Rep. Moran to Introduce Legislation to Ban 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles

[Harry Tuttle]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-29-2004/0002163343&EDATE=

Today's News
Rep. Moran to Introduce Legislation to Ban 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles
http://www.vpc.org

Representative Jim Moran, Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton,
Police Chief Charles Ramsey, and Virginia Law Enforcement
Officials to Warn of Public Safety Threat Posed by 50
Caliber Sniper Rifles at Monday Press Conference

Monday, May 3, 2004, 10:30 AM - Outside, Next to the Aerospace Building,
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC (Parking Available)

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) along
with DC-area public officials and law enforcement officials will hold a press
conference on Monday, May 3, 2004, at 10:30 AM outside, next to the Aerospace
Building, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC, to announce federal
legislation to ban 50 caliber sniper rifles recognizing the clear terrorist
threat such weapons represent to homeland security.
Accurate up to 2,000 yards, 50 caliber sniper rifles can penetrate armor
plating, penetrate rail freight cars, and destroy aircraft, yet under federal
law are as easy to buy as sporting rifles, and are sold with fewer
restrictions than standard handguns. The 50 caliber sniper rifle can utilize
legally available armor-piercing, incendiary, and explosive ammunition. An
Armalite 50 caliber sniper rifle and ammunition will be displayed at the press
conference, which overlooks freight train tracks and is within sight of the
U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument.

WHO: Tom Diaz, Violence Policy Center Senior Policy Analyst
Representative Jim Moran (D-VA)
Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC)
DC Police Chief Charles Ramsey
Fairfax County Police Chief Susan Devlin
Officials from the Alexandria and Arlington Police Departments

WHAT: Introduction of legislation by Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) to ban 50
caliber sniper rifles

WHEN: Monday, May 3, 2004, 10:30 AM

WHERE: Outside, next to the Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant Promenade,
SW, Washington, DC 20447 (parking available)

The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working
to stop gun death and injury in America. For more information, please visit
http://www.vpc.org.



SOURCE Violence Policy Center
Web Site: http://www.vpc.org

 

[Standing Wolf]

...recognizing the clear terrorist threat such weapons represent to homeland security...

Actually, representatives of the Democratic (sic) party pose a much greater threat to the nation than Islamic terrorist savages armed with .50 caliber rifles—if, in fact, there have ever been any.

 

[GigaBuist]

Once again Standing Wolf hits the nail on the head.

I just got done explaining to a buddy who stopped buy how absurd our gun laws are. He took a gander at my blog to see the pictures of what the AWB really banned. He was left puzzled -- and even more so after I explained the "ten US parts import rule" to him and took apart my AK.

The only point to such legislation is the "oooooh, I did something good today" feeling that legislators get and hope to pass that off onto the voting public.

"I banned ASSAULT WEAPONS!" sounds good -- until the public realizes that they only banned bayonet lugs and flash supressors. The majority of the public, even the shooters, never delve into the law deep enough to find out just what they did and what they claim to have done. They differ so much it's abusrd.

We need to start forcing the general population to see what the gun control laws really do: nothing.

When they get a warm fuzzy from knowing that their senator or congress critter wants to ban evil .50 caliber weapons make them ask hard questions: LIke how often they're used in crime. Who actually owns them?

The answers are, quite simply, they've never been used in crime. At least, none that I know of -- and they're owned by firearm enthusiasts that probably already own 20-30 weapons that'll make the average sheep crap their pants. You know the kinda guy -- the one that the sheep want to have around when Al Quaida lands in their neighborhood calling for Jihad. Suddently that guy with a .50 cal is quite hand and not so nutty.

 

[Boats]

Monday, May 3, 2004, 10:30 AM - Outside, Next to the Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC (Parking Available)

I am sure the irony of their chosen location would escape them, unless, of course, they purposefully selected the location for the children in the language of surrender.

 

[R.H. Lee]

:banghead:

This stuff just makes me crazy. It never ends.

Moran (is that the correct spelling?), Eleanor Holmes Norton and VA "Officials" need to be INTRODUCED to the door.

