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Bullet Serialization Threat in Tennessee

Legislation (HB3245) that would mandate, as early as 2009, bullet serialization -- the process by which each individual round of ammunition is identified and marked with a laser-engraved serial number -- has been referred to the Tennessee General Assembly Criminal Practice and Procedure Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. This bill could be heard as early as Wednesday, April 2. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association of the firearms and ammunition industry, has made clear that serializing ammunition on a mass production basis is not feasible from a practical standpoint and any legislation mandating such action could rightfully be considered a de facto ban on ammunition.

NSSF is encouraging all sportsmen, hunters and firearms enthusiasts to contact members of the subcommittee immediately, urging them to strongly oppose this would-be ammunition ban.

You may also contact your own state representative, urging him or her to voice their opposition to any bills that would mandate bullet serialization.

"If manufacturers had to comply with bullet serialization, NSSF estimates that it would take almost four weeks to manufacture what is currently produced in a single day," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. "This massive reduction in ammunition would translate into substantially lower sales and profitability, and ultimately force major ammunition manufacturers to abandon the market. In turn, there would be a severe shortage of serialized ammunition and all consumers, including federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, would be faced with substantial price increases. Ammunition will go from costing pennies to several dollars per cartridge."

The domestic small arms ammunition industry, utilizing modern manufacturing processes and distribution practices, produces between 10 and 12 billion ammunition cartridges a year at already low-profit margins. The three largest domestic manufacturers (who collectively account for the vast majority of the market) produce an estimated 20 million rounds of ammunition in a single day. Ammunition manufacturers could not serialize their product without hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investment to build the new factories that would be needed in order to meet the requirements of bullet serialization. At the same time, hundreds of millions of dollars of existing plants and equipment, and decades of manufacturing (cost-saving) efficiencies, would be rendered obsolete.

"Bullet Serialization is dangerous and not practical," continued Keane. "As legislation that would mandate bullet serialization not only threatens law-abiding gun-owners but our industry's ability to supply the nation's law enforcement officers and military with high-quality ammunition, we encourage all citizens of Tennessee to contact members of the Criminal Practice and Procedure subcommittee and urge them to oppose this bill."

Learn more about bullet serialization.

Members of the Criminal Practice and Procedure Subcommittee

Rep. Janis Sontany
32 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0153
Phone (615) 741-6861
Fax (615) 253-0325

Rep. Eddie Bass
109 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243-0165
Phone (615) 741-1864
Fax (615) 741-1005

Rep. Rob Briley
G-19A WMB
Nashville, TN 37243-0152
Phone (615) 741-2184

Rep. Henry Fincher
32 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0142
Phone (615) 741-1875

Rep. Judd Matheny
205 War Memorial Building
Nashville, TN 37243-0147
Phone (615) 741-7448
Fax (615) 253-0226

Rep. Eric Watson
205 War Memorial Building
Nashville, TN 37243-0122
Phone (615) 741-7799
Fax (615) 253-0252