WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled against environmentalists who are trying to force the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate spent lead bullets and lead shot used in hunting and shooting sports.

In a decision favorable to gun enthusiasts, the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said Tuesday that environmental groups have suggested no way in which EPA could regulate spent lead bullets and shot without also regulating cartridges and shells.

The Toxic Substances Control Act exempts cartridges and shells from regulation.

Jerry G wrote:WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled against environmentalists who are trying to force the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate spent lead bullets and lead shot used in hunting and shooting sports.

In a decision favorable to gun enthusiasts, the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said Tuesday that environmental groups have suggested no way in which EPA could regulate spent lead bullets and shot without also regulating cartridges and shells.

The Toxic Substances Control Act exempts cartridges and shells from regulation.

That's good news for once coming out of Washington Jerry

This will happen eventually , we just dodged it this time. Pure copper bullets seem like a terrible waste, but sooner or later we'll need an alternative.

Stand by for an executive order.

hermit5 wrote:Stand by for an executive order.

To override a Federal Court ruling? That would violate separation of powers and be unconstitutional. Same with trying to expand the EPA authority. I doubt there's any appetite for spending the political capital on this issue, because it would create another dog fight he'd end up losing anyway.

Expect some legislation trimming back the EPA after January....an Obama executive order earlier in 2014 directed the EPA to regulate coal out of existence based on CO2 regulation. That same regulations (co2) can be used to regulate firearm exhausts for example. So with the unemployment of coal miners, closure of coal fired power plants I'd bet Congress is looking to trim back EPA

That'll be an interesting negotiation! Natural gas prices have made coal unattractive for power generation, plus any attempt to help coal, legislatively, will run head on into the natural gas lobby. Two big money lobbies butting heads over this will make for some serious entertainment.

How hard would copper bullets be on the targets?

The cost of the bullets would end silhouette.

Another Dang 9 wrote:The cost of the bullets would end silhouette.

It would just about end all recreational shooting - or encourage some interesting experimentation.