New York Times Returns to Old Playbook in Attack on Lake City Ammunition

February 17, 2026
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The New York Times is dusting off its tired old playbook, firing another salvo at Lake City Ammunition in a blatant bid to demonize the very backbone of America's defensive arsenal. Just like the pre-Gunwalker era fearmongering that painted standard ammo as tools of cartel terror, the Gray Lady is recycling the same hysteria: Lake City's M855 green tip rounds aren't military death machines infiltrating civilian hands—they're the most common 5.56mm sporting cartridge on the market, produced under a government contract to keep taxpayer dollars in play while meeting real demand from hunters, competitive shooters, and yes, responsible self-defense users. This isn't journalism; it's a scripted hit piece from the anti-gun echo chamber, ignoring how Lake City's output has armed law-abiding citizens for decades without a whiff of the epidemic they conjure. Dig into the context, and the parallels to Operation Fast and Furious scream hypocrisy. Back then, the media parroted ATF lies about assault weapon bullets flooding Mexican cartels, all while the feds were literally supplying them—leading to Border Agent Brian Terry's murder and a scandal that exposed the gun-control agenda's rot. Fast-forward to today: Lake City, run by the Army at the taxpayer's behest, churns out billions of rounds annually, with a portion sold commercially to keep costs down. The NYT's attack? It's not about safety; it's a Trojan horse for ATF overreach, echoing Biden-era pushes to reclassify M855 as armor-piercing ammo under the 1986 Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act. Spoiler: Courts have repeatedly smacked this down, from the 2015 ammo ban flop to ongoing lawsuits proving these rounds barely dent soft body armor and pose zero unique threat to cops. For the 2A community, the implications are crystal clear—this is war by attrition on our supply lines. Every smear risks shortages, price spikes, and emboldened bureaucrats eyeing broader bans on AR-15 staples. But here's the silver lining: these recycled tactics expose the antis' desperation. With SCOTUS's Bruen decision gutting public safety excuses and ammo sales booming post-2020, Lake City's defenders—from the NRA to grassroots orgs like Gun Owners of America—are geared up. Stock up, speak out, and support litigation funds; the playbook's old because it fails every time. The right to keep and bear arms isn't negotiable, and neither is our ammo.

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The New York Times is dusting off its tired old playbook, firing another salvo at Lake City Ammunition in a blatant bid to demonize the very backbone of America’s defensive arsenal. Just like the pre-Gunwalker era fearmongering that painted standard ammo as tools of cartel terror, the Gray Lady is recycling the same hysteria: Lake City’s M855 green tip rounds aren’t military death machines infiltrating civilian hands—they’re the most common 5.56mm sporting cartridge on the market, produced under a government contract to keep taxpayer dollars in play while meeting real demand from hunters, competitive shooters, and yes, responsible self-defense users. This isn’t journalism; it’s a scripted hit piece from the anti-gun echo chamber, ignoring how Lake City’s output has armed law-abiding citizens for decades without a whiff of the epidemic they conjure.

Dig into the context, and the parallels to Operation Fast and Furious scream hypocrisy. Back then, the media parroted ATF lies about assault weapon bullets flooding Mexican cartels, all while the feds were literally supplying them—leading to Border Agent Brian Terry’s murder and a scandal that exposed the gun-control agenda’s rot. Fast-forward to today: Lake City, run by the Army at the taxpayer’s behest, churns out billions of rounds annually, with a portion sold commercially to keep costs down. The NYT’s attack? It’s not about safety; it’s a Trojan horse for ATF overreach, echoing Biden-era pushes to reclassify M855 as armor-piercing ammo under the 1986 Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act. Spoiler: Courts have repeatedly smacked this down, from the 2015 ammo ban flop to ongoing lawsuits proving these rounds barely dent soft body armor and pose zero unique threat to cops.

For the 2A community, the implications are crystal clear—this is war by attrition on our supply lines. Every smear risks shortages, price spikes, and emboldened bureaucrats eyeing broader bans on AR-15 staples. But here’s the silver lining: these recycled tactics expose the antis’ desperation. With SCOTUS’s Bruen decision gutting public safety excuses and ammo sales booming post-2020, Lake City’s defenders—from the NRA to grassroots orgs like Gun Owners of America—are geared up. Stock up, speak out, and support litigation funds; the playbook’s old because it fails every time. The right to keep and bear arms isn’t negotiable, and neither is our ammo.

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