Members of Congress announced legislation Thursday to prod the Biden administration to conduct an inventory of the U.S. gunpowder supply chain and offer suggestions to ensure enough will be available for the military and the average consumer.
Sen. James E. Risch, Idaho Republican, and Rep. Tom Emmer, Minnesota Republican, are leading the effort. They said law-abiding Americans could struggle to get ammunition amid a global crunch of nitrocellulose, a key ingredient in manufacturing powder.
“This administration creates as many ridiculous hurdles as possible to restrict law-abiding gun owners’ access to affordable guns and ammunition,” Mr. Risch said.
He said the legislation will force transparency on the White House.
“This is vital to protect our right to bear arms and to ensure our military has the ammunition it needs to protect our country,” he said.
Nitrocellulose, or guncotton, is the key material in producing modern gunpowder and other munitions propellants.
Few nations produce nitrocellulose. Thailand, China and India are considered the most significant players. The U.S. is a net importer.
The problem lies with both supply and demand. The Russia-Ukraine war has created a massive sinkhole for munitions, and China has tightened its supply.
In the U.S., gun aficionado websites lit up in January after an ammunition dealer said he was at a firearms industry show and learned that nitrocellulose was in short supply.
The consensus was that China was reluctant to sell to the U.S. because so much of the supply was being pumped into munitions for Ukraine. Defense industry manufacturers are scarfing up much of the supply reaching the U.S.
European officials say the scarcity is affecting the ability to rearm Ukraine.
“Powder is really what’s lacking today,” French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged earlier this year.
Sam Gabbert, owner of SGAmmo, said factories seemed to have gunpowder stockpiled, but “this issue is expected to catch up to them no later than the summer of 2024 and possibly within a few months.”
If demand for ammunition rises, factories may be unable to fulfill it, he said.
Mr. Emmer said the U.S. must ensure a stable supply of gunpowder.
“As threats to our nation’s security evolve, it is more important than ever to take proactive measures to secure our ammunition supply chain. This is not only about enhancing our military readiness but also supporting American manufacturing and ensuring law-abiding Minnesotans and Americans can exercise their Second Amendment rights,” the Minnesota Republican said.
The bill states that “Congress remains concerned about the domestic supply and production of nitrocellulose” and worries that a supply chain failure “could restrict ammunition manufacturing for large and small calibers, harming the commercial marketplace and placing the warfighters at risk.”
The legislation would require a report within 180 days on sources of nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin and acid production, and recommendations for broadening production and preventing supply chain chokepoints.
The bill has the backing of industry organizations such as the Kinetic Group, an ammunition dealer, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, an industry lobby group.
“The ammunition industry relies on robust and dependable sources for parts and material to provide the finished ammunition to Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights, hunters and target shooters across our country as well as to state, federal and tribal law enforcement agencies protecting our communities and America’s warfighters protecting our nation,” said Lawrence G. Keane, the foundation’s senior vice president. The legislation will prod the government to ensure more resiliency in the ammunition supply chain.
In addition to gunpowder, nitrocellulose is used in paints, ink and other surface finishings.
The ammunition industry is still struggling with a shortage of percussion caps. Like gunpowder, the caps are crucial to a usable round of ammunition.
Gun rights supporters are also salty over a Biden administration regulation finalized in the fall that will ban the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle at specific wildlife refuges in the coming years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the lead harms wildlife and human health.
Co-sponsoring the bill in the Senate are Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy of Louisiana, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Steve Daines of Montana, Marco Rubio of Florida, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Deb Fischer of Nebraska and John Cornyn of Texas.
House co-sponsors are Reps. Pete Stauber, Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad of Minnesota, and Eric Crawford and Bruce Westerman of Arkansas.
