NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, praised a bicameral letter signed by over 100 Members of Congress and U.S. Senators warning the Secretary of the Army not to risk military readiness to appease gun control special interests.
The letter to Secretary of the Army Christine E. Wormuth warned that succumbing to political pressure from New York Attorney General Letitia James to end the commercial utilization of ammunition produced at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo., could have potentially devastating effects on military readiness. A Defense Department contract allows the plant to maintain peak readiness of machinery and skilled personnel by funding the cost through commercial utilization. Previously, the U.S. Army found machines that had been mothballed and a reduced skilled labor force when the U.S. military and allied nations needed ammunition produced at peak levels to sustain the War on Terror.
“Ensuring our military forces are equipped with the ammunition they need to defend our nation should never be a political football for gun control special interests or the politicians supporting their radical agenda,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel. “The short-sighted and ham-fisted attempt to force gun control policies at the expense of military readiness is unfathomable to most. Fortunately, our nation’s military readiness is a priority for over 100 Members of Congress and U.S. Senators who signed this letter urging the Army Secretary to put military readiness ahead of special-interest partisan politics.”
The bicameral letter warned that ammunition availability – especially during a time of war – is reliant on facilities, production equipment, supply chains and skilled workers to be efficient to keep America’s warfighters supplied. The Members of Congress and senators warned that AG James’ request to halt civilian sales would result in a 55 percent reduction of skilled workers.
