Warren, Garcia Renew Fight to Limit Flow of Ammunition Into American Communities
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) reintroduced the Ammunition Modernization and Monitoring Oversight (AMMO) Act, legislation that would restrict bulk sales of ammunition, require businesses that sell ammunition to obtain the same federal license as firearm dealers, and require businesses to conduct a background check on ammunition buyers.
Currently, businesses are not required to possess licenses to sell ammunition and can sell to any buyer, in any quantity, without a background check and with no recordkeeping or data sharing.
The bill would prohibit bulk sales of ammunition based on the type of ammo. It limits individuals to purchasing no more than 100 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition—the most deadly, potent military grade—and 1000 rounds for all other ammunition within a 5-day period. The AMMO Act would restrict individuals from purchasing ammunition to then sell illegally to others and require data sharing on ammunition sales.
“Our government needs to step up and limit access to ammunition if we want to stop the gun violence epidemic in this country,” said Senator Warren. “I’m going to keep fighting to keep our communities safe from potential mass shooters.”
"It makes absolutely no sense that anyone in this country can walk into a business and buy as much ammunition as they want, with no background check and no questions asked," said Congressman Robert Garcia. "We need to do everything in our power to prevent mass shootings and end our nation's gun violence epidemic. During Gun Violence Awareness Month, I'm proud to help lead a bill that closes this loophole with a commonsense fix that will save lives and protect our communities."
The legislation is co-sponsored in the Senate by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
The legislation is co-sponsored in the House by Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Melanie Ann Stansbury (D-N.M.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (D-Ga.), Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.), Juan Vargas (D-Cal.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.-At Large), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Terri A. Sewell (D-Ala.), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Daniel S. Goldman (D-N.Y.), Julia Brownley (D-Cal.), Eric Swallwell (D-Cal.), Kevin Mullen (D-Cal.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-Cal.), Robin L. Kelly (D-Ill.), and Sean Casten (D-Ill.).
The AMMO Act is endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady, Community Justice Action Fund, Newtown Action, the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, Orange Ribbons, and Voters of Tomorrow.
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