Banning guns outright isn’t the only way to disarm the public. Burdensome regulations, supply-chain restrictions, and targeted bans on ammunition serve as a quieter—but equally effective—backdoor to civilian disarmament. As we’ve reported before, the United Nations has been advancing policies that would severely impact ammunition availability in the U.S.
Thankfully, the NRA has been working closely with the Trump administration to ensure the U.S. delegation at the UN holds the line against global anti-gun and anti-ammo agendas.
Domestically, the NRA—alongside groups like the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)—continues to push back against efforts to restrict or ban traditional lead-based ammunition at the federal, state, and local levels.
Unfortunately, gun owners in the UK are already feeling the effects of what happens when those protections don’t exist.
The British government has announced plans to implement a phased ban on lead ammunition across England, Scotland, and Wales, starting next year. A full ban is expected by 2029. While some exemptions exist—for outdoor ranges with risk mitigation, certain hunting calibers, airguns, and of course, police and military—the direction is clear: civilian access is being choked off.
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), which claims to represent 150,000 members, has been involved in the process since 2022. While the organization pushed back on certain classifications—like labeling all .243 and above rifles as “large calibre” and ineligible for exemptions—it seems generally content with the final proposal. BASC now frames the coming years as a “transition period” and claims that ammunition manufacturers will have time to roll out alternatives.
What’s missing? Scientific evidence.
Despite the sweeping ban, no definitive studies have been offered to prove lead ammunition is to blame for the UK’s river pollution or the decline in bird populations—claims used as the primary justification. But as we’ve seen time and again, facts take a backseat when ideology drives policy.
This UK ban should serve as a warning.
Without the constant efforts of organizations like the NRA, we could easily see similar restrictions imposed here in the U.S.—by states, or even nationally. The battle over firearms doesn’t always begin with the gun itself. Sometimes, it starts with the bullet.
