One is a money maker, one is a money loser. I talked to an "anonymous source" inside Ruger a couple of months ago and he mentioned the 556. The 556 has been a miserable failure for Ruger. The discussion of canning it has been an internal issue at Ruger LONG before this particular incident. If they can it, it�s for monetary reasons more than political. If they announce it now, then that�s pretty chitty of Ruger for gun owners and the industry in general.
I hope your double-secret-probation source is better than ringworm's.
Travis