This week’s anti-gun scare tactic
Hollow-point bullets like the one used in the slaying of Officer Daniel Enchautegui are much deadlier than ordinary bullets – and nearly as easy to get.
Actually, they’re just as easy to get.
Cops favor using the hollow-point bullets because they are less likely to pass through a target and ricochet into a fellow cop or bystander.
And, of course, because they have much better stopping power than ball ammo.
But they want their public sale banned to keep them out of the hands of thugs like Enchautegui’s alleged killers, Steven Armento and Lillo Brancato.
They do? So, they want non-police to stick with ammo that will pass through a target and ricochet into a fellow cop or bystander.
Anyone with a gun permit can buy the hollow-points in a gun shop. They also are readily available on the black market.
And, in just about any place that isn’t New York, you can get them at Wal-Mart.
The main difference between hollow-point and regular, “full-metal jacket” bullets is that the hollow-points flatten on impact and expand inside a target.
Yeah, that gets back to that stopping power thing I mentioned earlier.
An on-duty cop’s bulletproof vest would likely provide the same protection from a hollow-point as a regular bullet.
Actually, a vest offers a bit more protection from hollow points, which like to expand when they hit stuff and, therefore, penetration would be much less.
Update: Brutal Hugger in comments:
I’ve bought hollow points in New York. Never at a Wal Mart, but a friend of mine who makes all his non-Internet ammo purchases at Wal-Mart buys hollow point 9mm ammo there all the time. I demand a retraction!
Heh! Silly me, relying on the word of a reporter when it comes to gun laws.
December 13th, 2005 at 10:43 am
I’ve bought hollow points in New York. Never at a Wal Mart, but a friend of mine who makes all his non-Internet ammo purchases at Wal-Mart buys hollow point 9mm ammo there all the time. I demand a retraction!
December 13th, 2005 at 11:44 am
They also are readily available on the black market.
a black market for bullets? do the denziens of the dark hide in shadows and buy bullets in alley ways?
December 13th, 2005 at 11:45 am
Justin, The black marketeers probably get them from wal-mart.
December 13th, 2005 at 11:45 am
Reason #5,675 why MA has the worst gun laws in the nation: Wal-Marts in MA don’t sell guns or ammo.
Fortunately, Wal-Mart in NH is close by…
However, my local gun shop has MUCH better prices on hollowpoint ammo. My experience has been that you can only get target (FMJ) or hunting (JSP) variety ammo at Wal-Mart, not the personal protection variety (JHP).
And if you not only “get” the acronyms in that last sentence but IMMEDIATELY visualize a representative cartridge, you might be a gun nut… 😉
December 13th, 2005 at 1:47 pm
Just so I got this all straight.
We need to ban hollowpoint “cop killer” bullets, because the way they expand on impact makes them extra super deadly.
We need to ban jacketed “cop killer” bullets, becuase their increased penetrating power makes them extra super deadly.
Got it.
Hey, I know! After we ban all that scary ammunition, we can make it illegal to possess crack. That’ll do the trick. And then we can pass laws making it illegal to rape, shoot, beat, maul, stab, and strangle people.
December 13th, 2005 at 1:50 pm
Jay G. – My Ammoday purchase included one box of .38 special +P “Personal Protection” ammo, purchased at Wal-Mart. It happened to be in Tucson that I made the purchase YMMV.
It seems that the antis are working the “Diminished Capability for Civilians/Peons” game again.
December 13th, 2005 at 2:22 pm
Bruce – my sentiments exactly.
Jay G – I regularly purchase Federal Hydra Shock ammo at the local wal mart. Its $16 for a box of 20. Slightly cheaper (by pennies) than if I ordered it on the web and paid shipping (but without the wait). Its about $5 cheaper a box than at the local gun shops.
December 13th, 2005 at 2:47 pm
Perhaps you were confusing New York State with New York City?
December 13th, 2005 at 2:53 pm
Guav, I’d say that’s it 😉
December 13th, 2005 at 6:31 pm
[…] Say Uncle goes over a ridiculous piece opposing the sale of hollow point bullets. It’s as if the author never knew hollow points existed, or anything about their purpose. “Nearly” as easy to get, or found sometimes on the “black market.” […]
December 13th, 2005 at 11:27 pm
Haven’t there been cases where people were prosecuted for not using JHP?
December 14th, 2005 at 10:56 am
It is true that you can’t buy hollow points or any other bullets at Wal-Mart in NYC. We have no Wal-Marts in or around the city.
December 14th, 2005 at 6:52 pm
“Hollow-point bullets. . .are much deadlier than ordinary bullets”
Gee, I thought all bullets were deadly, and that dead was dead. Are there degrees of dead now?