[Bubbles]

From my email:

Dear Violence Policy Center Action Network Member:

This Sunday at 7:00 PM Eastern time, NBC News' Dateline is scheduled to run a story on the threat posed by 50 caliber sniper rifles. The VPC worked closely with Dateline on the piece.

Also, yesterday by a vote of 278 to 149 the U.S. House of Representatives defeated Representative Jim Moran's (D-VA) amendment to ban the export of 50 caliber sniper rifles. Thank you to everyone who called their Member of Congress this week in support of the Moran amendment. To see how your Representative voted, click here:

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-house-rollcall-super-rifles,0,3424527.story

While disappointed in the final outcome, the vote stands as proof that policymakers are increasingly becoming aware of the terror threat posed by these guns.

The vote on the amendment received widespread press coverage in more than 40 papers nationwide. Click here to see one of the Associated Press stories:

http://newsobserver.com/24hour/politics/story/2487833p-10831498c.html

Click here to see The Los Angeles Times story (requires free registration):

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-super-rifles,1,7995946.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

To learn more about the threat posed by 50 caliber sniper rifles, visit http://www.vpc.org.

Thank you, as always, for your efforts to help stop gun death and injury.

:fire: :cuss: :barf:

[OF]

The VPC worked closely with Dateline on the piece. Bias? Nawww...

[nico]

Now, who wants to take bets that if the NRA "worked closely with Fox News" on a story about how the VPC is full of crap, Keith Olbermeir would make his first story of the night for a week about how biased Fox is?

I'd say I miss the days when supposed NEWS networks at least tried to appear unbiased, but I don't remember them :mad:

[Standing Wolf]

The vote on the amendment received widespread press coverage in more than 40 papers nationwide.

The leftist extremists of the so-called "news" media are always glad to wave the socialist banner.

[Dan from MI]

I can't stand Jim Moron or VPC.

[dolanp]

I wonder how long it will be until a Law and Order episode has a terrorist buy one of these in a gun shop and shoots down a plane at JFK airport.

[1911ONR]

"dolanp: I wonder how long it will be until a Law and Order episode has a terrorist buy one of these in a gun shop and shoots down a plane at JFK airport. "

Ripped from the headlines!

[hifi]

Good job NBC, keep hyping the B.S. Keep giving criminals and terrorists more ideas. That's all the mainstream media is good for...

[El Rojo]

I watched it. It wasn't too bad. NBC covered the points for our side too. Basically what it comes down to is who is in your sphere of influence and what do you do to persuade them to see things from a pro-liberty and pro-rights standpoint. If someone watches that with a pro-gun person, they would agree with the pro side. If someone watched it from an anti-position, they would see it as an anti piece. If they had no view, then they might see it from the anti side, but that is only because we are not reaching out to them. We can complain about the biased media all we want, but it is our job to get out and spread the word. The only person's fault that doesn't happen is our own. So rather than complain about this piece, go talk to some people about the .50 caliber and explain to them our rights and how much of a threat is really isn't.

[TarpleyG]

I especially liked the part where the dead cop's wife asks why anyone needs a weapon like this and all the while her husband was shot and killed with another type of rifle during the incident.

Greg

[rick_reno]

I watched it too - a big deal was made of the Branch Davidians firing 50 caliber rifles at the LEO's assaulting their home.

Here's the memo the Department of the Treasury released listing the firearms and parts found in the home. I don't find any mention of ANY 50 caliber rifles recovered.

The Department of the Treasury

July 13, 1995

MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESS

FROM: Chris Peacock, Director of Public Affairs

SUBJECT: Weapons Possessed by the Branch Davidians

Enclosed are a set of photographs of items recovered from the Branch Davidian compound and a document listing weapons the group possessed. The photographs were exhibits presented at the trial of eleven Branch Davidians in January and February of 1994 in San Antonio, Texas. The summary document, prepared by the Department of the Treasury, sets forward the findings of the FBI laboratory analysis of the recovered weapons. The FBI prepared the analysis at the request of the prosecution team and the Texas Department of Public Safety, which was responsible for collecting the evidence at the crime scene. The FBI experts' findings were presented at trial in January 1994. Copies of the FBI report are available upon request.

