The Real Deal

Over the course of my internet travels during the last five years or so, I've come across many people who get so worked up over rumors and hearsay they run wildly to the first forum or chat room to commiserate and bemoan whatever the "problem" might be. It's par for the course to see this petition or that one and have every Nervous Nellie hit you up to sign something.
Usually, I browse the topic and move on. Once in awhile I use the search function at Snopes to check a story out.
According to the spousal unit, I'm not a bandwagon jumper nor a "cry wolf" type so the fact that I was digging up info and searching through pdf files made him take notice.
Basically, here's what's going down for real:
This proposal made by OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration)will affect not only the casual sporting target shooter, but also the hunters, reloaders, and anyone who uses any type of ammunition (if this proposal is adopted as currently written).
I've looked through the regulatory rule (55 pages of which you can read yourself after following that proposal link) and mention is made by OSHA for incident after incident of accidents that they believe they need to protect us from. Mention is made about the Texas City Disaster which technically didn't involve explosives, but did involve nitrates. The regulatory rule also cited Port Chicago, CA where a similar occurrence happened three years prior. Case after case is referenced and OSHA's finger is pointing at "unsafe work practices, faulty equipment, and the failure to properly train employees handling and using explosives as well as employees working in the vicinity of the explosives in question."
Here's the part that involves me (and you if you have ever pulled a trigger to plink at a can, or a paper target, or your dinner, or carry concealed for personal protection): OSHA now has to define "explosives". Guess what falls into that definition? Parts of ammunition. Primers, smokeless powders, and black powder just to mention a few.
Just for good measure, OSHA is going beyond the manufacturing process and including the transportation, storage, and display of guilty products.
As this proposal is currently written, it would:
"Prohibit possession of firearms in commercial “facilities containing explosives" (that means guns and ammunition would not be able to be stored or displayed in the same facility -kind of like a gun store).
It would: "Prohibit delivery drivers from leaving explosives unattended" (like when the UPS delivery man has to take a package to a door and leaves his truck unattended).
It would: "Require evacuation of all “facilities containing explosives” (Attention WalMart Shoppers! We have an electrical storm passing over and need you to evacuate to the parking lot!)
It would: "Prohibit smoking within 50 feet of “facilities containing explosives.” (Feel like being patted down and searched for lighters and matches next time you go shopping?)
The bottom line here is that the public (that's you and me) needs to use the public comment (that is open until July 12th - follow those links again) and Request to Extend Public Comment Period and Request for Hearing on "Significant Regulatory action" as Defined in Executive Order 12866.
There it is. That's about it. Let OSHA (you know, that non-governmental entity unto itself who governs) know that the citizenry (you and me) need not be protected from ourselves for our own good.