Lawmakers Urge FTC to Probe Sniper Weapon Sales

Reuters ^ | October 10, 2002

[John Jorsett]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Several Democratic lawmakers on Thursday urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the marketing of military sniper rifles to civilians, noting that such a weapon may be involved in the recent Washington area shootings.

Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee (news - web sites), and three fellow House Democrats wrote in a letter to the FTC that sniper weapons are different from standard hunting rifles because they are designed to strike a target from a distance.

"Their accuracy and range capabilities make these weapons among the most dangerous available today," the lawmakers said. "They can hit targets accurately one mile away and can inflict damage to targets up to four miles away."

Conyers noted that the FTC did a study of entertainment industry marketing practices and violence after the Columbine school shootings in 1999.

Gun control advocates gained momentum in Congress immediately after several publicized shootings in U.S. schools but foes of new controls were able to defeat the initiatives

[John Jorsett]

wrote in a letter to the FTC that sniper weapons are different from standard hunting rifles because they are designed to strike a target from a distance

Hmmm. So the deer hunters are strolling up to their prey and just blasting them point blank? Interesting ...

[freeeee]

[Anti-Bubba182]

DONATE TODAY!!!. SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC

Donate Here By Secure Server

Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794

or you can use

PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD

[Texas_Jarhead]

any rifle can be used as a sniper weapon

technically, that 5.56 round is not associated with a 'sniper' rifle

[gc4nra]

Leaving for WY this evening. Glad to know I can just walk up to them this year, Last years shot was 200yds.(I tell everyone who'll listen 300).

[tracer]

"Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee (news - web sites), and three fellow House Democrats wrote in a letter to the FTC that sniper weapons are different from standard hunting rifles because they are designed to strike a target from a distance."

LOL!! A .223 is nowhere near as powerful as a "deer rifle." Where do they get these guys, anyway?

As for looking into assault rifle sales, there's a special on at the Blue Ridge Arsenal.....

[Black Agnes]

Say, what kind of 'sniper rifle' did Sarah Brady buy for her kid last year? Isn't it against the law to buy a gun for a 3rd party? Hmmm? Let's see what Sarah Brady's kid has been up to for the past 2 weeks...

[gc4nra]

"They can hit targets accurately one mile away and can inflict damage to targets up to four miles away."


These idiots are talking about 50 cals. One has never been used in a crime in the USA!

[tracer]

Sheese!! And Conyers is from Michigan!! They should vote him out just for being stooooopiddd!!

[ikka]

Tap dancing on these innocent people's graves for political advantage, even before the funeral procession. Sick.

[RogueIsland]

sniper weapons are different from standard hunting rifles because they are designed to strike a target from a distance

Yes, we all know that your "standard hunting rifle" is only good out to about fifteen feet.

[RogueIsland]

bang

[Phantom Lord]

These idiots are talking about 50 cals. One has never been used in a crime in the USA!

And they arent being used in these "sniper" killings either.

[freeeee]

Say, what kind of 'sniper rifle' did Sarah Brady buy for her kid last year?

Scoped 30-06.

Isn't it against the law to buy a gun for a 3rd party?

Sure is. "If you're not one of us, you're 'little people'".

Hmmm? Let's see what Sarah Brady's kid has been up to for the past 2 weeks...

I don't know, maybe petitioning some court for a new last name?

[John Jorsett]

technically, that 5.56 round is not associated with a 'sniper' rifle

That "one to four miles" stuff is for a .50 cal BMG, I suspect (which isn't the rifle in use by the East coast sniper, but anti-gunners aren't ones to let facts get in the way of a good story). That's the next anti-gun crusade: Los Angeles has alread banned them.

[RLK]

That's what I was afraid was coming. Every yahoo and sadist that wants nation full of meek disarmed victims will come out of the woodwork.

[matrix]

I think it's silly to assume there is an "assault rifle" (whatever that is), involved here. The weapon might well be Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle. It fires .223, too. And, there are even pistols that use a .223 round.

Anything to make gunowners look bad!

[blackdog]

They have that stuff printed up and ready to go even before the shooting begins. It sits in a special memory section of the fax machine connected to the news wire. As soon as the phrase school shooting, sniper, church shooting, postal shooting takes place, the liberals hit the SEND button with glee almost like it's the Bat Signal. They had been hoping they could pound that SEND button for weeks and their prayers were answered.

Remember about 20 years ago it was the "Cheap saturday night special" that was the danger BECAUSE IT WAS A CLOSE RANGE ONLY WEAPON???? I thought for a while there they were going to just ban saturdays and make up a new name for that day of the week.

Well, one thing is for certain. There will be far fewer outdoor speeches made by politicians in DC for a while. And as Forest Gump say's...."That's a good thing"

[dts32041]

So they think the guy might be using a Kimber or a ruger.

Bet he is using a Thompson Contender or Remingtopn XP-100.

[Texas_Jarhead]

yep. I'm gonna have to pick one up (50cal) sooner rather than later I suppose.