Edited to add:

Police Chief Charles Ramsey- isn't that the same MAROON who couldn't find the missing girl who worked for Condit and was murdered?

 

[buy guns]

how clueless do you have to be to think that banning a gun in AMERICA will stop terrorists from OTHER COUNTRIES from attacking the US? should we outlaw box cutters too?

 

[MagKnightX]

Upwards of two thousand dollars? Thirty pounds? Two dollars a round? Kicks like a mule? Four or five feet long? Sounds like a Saturday Night Terroristtown Special to me!

 

[Reno]

The answers are, quite simply, they've never been used in crime. At least, none that I know of --

Actually, there have been a couple of crimes committed with a .50 cal rifle. As far as I know, the number is two.

One was around where I live a good number of years ago, and I believe it may be the only criminal use of a .50BMG in the US that actually resulted in a death.

A cop lost it, went and bought the rifle, then killed his wife in a safeway.

So because one of the few elite that should be allowed to carry murdered with one (in a completely ridiculous manner for a rifle of that sort, might I add), none of us should be allowed to have them.

 

[artherd]

Great, now I'll have to switch to .408 CheyTac, which has a longer effective range of 3500yards, and better AP capability.


You can't un-make guns. The best thing you can do (and this actually works) is use them to un-make criminals.

 

[fjolnirsson]

Dammit.
Now I have to go out and buy one, just so I can have it in case the stupid ban passes.
I can't afford this. :banghead:

 

[rick_reno]

Ban on 50 caliber sniper rifles

I think the criteria for deciding what to ban should be if the round it uses is bigger than Janet Reno’s penis – it should be banned.

 

[sm]

I really hope a serious Homeland Security Situation DOES NOT occur - again. I can't help but wonder though IF such an occurrence were to happen and a honest citizen were called upon to use a .50 to end the situation what the thoughts might be.

I mean folks were startled that the respondees to the Hollywood Shootout did not have ARs or Long Rifles and needed to borrow from local gun shops. The "why" of existence was questioned until a need "was" presented.

True Story - we had a fellow atop a Downtown bldg the other day with a -OMG - "semi auto weapon and a bunch of rounds" . Looked like a Buckmark a 22lr handgun Folks got all upset as "to how this could happen" and even more upset " the authorities could not find him. NO shots were fired by the fellow btw.

I responded " maybe they need more surveillence cameras". <sarcasm>
Asked what a citizen could do I replied "Well I guess you could pay more taxes for more cameras OR you could take responsibility for your own safety and awareness...like leave the area, and watch your back". Asked what to do if confronted by such and individual I replied " Well one is able to get a CCW in this State...I guess if you had a CCW and your life was in danger you could protect yourself".

I got a dropped jaw and the dumbest look from the individual to my replies.

Gotta be something in the water...gotta be.

 

[50 Shooter]

Reno,
Your story is wrong, the guy killed a cop with an AK. He had a Grizzly .50 BMG behind the seat of his truck, VPC uses this story to scare the sheeple.

 

[dischord]

I've always enjoyed voting against Moran.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I was this close to buying one with my tax reurn, but didn't.
Due to secure storage and cost of shooting factors. I did buy a ton of reloading stuff instead though.

If this starts gaining significant momentum, plastic fantastic will be taking a journey out of the safe.

Yes I am a spiteful and bitter man, do not tell me what gun I can't own, thank you very much. Check a document we call the Constitution for further details.

 

[tyme]

[blockquote]Moran (is that the correct spelling?), Eleanor Holmes Norton and VA "Officials" need to be INTRODUCED to the door.[/blockquote]
Yes, at high speed and without opening it first.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

ever see a congressman dripping in the rain with no audience?

i did this morning

they had a table with an AR50 and ~ 25 rounds of 50 bmg

 

[Harry Tuttle]

VPC Offers Strong Support for Federal Legislation to Ban 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles

http://www.vpc.org/press/0405fifty.htm



Representative Jim Moran (D-VA), Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), and DC and Virginia Law Enforcement Officials Warn of Public Safety Threat Posed by Rifles That Can Penetrate Armor Plating and Destroy Aircraf

