VPC's press release on 50 cals - California Leads Nation in War on Terror

[Deavis]

From Yahoo news at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040914/dctu038_1.html

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California Leads Nation in War on Terror - Becomes First State in Nation to Ban 50 Caliber Anti-Armor Sniper Rifles
Tuesday September 14, 11:48 am ET
Law Comes Less Than Three Years After Violence Policy Center First Identified Threat Posed by These Readily Available Tools of Terror
Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Bill That Bans Rifles That Can Destroy Aircraft, Down Helicopters, and Penetrate Armor Plating


WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- California yesterday became the first state in the nation to ban 50 caliber sniper rifles. The bill, AB 50, was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The threat posed by 50 caliber sniper rifles, and their purchase in the U.S. by terrorists, was first identified by the Violence Policy Center (VPC) in its 2001 report 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 ability of these armor-piecing rifles -- which are accurate over a mile -- to attack bulk fuel tanks and other high- value targets from a distance, as well as their ability to destroy commercial aircraft. The VPC has also detailed their criminal use in the United States.
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VPC Senior Policy Analyst and study author Tom Diaz states, "California has once again confirmed its status as a bellwether state in preventing gun violence. Today's action not only protects the police and public, but stops the sale of a confirmed tool of terrorists. We look forward to other states, and eventually the U.S. Congress, following its lead." Under federal law, 50 caliber rifles are as easy to buy as hunting rifles, and less restricted than handguns.

The effort to ban 50 caliber sniper rifles was led by Assemblyman Paul Koretz and other gun violence prevention leaders in the California Assembly and Senate, as well as the San Francisco-based Trauma Foundation and the Los Angeles-based Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles.

The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury in America. For more information on the threat posed by 50 caliber sniper rifles, please visit http://www.vpc.org.

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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 ability of these armor-piecing rifles -- which are accurate over a mile -- to attack bulk fuel tanks and other high- value targets from a distance, as well as their ability to destroy commercial aircraft. The VPC has also detailed their criminal use in the United States.

Criminal use in the United States? Arming Osama with them? Common Criminals?

How do these people get away with lying like this? It is a shame you can't take them to court and force them to prove their hogwash.

 

[Warbow]

Wow! Not even this beast could handle all of the BS these people are shoveling:

 

[Nightfall]

California Leads Nation in War on Terror - Becomes First State in Nation to Ban 50 Caliber Anti-Armor Sniper Rifles

Looks like we found the next catch phrase to replace "assault weapons".

 

[redhead]

I am so relieved. I was living in terror of those .50 BMG sniper rifles. People were getting blown away left and right, not to mention all of those armored vehicles, airplanes and tankers getting blasted. I feel much safer now!

 

[El Rojo]

They have done nothing! Behold the .50 FUCA!

 

[sm]

....California Leads Nation in War on Terror

Against Residents of California perhaps. The Terror is the CA State Gov. is making a mockery of Constitutional rights and Freedoms.

In other news today, various Criminal and Terrorist Elements have chosen California to hold various Conventions to ply their craft . One member was quoted " They welcome us with open arms, speaking of arms - what are they going to do about us - come after us with slingshots ? "

 

[redhead]

"...what are they going to do about us - come after us with slingshots ? "

No. Spitballs.

 

[50 Shooter]

Keep dreaming! When your standing in front of the man try explaining how a cartridge that's made from a .50 BMG case is different, ALL THEY WILL SEE IS A .50 BMG CASE/CARTRIDGE/ROUND! All this "what if I change" this that or the other isn't going to fly when your in court. Get your .50 now and register it so you won't be sorry later!

If I knew I could get every .50 owner in Kali. not to register their .50's, I would run an ad in all the major newspapers telling them not to. The worst part of this whole thing is the fact that some foreign POS has taken away American rights!!! Just think what he'll do if the Amendment to let foreigners become president of the US! To bad people won't wake up and make this his only term in office.

 

[El Rojo]

That is why you change everything. The name on the base, the name on the box, the name on the rifle. Making a new stamp is cheap and so is printing up different letters on a box.

 

[50 Shooter]

And how many gun manufacturers do you think you can get to do this just for California? Same goes for the few manufactures that make brass cartridges.

If you use a .50 BMG case that's all they will see, remember, were talking California here.

