Proposed OSHA rule to make ammunition sales difficult - Tilted Forum Project - TFP - Sexuality, Philosophy and Political Discussion

seretogis · 07-11-2007, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Proposed “Safety” Regulations Would Dry Up Ammunition Sales

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

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.
* 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. The National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute will all be commenting on these proposed regulations, based on the severe effect these regulations (if finalized) would have on the availability of ammunition and reloading supplies to safe and responsible shooters.

The public comment period was originally scheduled to end July 12 but has been extended sixty (60) days until September 10, 2007. To read the OSHA proposal click here (PDF file).

According to OSHA, you may submit comments, identified by Docket No. OSHA-2007- 0032, by any of the following methods:

* Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions on-line for making electronic submissions.
* Fax: If your comments, including attachments, do not exceed 10 pages, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-1648.
* Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger or courier service: You must submit three copies of your comments and attachments to:
OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2007-0032
U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625
200 Constitution Avenue, NW.
Washington, DC 20210
telephone (202) 693-2350 (OSHA"s TTY number is (877) 889-5627).

Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and the docket number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2007-0032). All comments, including any personal information you provide, are placed in the public docket without change and may be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions you about submitting personal information such as social security numbers and birthdates.

For further information on submitting comments, plus additional information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the OSHA proposal.

-----------------------------

OSHA Docket Office Docket No. OSHA-2007-0032 U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625 200 Constitution Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20210

Re.: Docket No. OSHA-2007-0032 (Explosives—Proposed Rule)

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing in strong opposition to OSHA’s proposed rules on “explosives,” which go far beyond regulating true explosives. These proposed rules would impose severe restrictions on the transportation and storage of small arms ammunition—both complete cartridges and handloading components such as black and smokeless powder, primers, and percussion caps. These restrictions go far beyond existing transportation and fire protection regulations.

As a person who uses ammunition and components, I am very concerned that these regulations will have a serious effect on my ability to obtain these products. OSHA’s proposed rules would impose restrictions that very few gun stores, sporting goods stores, or ammunition dealers could comply with. (Prohibiting firearms in stores that sell ammunition, for example, is absurd—but would be required under the proposed rule.)

The proposed transportation regulations would also affect shooters’ ability to buy these components by mail or online, because shipping companies would also have great difficulty complying with the proposed rules.

There is absolutely no evidence of any new safety hazard from storage or transportation of small arms ammunition or components that would justify these new rules. I also understand that organizations with expertise in this field, such as the National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Association, will be submitting detailed comments on this issue. I hope OSHA will listen to these organizations’ comments as the agency develops a final rule on this issue.

Sincerely,

This is pretty ridiculous, and I can't imagine it was proposed for any good reason. Hopefully there is enough negative feedback generated for them to ease the hell off. :P

therealcat · 07-11-2007, 08:20 PM

If government is the answer, it must have been a really, really, really dumb question.

Crompsin · 07-11-2007, 08:23 PM

What a f*cking douchebag legislation. Thanks a lot, old crusty white men.

I hope somebody with common sense comes through and stops this crap.

A liquor store is more dangerous than a gun shop. Hands down.

filtherton · 07-11-2007, 11:13 PM

Are there a lot of gun stores blowing up in thunderstorms that i'm just not hearing about?

Crompsin · 07-12-2007, 05:42 AM

Gotta be.

Just like all those guns that commit crimes when you're not watching.

dc_dux · 07-12-2007, 03:59 PM

As I glance quickly through the proposed regs, OSHA undertook the revision at the request the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI), both of which suggested the 35 year old regs were outdated and there were conflicting standards among the numerous agencies that regulate explosives to some degree.

I wonder how many have read the regs and not just the rhetoric all over the right wing blogs?

Quote:

To make the standard more "user-friendly," the proposal has been
rewritten in plain language. Internal inconsistencies and duplicative
requirements have been eliminated. In addition, it has been rewritten
to eliminate references to public safety that are beyond OSHA's
authority to regulate.

One of OSHA's major goals in this proposed rulemaking is to
increase regulatory consistency with other Federal agencies involved in
regulating the explosives industry and to eliminate confusion within
the regulated community. To achieve this goal, OSHA proposes to adopt
the GHS definitional classification system for "explosives." This
will make OSHA's classification system consistent with the one used by
DOT, which is also based on the GHS.

To provide the regulated community with greater regulatory
flexibility, OSHA has endeavored to use general performance-oriented
language in the proposed standard. This allows OSHA to draft a
requirement in terms of a goal and it allows the employer greater
choice on how to achieve that goal.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owad...TER&p_id=19509

I dont know if these new proposed regs are better or worse than the 35 yr old regs...but a little additional research by anyone concerned with the regs wouldnt hurt before jumping to conclusions or relying solely on the veracity of the NRA analysis (they wouldnt exaggerate, would they?).

MSD · 07-12-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

Gotta be.

Just like all those guns that commit crimes when you're not watching.

Didn't you hear what Jesse Jackson said? "Guns don't kill people, people who buy guns from gun stores kill people." Your rhetoric is out of date.

ziadel · 07-17-2007, 09:19 AM

w00t!

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Fe...id=3162&issue=

But, it'll be back.

Quote:

SUMMARY: On April 13, 2007, the U.S. Department of Labor published a
proposed rule entitled Explosives with a comment period that ended 7/
12/2007. On July 9, 2007, the comment period was extended to 9/10/2007.
At this time the U.S. Department of Labor is closing the comment period
effective July 17, 2007. The Department intends to re-propose the
Explosives NPRM at a later date in order to clarify the intent of the
rulemaking.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on April 13,
2007 (72 FR 18792) is closed effective July 17, 2007.

We must be vigilant.

07-11-2007, 08:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Crompsin STRIKE FACE Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Prime Self	What a f*cking douchebag legislation. Thanks a lot, old crusty white men. I hope somebody with common sense comes through and stops this crap. A liquor store is more dangerous than a gun shop. Hands down. __________________ C19H28O2 = C6H2(NO2)3CH3 All your base are belong to us.

07-12-2007, 05:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
Crompsin STRIKE FACE Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Prime Self	Gotta be. Just like all those guns that commit crimes when you're not watching. __________________ C19H28O2 = C6H2(NO2)3CH3 All your base are belong to us.

07-11-2007, 08:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
therealcat Upright Join Date: Jul 2007	If government is the answer, it must have been a really, really, really dumb question.

07-11-2007, 11:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
filtherton A poor man's version of a rich man. Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In the land of ice and snow.	Are there a lot of gun stores blowing up in thunderstorms that i'm just not hearing about?