Doing Obama’s Dirty Work: EPA Creating De Facto Gun Control Posted 12.02.13 by Greg Campbell, TPNN Political Analyst At a time when the executive branch tirelessly works to divide the nation on a wide variety of issues, no rhetoric emanating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue may be so vitriolic and outrageous as the rhetoric concerning gun rights in America. The Obama Administration has made it clear in what low regard they hold the Second Amendment and the rights it entails; however, as one attempt after another to enact gun control restrictions has failed miserably, the Obama Administration has turned to more desperate measures to try and hurt gun owners. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the wrecker of numerous local economies and the embodiment of over-regulation, has shut down the last lead smelting plant in the U.S. That can smelt lead from ore. It’s simple enough; bullets are made from lead. If the government can hinder the production of lead, they can hinder the production of bullets. If they can hinder the production of bullets, the costs associated with shooting and firearm ownership rise and either A) people will shoot less or B) gun owners will be punished for their willingness to continue to shoot. The nation’s last remaining lead smelting plant provides lead for ammunition used in firearms nationwide. Without the lead, ammunition will become scarcer and costs will continue to rise- a turn of events that is sure to delight the gun-grabbing leftists in Washington. Operating like old-school thugs, the EPA has demanded the Doe Run Company, which has operated for more than a century, pay millions to be in compliance with the EPA’s restrictions and also pay a $7 million civil penalty. The Obama Administration has increased the EPA regulations ten-fold and has created an environment hostile to industry. The Doe Run company has been in business since 1892, serves as the last remaining smelting plant in the country and maintains a workforce of 218 employees and contractors- all out of work now thanks to the EPA. The EPA has laughably gloated and explained that Doe Run is closing their doors due to a “business decision.” This “business decision” is Doe Run’s inability to pay $100 million to be in compliance with the EPA’s Draconian restrictions that ceased to exist for the preceding 106 years before the Obama presidency. Of course this is why we need serious regulatory reform that precludes executive agency fiat, especially regulation implementation that exceeds a certain adverse financial impact to a private sector business. Of course the canned progressive socialist response is “For years families with children near Doe Run’s facilities have been exposed to unacceptable levels of lead, one of the most dangerous neurotoxins in the environment,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement Assurance. There are a few auxiliary lead processing plants remaining in the USA but their function is to re-claim lead from old batteries. What this all means is that after December 2013, any ammunition that will be available to US citizens will have to be imported, which will surely increase the price and possibly come under government control. It seems this is fully in concert with the US Military and Homeland Defense recent purchase of large quantities of ammunition. Further, the Obama Administration continues to champion the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty- the U.N. Agreement that places restrictions on the importation and exportation of arms and if ratified by the Senate, violates Second Amendment protections. If ammunition is now only available from overseas, it’s likely that the future will bring efforts by this administration to make access to imported ammunition difficult, costly or illegal.