web/20051024223719/http://www.democrats.reform.house.gov/story.asp?ID=564&Issue=Guns