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Panel Approves Ban on Bulk of Sales of ‘Cop-Killer’ Bullets

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Associated Press

The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill on Thursday that would ban most sales of armor-piercing, “cop-killer” bullets in this country, and sent it to the Senate.

Legislation to ban the bullets failed in both the House and Senate last year in the face of opposition from the National Rifle Assn. This year, the NRA has remained neutral on the bill.

Law enforcement officials have lobbied for a ban on armor-piercing bullets, since they are capable of penetrating the bulletproof vests that many police officers wear.

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The proposed law would ban all commercial sales and transfers of the bullets in the United States, except for sales to government agencies. Manufacture of the bullets would be allowed for export sales.

The bill also would make it a federal offense to use the bullets in the commission of a crime of violence. The penalty for such use would be a mandatory prison term of five years with no possibility of parole.

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