Posted on 01/17/2005 3:04:41 AM PST by .45MAN
Terrorism as an Excuse Another CBS campaign.
By John R. Lott Jr.
Who could oppose laws preventing terrorists from getting guns? Obviously no one. But it would be nice if laws accomplished something more than simply making it more difficult for Americans to own guns.
Ironically the day before CBS finally released its report on the 60 Minutes Memogate scandal, 60 Minutes was again stirring up fears about how terrorists would use 50-caliber rifles to attack Americans.
Last year it was the semi-automatic assault-weapons ban before it expired. Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D., N.Y.) claimed the ban was "the most effective measures against terrorism that we have." Of course, nothing happened when the law expired last year. There was nothing unique about the guns that are banned under the law. Though the phrase "assault weapon" conjures up images of the rapid-fire machine guns used by the military, in fact the weapons covered by the ban function the same as any semiautomatic hunting rifle; they fire the exact same bullets with the exact same rapidity and produce the exact same damage as hunting rifles.
Back in the mid-1980s it was the hysteria over "plastic guns" when the Austrian company Glock began exporting pistols to the United States. Labeled as "terrorist specials" by the press, fear spread that their plastic frame and grip would make them invisible to metal detectors. Glocks are now common and there are good reasons they are one of the favorite pistols of American police officers. The "plastic gun" ban did not ban anything since it is not possible to actually build a working plastic gun.
Now it is the 50-caliber rifles' turn, especially with California outlawing the sale of these guns since the beginning of the year. For years gun-control groups have tried to ban 50-caliber rifles because of fears that criminals could use them. Such bans have not been passed these guns were simply not suited for crime. Fifty-caliber rifles are big, heavy guns, weighing at least 30 pounds and using a 29-inch barrel. They are also relatively expensive. Models that hold one bullet at a time run nearly $3,000. Semi-automatic versions cost around $7,000. Wealthy target shooters and big-game hunters, not criminals, purchase them. The bottom line is that only one person in the U.S. has been killed with such a gun, and even that one alleged case is debated.
The link to terrorism supposedly provides a new possible reason to ban 50-caliber rifles. But the decision to demonize these particular guns and not say .475-caliber hunting rifles is completely arbitrary. The difference in width of these bullets is a trivial .025 inches. What's next? Banning .45-caliber pistols? Indeed the whole strategy is to gradually reduce the type of guns that people can own.
Sniper Central, a site for both military snipers and law-enforcement sharpshooters, claims that "For military extreme long-range anti-personnel purposes, the .338 Lapua is king. Even the .50BMG falls short. (Do to accuracy problems with current ammo)." The .338 Lapua round simply has what is called a better bullet coefficient, it produces less drag as it travels through the air.
With a 50-caliber rifle it is possible for an extremely skilled and lucky marksman to hit a target at 1,800 meters (versus 1,500 meters plus for the .338 Lapua), though most marksmen say that the effective range for any of these guns is around 1,000 meters.
The worst abuse that 60 Minutes focused on was the Branch Davidians in Waco in 1993 having a 50-caliber gun. Yet, no one was harmed with the gun, and the Davidians surely had many other weapons. 60 Minutes also tried to scare people with incendiary and explosive ammunition, but the ammunition discussed is already illegal.
Fighting terrorism is a noble cause, but the laws we pass must have some real link to solving the problem. Absent that, many will think that 60 Minutes and gun-control groups are simply using terrorism as an excuse to promote rules that he previously pushed. Making it difficult for law-abiding Americans to own guns should not be the only accomplishment of new laws.
— John Lott, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, is the author of The Bias Against Guns and More Guns, Less Crime.
something for early morning reading.
Point out to the pro-abortionists that by also pushing an anti-gun agenda, they are implicitly arguing against choice and their anti-life stance becomes more apparent when seen in the light of their anti-choice stance on the use of arms for self-defense.
Like just outlawing crime, outlawing terrorism will solve the whole danged problem. Look for cBS to discover this brainy solution, purt neer any day now.
I watched the 60 Minutes "piece", and "piece" is the appropriate word. Though they did give some air time to Ronnie Barrett, who came off very well.
you do have a point there!!!!!
Good morning to you sir....
No. . .just as the criminals would have guns. . .so would the terrorists. < P>Only people left without guns, would be of course. . .thelaw-abiding. . .
cBS, I read how they are thinking of using Katie "lets hope Saddam crossed the border" Couric as a replacement for Dan RaTHer. Sort of like fixing a sinking ship by filling it with water. They are truly on crack.
I cannot get myself to watch the show, it always makes me want to take a shower. Barrett,s a good guy but gets a lot of undeserved harsh treatment. Some of it from police departments that have bought his equipment...
Ya! Katie "I'am going to wear black until Bush is out of office" Couric is sure to make the program fair and balanced
just like a Fox news show...
Leave it to Communist Broadcasting System to get to the core issue of the matter. And they wonder why their viewership is falling quicker then one of those killer .50 cal bullets.
But they're continuing their fine tradition of comedic relief with Katie. I mean Dan was hilarious, but Katie?
Me, either, most of the time. I knew this segment was coming on, and wanted to see for myself what they were doing. They really looked like idiots.
Please do not make this about women against gun control, as a rape victim myself I am one of the most serious advocates for the pro gun lobby.
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