NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, applauds Missouri state Rep. Aaron McMullen’s introduction of a concurrent resolution supporting the continued commercial utilization of Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. The resolution would mark the Missouri General Assembly’s support for the commercial utilization and urges the U.S. government to reject calls to end to program that allows the Lake City ammunition facility to remain fully staffed and able to operate at a sustained peak capacity to meet the ammunition needs of the U.S. warfighter.
“Lake City Army Ammunition Plant is undeniably a critical asset to our nation’s military readiness. The capability to supply our nation’s warfighters with the essential ammunition is made possible because commercial utilization invests in the skilled personnel and equipment, maintenance and training,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel. “Calls by certain politicians to end this program are incredibly short-sighted and dangerous. NSSF is grateful to Representative Aaron McMullen for his leadership to protect the critical role Lake City Army Ammunition Plant fulfills in our national defense.”
The U.S. Army began permitting commercial utilization over 20 years ago after officials realized during the ramp up to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that the facility did not have the trained workforce and production capacity to meet the military’s surge in demand for ammunition to support the U.S. warfighter. The Department of Defense (DoD) was forced to buy ammunition from foreign countries. The U.S. Army wisely adopted commercial utilization to ensure military readiness.
House Concurrent Resolution 62 notes that Missouri’s Constitution recognizes the pre-existing right of the people to keep and bear arms, which necessarily includes ammunition. It also notes that public officials who swear an oath to support the Constitution are inappropriate in remarks that seek to end the supply of ammunition to law-abiding citizens. The resolution details the critical role of Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in national defense and how commercial utilization of the plant that has ensured peak readiness and sustainability of ammunition production has been achieved since 2001.
Lake City Army Ammunition Plant employs over 700 good-paying union jobs, which would be put at risk if commercial utilization were to end. Commercial utilization of ammunition production enables investments in trained and skilled workers and replacement and maintenance of necessary equipment that ensures a steady supply of ammunition to the U.S. Armed Forces and America’s allies.