 

[El Rojo]

And how many gun manufacturers do you think you can get to do this just for California? Same goes for the few manufactures that make brass cartridges.

We only need one. In fact, if only one manufacturer made a PRK legal .50 FUCA, they would have the entire market for the PRK cornered.

50 Shooter, I understand your pessimism and it has been noted. Now let us live on this dream. I personally refuse to register a firearm as an assault weapon. If you want to, go ahead. I respect your freedom to make your own decision. If the 50 FUCA never takes on, then you can say I told you so.

 

[50 Shooter]

Here's the thing, like I said we live in Kali.

You have to get away from the .50 BMG period! Drop anything with .50 on it or you'll be screwed. I would hate to see someone become a felon and lose their right to ever own another firearm due to a technicality!

I'm with you 100% but this screwed up state that we live in isn't! :banghead:

 

[Black Snowman]

. . . register it so you won't be sorry later!

Don't you mean WILL be sorry later when the confiscate it EXACTLY like they did with the SKS?

 

[El Rojo]

I don't think we need to drop .50, we need to drop BMG. The law is very specific that it bans .50 BMG and the law is very specific what a .50 BMG is. The .50 FUCA would be a completely different cartridge and rifle by name, but he components with exception of the brass would be identical. I think this will work. I e-mailed a ton of manufacturers and ammo makers last night. Someone will rise to the occassion. I also think many shooters will rise to the occassion to own a .50 FUCA. Its name (which means nothing) says it all. FUCA!

 

[50 Shooter]

Look at it this way, say you decide to be the MAN and not register it. Go to the range and Mr. JBT asks to see your papers or to run the serial number. Oops, now your a felon! If you do register it and they come for them, you might have a fighting chance when you go to court.

I don't like this BS any more then you or Rojo but there's just no way you can convince EVERY .50 owner in this state to not register them! So why would you risk your 2nd Amendment rights for a POS foreigner that took them away?

 

[Pilgrim]

The Russians (former Soviet Union) had a 12.7mm machine gun round. How much different is that from the .50 BMG? Can current .50 rifles be chambered for it?

Pilgrim

 

[50 Shooter]

Rojo,
Your best bet might be either Mark Serbu or Bill Ritchie, I would start with Bill Ritchie as EDM Arms is here in Kali. He's probably going to move his shop out of Kali because of AB50.

 

[El Rojo]

Do you know how many "assault weapons" are in this state and not registered. Sure people who like to shoot them registered them. However, many people have ARs and AKs sitting in closets and all about with no paperwork on them at all. True, if you want to go out in public with your .50 and shoot it, then by all means you should register it. I don't want to convince people of anything. If I had a .50, I would be really torn on what to do. That is my decision though. Every shooter in this state has a decision to make. The only thing I would critisize someone for concerning this issue is not whether they register they gun or not, but what did they do before the ban? Did they call the governor? Did they talk to their friends about this issue? Those people that did not act deserve disdain. Whether you register the gun or not really doesn't matter at this point to anyone but you. And if someone wants to risk their 2nd Amendment rights, let em. I respect people's decisions as long as they make a decision and go with it.

Now to screw with the legislators, lets make a .50 FUCA. Then when they ban that, lets make a .499 Feinstein. As long as they ban single guns like this, we will find ways around it. Someday they will have to tip their hand and they will go too far. Then the idiots of this state who aren't worried about an AR-15 or a AR-50 suddenly will realize what they were dealing with and take action. Unfortunately this state is going to have to get worse RKBA wise before it will ever get better. At least the rest of free America is experiencing their "get better" phase.

I believe I sent them both e-mails last night. Thanks 50 Shooter.

 

[Stebalo]

Law Comes Less Than Three Years After Violence Policy Center First Identified Threat Posed by These Readily Available Tools of Terror

eh?? Too eager to pat themselves on the back, aren't they? I recall the news droning on about the threat of .50 caliber "sniper" rifles shortly after the OK city bombing when Clinton and Reno determined that white males running around the the woods of Michigan in camo were the #1 terrorist threat facing our country and decided to virtually ignore the Islamicist threat. I'm sure I heard talk of banning them as far back as the mid 90's.

 

[Mute]

This being a family oriented board, I shall refrain from comments.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'm sure I'll always miss the temperate climate and beaches; in all other respects, however, I miss the People's Republic of California about 1% as much as a migraine head ache.