The photographs make clear that the Davidians possessed an extensive arsenal. The first photograph displays some of the hundreds of weapons recovered from the compound. The second photograph "government exhibit 594" presents a portion of the ammunition rounds that were destroyed by heat ("cooked off") and found in an interior bunker; the pile in the photograph is approximately 5 feet high, 20 feet long, and 12 to 14 feet wide. The cooked-off ammunition is being shoveled into a Bob Cat front-loader in "government exhibit 593." "Government exhibit 599" shows one of the live hand grenades found on the premises.

In total, the Texas Department of Public Safety, led by the Texas Rangers, recovered more than 300 firearms from the Branch Davidian compound. In addition, a number of live grenades and more than 300 grenade components were uncovered. Hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition were also seized.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms investigated David Koresh for conduct involving: the illegal manufacture of machine guns and the illegal manufacture and possession of destructive devices. The FBI report provides evidence that the Davidians' arsenal did indeed include weapons unlawfully manufactured. The weapons listed include semiautomatic firearms illegally modified to fire in full automatic mode, as well as grenades and silencers. All of these weapons were unlawfully possessed.

I hope you find these documents useful as you review Treasury's report on ATF's role in events at Waco.

_______________________________________________________________________________

WEAPONS RECOVERED FROM THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN COMPOUND: TREASURY SUMMARY OF REPORT PREPARED BY THE FBI FOR PROSECUTORS AND THE ILLEGAL WEAPONS RECOVERED

Machine Guns

The FBI determined that 46 semiautomatic firearms had been modified to fire in full automatic mode:

22 M-16 Type Rifles

20 AK-47 Type Rifles

2 Heckler and Koch SP-89

2 M-11/Nine

The FBI also determined that two AR-15 lower receivers had been modified to fire in full automatic mode.

Silencers

21 Sound suppressors or silencers

Hand Grenades

4 Live M-21 Practice Hand Grenades

The possession of lawfully manufactured machineguns, silencers, or grenades requires the owner to register the weapon with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms. None of the compound's residents were registered to own such a weapon, therefore it would have been illegal for them to possess these weapons.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEAPONS RECOVERED FROM THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN COMPOUND: TREASURY SUMMARY OF REPORT PREPARED BY THE FBI FOR PROSECUTORS AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
TOTAL WEAPONS RECOVERED

(Including Weapons Mentioned on Previous Page)

FIREARMS

Rifles and Rifle Components

61 M-16 Type and 2 M-16 Lower Receivers

61 AK-47 Type

34 AR-15 Type and 2 AR-15 Lower Receivers

13 Shotguns -- 12 gauge

11 7.62MM FN FAL Type

10 Mini-14 Type

7 37mm. Flare Gun/Launcher Type

6 .30 Carbine Calber US Carbine, Model M1

6 Assorted Rifles

5 M-11/Nine

5 M-14 Type

3 Galil

2 Heckler and Koch SP-89

1 Air Rifle

1 Heckler and Koch MP-5

1 Sten submachine gun

Pistols and Revolvers

23 Beretta

13 Glock

8 Assorted Revolvers

6 Safari Arms

6 Assorted Pistols

5 Sig Sauer

5 Walther

2 Taurus

EXPLOSIVES

Hand Grenades

4 Live M-21 Practice Hand Grenades

100+ Modified M-21 Practice Hand Grenade bodies; the bodies of these had been threaded and plugged but lacked a main charge or fusing system.

11 M-69 Practice Hand Grenades; the bodies of these grenades exhibited indications of attempted modifications.

219 Grenade Safety Pins

243 Grenade Safety Levers

Rifle Grenades

200+ Inert M31 Practice Rifle Grenades.

