Warren Target US Ammunition Sale Linked to Mexican Cartels in New Bill

Senator Elizabeth Warren plans to introduce legislation Thursday that would end civilian sales of military-grade ammunition produced at a U.S. Army-owned plant.

She states the rounds supply Mexican drug cartels and contribute to mass shootings inside the United States. The bill, named the Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act, seeks to block Pentagon contractors from selling assault weapons and ammunition directly to civilians.

The measure has co-sponsors in the Senate — Andy Kim — and in the House — Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin. It would place strict requirements on any remaining commercial sales, mandating thorough buyer screening and detailed records of firearms later recovered in crimes.

• Elizabeth Warren introduces bill targeting military-grade ammo sales
• Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act aims to curb cartel-linked rounds
• Lake City Army Ammunition Plant sales face new scrutiny

The legislation focuses on the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Missouri, currently the largest supplier of rifle ammunition to the U.S. military. The facility, constructed during World War II, operates under contract with Olin Winchester, a division of Olin Corporation. Ammunition not purchased by the military enters the commercial market.

Warren points to this arrangement as a direct channel for dangerous rounds. Mexican officials have recovered .50-caliber cartridges manufactured at Lake City from cartel members. These rounds, designed to penetrate body armor, appear in rising border violence.

“Americans’ tax dollars should not be used to fuel gun violence. Congress must step in to keep Americans safe, and that means stopping the U.S. military and giant defense contractors from selling weapons of war to cartels, criminal groups, and mass shooters that terrorize our communities,” Warren said in a statement.

A 2023 New York Times report identified AR-15 ammunition from Lake City in at least twelve mass shootings since 2012. The incidents include Aurora, San Bernardino, Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Parkland, Buffalo, and Uvalde. In each case, rounds produced with public funds reached perpetrators responsible for large-scale killings.

Olin and Winchester did not provide comments when contacted. The company has previously stated that its commercial transactions follow federal regulations and that it cannot track ammunition after legal purchase.

The proposal arrives during increased attention to cross-border firearms trafficking. Mexican cartels obtain large quantities of guns and ammunition from the United States, contributing to elevated homicide levels in Mexico and violence spilling into American cities. Domestic gun deaths, including mass shootings, continue at high rates, with military-caliber ammunition valued for its performance.

Passage of the Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act would require significant adjustments at Lake City and comparable plants. Defense contractors would forfeit substantial civilian revenue, while hunters and sport shooters might encounter higher prices or reduced availability of common calibers. Proponents maintain the changes remain essential for safety in both nations.

Warren, recognized for consumer protection efforts, presents the bill as straightforward policy. Military production funded by taxpayers should not underwrite violence. With bipartisan support already secured, the legislation could move forward in a Congress often divided on firearms issues. Its survival through committee stages and response to industry opposition will indicate whether lawmakers address the consequences of extensive defense manufacturing.

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The Thursday introduction guarantees discussion of military surplus sales will receive prominent coverage. Pressure will mount on the Pentagon and contractors to account for how battlefield-grade ammunition reaches unauthorized users. Warren and her supporters insist the transfer of high-powered rounds into civilian circulation — and cartel stockpiles — must end.