Department of Defense Ends Sale of Expended Military Brass to Remanufacturers
March 16th, 2009Kick your heels up on the crates of stuff that you were smart enough to buy beforehand because here comes trouble.
Via: Shootist:
It is an end-run around Congress. They don’t need to try to ban guns–they don’t need to fight a massive battle to attempt gun registration, or limit “assault” weapon sales.
Nope. All they have to do is limit the amount of ammunition available to the civilian market, and when bullets dry up, guns will be useless.
Think we jest?
Here are copies of two letters sent to Georgia Arms just Thursday evening–effectively cancelling a contract he had to purchase 30,000 pounds of expended military brass in .223, 7.62mm, and .50 caliber:
Dear Valued Customer:
Please take a moment to note important changes set forth by the Defense Logistics Agency:
Recently it has been determined that fired munitions of all calibers, shapes and sizes have been designated to be Demil code B. As a result and in conjunction with DLA’s current Demil code B policy, this notice will serve as official notification which requires Scrap Venture (SV) to implement mutilation as a condition of sale for all sales of fired munitions effective immediately. This notice also requires SV to immediately cease delivery of any fired munitions that have been recently sold or on active term contracts, unless the material has been mutilated prior to sale or SV personnel can attest to the mutilation after delivery. A certificate of destruction is required in either case.
Thank you,
DOD Surplus
15051 N Kierland Blvd # 300
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
March 12, 2009
Larry Haynie
Georgia Arms
PO Box 238
Villa Rica, GA 30180
Re: Event 7084-6200:
Dear Larry Haynie,
Effective immediately DOD Surplus, LLC, will be implementing new requirements for mutilation of fired shell casings. The new DRMS requirement calls for DOD Surplus personnel to witness the mutilation of the property and sign the Certificate of Destruction. Mutilation of the property can be done at the DRMO, if permitted by the Government, or it may be mutilated at a site chosen by the buyer. Mutilation means that the property will be destroyed to the extent prevents its reuse or reconstruction. DOD Surplus personnel will determine when property has been sufficiently mutilated to meet the requirements of the Government.
If you do not agree with the new conditions of your spot sale, please sign the appropriate box provided below stating that you do not agree to the new terms and would like to cancel your purchase effective immediately. If you do agree to the new terms please sign in the appropriate box provided below to acknowledge your understanding and agreement with the new requirements relating to your purchase. Fax the signed document back to (480) 367-1450, emailed responses are not acceptable.
Please respond to this request no later than close of business Monday, March 16th, 2009.
Sincerely,
Government Liquidation.
Got that? From now on, remanufacturers of military brass will not be able to buy surplus brass from DOD–actually from Government Liquidators, llc.–the corporation that sells surplus materials for the U.S. government. At least, not in any form recognizable as once-fired brass ammunition.
Now all brass ammunition will have to be shredded, and sold as scrap.
Georgia Arms, who brought this to our attention, is the 5th largest ammunition manufacturer of centerfire pistol and rifle ammunition in the U.S.
“We’re right up there behind Hornady,” Larry Haynie told me.
He also told me with the cancellation of his contract to purchase this brass, and the ending of his ability to purchase any more expended military ammunition, he will have to severely curtail his operation–laying off approximately half his 60-person work force.
Haynie further pointed out this move is a stupendous waste of taxpayer money–reducing the worth of the brass some 80%–from casings, to shredded bulk brass.
He stated most of this will now go to foundries where it will be melted down, cast in shippable forms, and likely be sold to China, one of the largest purchasers of U.S. metals on the open market.
Haynie was manufacturing over 1 million rounds of .223 ammunition every month, which he sold on the civilian market to resellers, and to law enforcement agencies across the country.
He will start tomorrow sending cancellations of orders for .223 to law enforcement agencies all over the country.
You can expect this to affect every bullet you purchase in the future–with no reloaded ammunition available, the already strained new manufacturers will be unable to meet demand. They are already turning out everything they can build for the military market. The civilian market is stressed to the point even reloading components have become hard to find.
Research Credit: ubz
So since Congress is scared of getting in a fight with the NRA and 2nd ammendment defenders, the DOD is doing what they can to help disarm the American civilian populatation. I wonder who the military is planning on treating like broke ass Iraqis some time in the future?
– Mike Lorenz
Like I have said before, let them get someone else to fight their wars for them.
Got this email back from the DRMS Public Affairs office:
The matter was resolved yesterday.
The Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS), a field
activity of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), is the Department of
Defense (DOD) activity responsible for the disposition of excess and
surplus DOD Property.
The primary focus of the DRMS mission is to protect national security by
ensuring property is properly identified for reutilization and
disposition and not released for public sale when to do so would
jeopardize national security.
During the past two years, DRMS revised its processes to further ensure
only appropriate items were made available for public sale. To
strengthen current controls and to mitigate future security risk, the
DOD issued policy that prohibits the sale of military unique items
controlled by the Department of State through its Munitions List.
Small arms cartridge cases are identified as a sensitive Munitions List
item and were held pending review of the policy relating to the category
of items in which cartridge cases were included. Upon review, the
Defense Logistics Agency has determined the cartridge cases could be
appropriately placed in a category of government property allowing for
their release for sale.
The DRMS sales contractor has been notified of this decision and has
begun the process of reoffering the cases that have been held pending
completion of the policy review. As was previously required, buyers who
purchase cartridge cases from the government must be approved to do so
under Trade Security Controls.
v/r
Kenneth R. (Ken) MacNevin
Chief of Public Affairs
Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS)
Hart, Dole, Inouye Federal Center
Battle Creek, MI
269 961 7268 DSN 661