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(Fox News) Second amendment advocates, scores of lawmakers, even a policeman's organization are critical of the reasoning behind an effort to ban a popular kind of ammunition.

Americans own more than $5 million AR-15's, the most commonly used rifles for sports shooting as well as home protection.

And now lawmakers are worried the Obama administration is trying to ban a very popular ammunition.

"The President has tried to ban this rifle, but Congress has refused. And now it appears that he's taking his pen and his cellphone and through the ATF is trying to ban the second most popular ammunition that is used in that rifle," Rep. Bob Goodlatte said.

Goodlatte is one of 239 members of Congress who have signed this letter to ATF Director Todd Jones expressing concern about the Obama administration's plan to ban those bullets used for the AR-15, writing it "does not comport with the letter or spirit of the law, and will interfere with second amendment rights by disrupting the market for ammunition that law abiding Americans use for sporting and other legitimate purposes." The NRA is going further, expressing anger with Obama.

Late in the 2008 campaign, Obama tried reassuring folks he wasn't anti-gun.

"I believe in the second amendment. I believe in people's lawful right to bear arms. I will not take your shotgun away. I will not take your rifle away. I won't take your handgun away. If you want to find an excuse not to vote for me, don't use that one. Cause that just ain't true."

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives says this is intended to protect law enforcement while respecting the interests of sportsmen and the industry.

The ATF is allowing public comments until March 16th.

Then it's up to the attorney general to sign off on the ban.

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