Washington, DC—Area law enforcement and public officials warned at a 10:30 AM press conference today of the homeland security threat posed by 50 caliber sniper rifles and endorsed federal legislation introduced by Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) to ban these military-bred weapons. Fifty caliber sniper rifles can penetrate armor plating, pierce rail cars carrying toxic chemicals, and destroy aircraft. Currently being used by U.S. troops in Iraq, 50 caliber sniper rifles are accurate from over a mile, yet under federal law are sold in the United States with fewer restrictions than a standard handgun. Bolt-action 50 caliber sniper rifles are legal in the District of Columbia. The guns have already been banned in Los Angeles, CA. In March of this year, Contra Costa County, CA, and the New York State Assembly also voted to ban them. A vote is pending in the New York State Senate.

Tom Diaz, VPC senior policy analyst and author of numerous VPC studies on the threat posed by 50 caliber sniper rifles, states, "The Violence Policy Center commends Representative Moran for taking action to ban these weapons of war. Fifty caliber sniper rifles give terrorists, militia groups, and common criminals the same firepower as the U.S. Army. They have already been used against America's police, and have turned up in the arms caches of homegrown militias planning to assassinate public officials. If anyone is looking for the warning signs, they are here. These are the ideal tools for terrorists and must be banned before the unthinkable happens."

The VPC first identified the threat posed by 50 caliber sniper rifles with its landmark 2001 study Voting From the Rooftops: How the Gun Industry Armed Osama bin Laden, Other Foreign and Domestic Terrorists, and Common Criminals With 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles. Subsequent VPC studies have exposed the environmental safety threats presented by these guns' ability to penetrate from a distance bulk fuel and chemical tanks and other high-value targets, as well as their ability to destroy commercial aircraft. All of the VPC's studies are available at www.vpc.org.

 

[Master Blaster]

ever see a congressman dripping in the rain with no audience?

i did this morning

they had a table with an AR50 and ~ 25 rounds of 50 bmg?

You should have called the DC police and reported that there was a terrorist standing in the street with a .50 BMG. Maybe the SWAT guys would have showed up to arrest him.

No Doubt that NBC will air this tonight and make it look like the two people holding signs were a crowd of 50,000 protesting this evil baby killing device.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

the DC police had the road blocked off for the press conference...

 

[Smoke]

You should have called the DC police and reported that there was a terrorist standing in the street with a .50 BMG. Maybe the SWAT guys would have showed up to arrest him.

Now THAT would have been news worthy.



Smoke

 

[GigaBuist]

they had a table with an AR50 and ~ 25 rounds of 50 bmg

How much were they selling it for?

Ya know, I got to see a .50 this weekend. Saturday a guy had his nearly brand new M82A1 that was on backorder for 2 years out there.

Awesome. Insanely awesome.

Could we get one of these politicians out there on the range somebody to show us just how easy it is to nail a target a 1 mile with one?

Then we'll let Dianne Feinstein and Sarah Brady "spay fire from the hip" "12 bullets into a cop as fast as you can say National Rifle Assosciation" a few lanes down.

Crap, now I've got a headache and my eye is twitching.

 

[R.H. Lee]

50 caliber sniper rifles are accurate from over a mile

So, it's a "sniper rifle" because its .50 caliber? (note the number of times the article uses the term "50 caliber sniper rifle". It rolls off their tongue, like "sustainable energy" or "immoral war" or "illegitimate administration"
They know if they repeat something long enough it becomes accepted as fact.

How about a "30 caliber sniper rifle"? At what distance is that accurate?
Or a "27 caliber sniper rifle"? Or a "25 caliber-------"you get the point. That's where they are going with this. They won't be happy with just the .50. Hell, you could kill somebody at a good distance with a "sniper crossbow"

 

[braindead0]

they had a table with an AR50 and ~ 25 rounds of 50 bmg

What I want to know is what idiot would let obviously unqualified morons have a gun and ready ammo in a situation like that??

And where to I get this explosive ammo anyway?

 

[0007]

The real question is where did they get the gun in DC? And who had permission to have it on the street like that? Somebody could(should) have come along and mugged the good congress-critter for it...