FIREARMS ACCESSORIES AND PARTS

Silencers

21 Sound suppressors and silencers.

Flash Suppressors

18 Flash Suppressors.

Firearms Barrels

17 M-16/AR-15 Type (5.56 mm)

8 M-16/AR-15 Type (9mm caliber)

3 M-16/AR-15 Type (.45 ACP caliber)

1 M-16/AR-15 Type (5.56 mm)

2 Ruger. 22 Caliber

1 M-60 machine gun

1 12 Gauge Shotgun

1 Taurus, Model 92, 9mm pistol barrel

1 Sig Sauer 9mm pistol barrel

Pistol Slides

1 Sig Sauer Model

Revolver Parts

1 .38 Special caliber cylinder

Bolt Carriers

39 M-16

24 AR-15

2 MP-5

2 AK-47

1 FAL

1 Unknown

Bolts

15 AK-47

7 .22 LR conversion

3 M-16/AR-15

1 FN FAL (1)

Bolt Assemblies

3 M-11/Nine

2 M-16

1 AR-15

1 MAC-10

1 Shotgun

Recoil Springs and Guides

3 Glock

2 Sig Sauer

1 Beretta

1 M-11/Nine

Stripper Clips

29 Stripper Clips

Accessories

6 .22 LR Caliber Conversion Kits

Hammers

31 AK-47

18 M-16

12 AR-15

4 M-11/Nine

2 Sig Sauer

1 Beretta

Hammer Springs

3 AK-47

Buffer/Recoil Springs

36 M-16/AR-15

4 AK-47

Selector Switches

9 M-16

3 AR-15

1 Unknown

Sears

1 M-11/Nine

Auto Sears

8 AK-47

4 M-16

1 FN FAL

Auto Sear Springs

12 AK-47

Disconnects

7 AK-47

1 M-16

Trigger/Trigger Mechanisms/Trigger Housings

17 M-16

6 AR-15

3 M-60

3 M-11/Nine

2 MP-5

2 Sten

1 AK-47

1 Heckler & Koch

1 M-14

1 Smith & Wesson

1 Beretta

1 Shotgun

Ammunition Magazines

289 7.62 x 39mm AK-47 Type

248 .223/5.56 mm M-16/AR-15 Type

108 Sten Gun Type

88 .308 Caliber FN FAL Type

72 M-14 Type

61 Beretta Model Type 92

58 .308 Caliber of Unkown Type

28 Ruger Mini-14 Type

22 .22 Caliber

17 UZI Type

16 USAS-12 Type

13 .45 Caliber

11 Glock

11 MP-5

11 Sig Sauer P226/P228

9 Unknown Type

7 .308 Caliber Galil Type

6 Walther PPK

5 9mm Unknown Type

4 .50 Caliber

3 .30 Caliber U.S. Carbine

3 .380 Auto Caliber

2 9mm Smith & Wesson

1 AK-74 Type

1 Grendel

Ammunition Containers

220 Metal Boxes (Various Calibers)

15 Wooden Boxes (Various Calibers)

4 Buckets (Various Calibers)

1 Cardboard Boxes (Various Calibers)

Magazine Springs

360 M-16/AR-15

42 FN FAL .308 Caliber Type

35 AK-47

28 9mm Magazine Springs of Unknown Type

15 Unknown

10 M-14

6 M-1 Carbine

3 .50 Caliber

1 Mini-14 Magazine

1 Glock

These lists do not include dozens of other items recovered from the Compound such as dust covers, extractors, front and rear sights, gun cleaning equipment, bolt release levers, compensators, .50 caliber belt links and numerous other parts.

[stevelyn]

Hmmmph.................They could dig out and list all the guns the Davidians had, but they can't find a door? :scrutiny:

[TarpleyG]

The .50s fired in Waco were by the Nat'l Guard helicopters IIRC. Even those may not have been .50.

Greg

[BostonGeorge]

Maybe a .50 cal is listed under "assorted rifles," .50 caliber magazines and magazine springs were apparently recovered.

[richyoung]

Didn't NBC have some rocket motors put under Chevy trucks to "prove" how unsafe the tank design is? They never let the facts get in the way of a good story...