JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Military grade ammunition manufactured at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Missouri has been linked to at least a dozen mass shootings involving AR-15 rifles over the past decade. The facility, which has received over $860 million in federal funding for production improvements, has been a major supplier of ammunition for both the US military and the commercial market.
The widespread use of ammunition from the facility in mass shootings has prompted 20 states to call on the White House to block the sale of these rounds and the firearms that use them to civilians. The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, and 19 other state attorneys general have sent a letter to the newly created White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, urging an investigation into the manufacturing practices that have led to the sale of military-grade rounds in civilian markets.
While recognizing the importance of maintaining military readiness, the attorneys general emphasize the need to prevent military weapons and ammunition from contributing to the epidemic of gun violence in the US. They are calling for future production contracts to prohibit the sale of military weapons and ammunition to civilians.
The issue has gained attention with President Biden’s efforts to combat gun violence, with the launch of the first-ever federal agency dedicated to this cause under the leadership of Vice President Kamala Harris. Amidst a disturbing trend of mass shootings in the US, the administration’s focus is on expanding efforts to curb the proliferation of high-powered weapons and to support survivors and communities affected by gun violence.
The Lake City rounds have been used in high-profile mass shootings such as the Parkland, Florida massacre and the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. The facility’s production for retail sales, law enforcement agencies, and foreign governments has even surpassed its production for the US military, raising concerns about the use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize the commercial sale of military-grade ammunition.
The article concludes by restating key facts such as the number of mass shootings and gun-related deaths in the US last year, establishing a clear and objective summary of the issue without making personal opinions or broad statements about related matters.