[cuchulainn]

from the A.P.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/5961529.htmPosted on Wed, May. 28, 2003

News briefs from Southern California
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - The Police Commission voted unanimously to ban the sale of .50-caliber guns.

The move Tuesday was the latest in a series of gun control actions taken in the city that previously enacted bans on the sale of assault weapons, "Saturday night special" handguns and high-capacity ammunition clips.

Last year, City Council members directed City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo to draft an ordinance to ban the sale and civilian possession of .50-caliber rifles. The proposed law would also outlaw the sale of the new Model 500 pistol introduced by Smith & Wesson.

The large, high-powered weapons can pierce concrete from more than 400 yards away.

Police could not cite any instances in which the guns have been used to commit crimes in the city. Still, Chief William J. Bratton strongly supports the ban, which will now be considered by the City Council.

John Burtt, chairman of the Fifty-Caliber Shooters Policy Institute, said the ordinance is the latest effort to demonize a weapon typically used by target shooters and big-game hunters.

A similar proposal to ban the weapons was defeated in the state Legislature last year.

[Standing Wolf]

Police could not cite any instances in which the guns have been used to commit crimes in the city. Still, Chief William J. Bratton strongly supports the ban, which will now be considered by the City Council.

The founding fathers would weep.

[P95Carry]

So - by their reasoning ... perhaps ''muscle'' cars should be banned also ....... sheesh ......

I would be banned if I expressed my true opinion in ''direct'' terms!:fire:

[Sir Galahad]

All together now!-------

"It's for the cheeeeldreeennn!!"


"When there's someone free
In your neighborhood
Who ya gonna call
FREEDOM BUSTERS!
When you gotta save the kids
From guns and Oreos
Who ya gonna call
FREEDOM BUSTERS!

---I ain't afraid of no votes---

When there's someone owning
Guns that look too evil
Who ya gonna call
POLITICIANS!

[dustind]

Let me guess, police are immune to this "common sence legislation." Is that why they support it?

[SIGarmed]

How many police commission members actually live in Los Angeles? I wouldn’t be surprised if none of them did as it is well known that a large number of Los Angeles Police officers don’t live in Los Angeles. So what do they care about the people who live here.

They approve these stupid victim disarmament laws like banning the sale of guns that women and people of small stature use because they are to small and now this. Will they make sure their wife and children don't benefit from the protection that these arms provide? I doubt it. They are a bunch of hypocritical elitist political appointee's. They are absolutely the worst people that could be making these decisions

[longeyes]

First they banned the tiny ones. Now they want to ban the jumbo-size. Can the medium ones be far behind?

[benewton]

Couldn't we just ban LA?

[El Tejon]

Disarm LA cops!

[foghornl]

Did Mr. Barrett ever repair and return the .50 to LAPD? ? I remember that thread from a several weeks back, when the LA [ahem] City Fathers were discussing banning .50's and the LAPD guys passed around the .50 for all to fondle.

Not to hijack this thread, but I hand't heard the outcome of that issue.

Perhaps Mr. Barrett would also perhaps take this angle..."Since the sale of .50 Cal Rifles is now banned in LA, I cannot repair and return your Department's Rifle, for that would constitute a "sale" in LA i.e billing your city for repair parts and services, and prepay/bill for return freight charge..."

[Pilgrim]

I expect from Los Angeles now an ordinance that mandates which end of the egg one should eat his soft boiled egg.

[Russ]

The stupid SOB's ran most if not all of the gun shops out of LA. The place that the cops went to borrow some AR-15's to get the B of A robbers with the full auto AK-47's went out a little over a year ago. That will teach them to loan guns to the police. The Police Commission and city council there are jokes. The rank and file cops should use them for target practice.

[longeyes]

Speaking of which, one of the cable networks--is it FX?--is running a feature film it produced on the '97 N. Hollywood shoot-out. I wonder if it will include the aid given the cops by the late lamented B&B (gun store). I think the point of this flick is to illustrate, for all the timid, the mad, bad, and destructive fury of a full-auto AK47. No doubt after it screens we will hear more cries to ban those evil assault weapons and, I'm betting, bar the King's subjects from buying body armor lest it be darkly employed.

[Skunkabilly]

If they give theirs up I'll promise not to buy one....I think.