URGENT - Gun owners need to act on this one.

[WhisperFan]

This is not an urban legend - it is not a myth - it is not something that needs to be voted on ...... the Occupational Safety and Health Administration could change this regulation without notice. Once done - it could terrible for gun owners.

Sources:
http://regulations.justia.com/view/75627/

and

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3145

Under the heading of “Revised Definitions” in the OSHA proposal -

Explosive. This term would be defined to mean any device, or liquid or solid chemical compound or mixture, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion. The term ``explosive'' would be defined to include all material included as a Class 1 explosive by DOT in accordance with 49 CFR chapter I. The term would include, but would not be limited to, dynamite, black powder, pellet powders, detonators, blasting agents, initiating explosives, blasting caps, safety fuse, fuse lighters, fuse igniters, squibs, cordeau detonant fuse, instantaneous fuse, igniter cord, igniters, pyrotechnics, special industrial explosive materials, small arms ammunition, small arms ammunition primers, smokeless propellant, cartridges for propellant-actuated power devices, and cartridges for industrial guns.

From the NRA-ILA:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed new rules that would have a dramatic effect on the storage and transportation of ammunition and handloading components such as primers or black and smokeless powder. The proposed rule indiscriminately treats ammunition, powder and primers as “explosives.” Among many other provisions, the proposed rule would:
- Prohibit possession of firearms in commercial “facilities containing explosives”—an obvious problem for your local gun store.
- Prohibit delivery drivers from leaving explosives unattended—which would make it impossible for delivery services such as UPS to deliver ammunition or gun powder.
- Require evacuation of all “facilities containing explosives”—even your local Wal-Mart—during any electrical storm.
- Prohibit smoking within 50 feet of “facilities containing explosives.”
It’s important to remember this is only a proposed rule right now, so there’s still time for concerned citizens to speak out before OSHA issues its final rule.

This looks serious for us all

Contact your elected representatives - do not assume that the NRA can do it alone - help them on this one.

[WhisperFan]

A sample letter for your consideration:

Dear Senator ___________________:

I am writing out of deep concern for the potential damage that new OSHA regulations could do to the ability of ordinary American's to exercise our 2nd Amendment rights. On April 13, 2007, OSHA published proposed regulations in the federal register that would substantially limit the ability of ordinary Americans to buy affordable ammunition for self-defense, sporting, and hunting. These regulations would place much greater restrictions on the storage of small arms ammunition, ammunition primers, and gun powder (black and smokeless). These restrictions among other things would substantially limit the amount of ammunition primers and gun powder available to gun owners due to new storage regulations on the individual, dealer and distributor level, and would drive up ammunition prices in excess of what many ordinary people can afford. These regulations would also increase prices by placing new restrictions on the practices of ammunition plants and common carriers that ship ammunition and ammunition related supplies. Finally OSHA's regulation of ammunition, powder and primers would also create new training and employee licensing requirements which would add even greater costs at all levels.

As I understand it, this proposed set of regulations is in the comment period with proposed final regulations to come shortly. You can find the proposed regulations in the federal register [Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 71 / Friday, April 13, 2007 / Proposed Rules (pages 18792-18845)]. Comment period will end on July 12, 2007.

Although I do not find my self a supporter of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms in many cases, the BATF&E's regulations are more than adequate in the regulation of ammunition, primers, smokless and black powder. OSHA's proposal for new regulations/restriction does not cite a single instance of danger to the public or employees that has resulted from the current system regulating ammunition, primers, and gun powder. This lack of citation to previous incidents resulting from improper storage of these materials is not an oversight. There have in fact been no significant recent instances of injuries nationwide as a result of current ammunition, powder and primer storage procedures. There is no need for yet another level of federal restriction on ammunition in the United States. Such restrictions are an end run around the legislative process and could never be approved by a vote of Congress.

Please do everything you can to prevent this federal agency from making it even more difficult for ordinary Americans to exercise their 2nd Amendment Rights. These new regulations are simply unacceptable.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

XXX XXXX