Posted on 02/21/2003 4:18:12 AM PST by ZULU
Democrat Targets .50 Caliber Revolver for Nationwide Ban By Michael L. Betsch CNSNews.com Staff Writer February 17, 2003
(CNSNews.com) - A well-known gun maker recently introduced a powerful new hunting revolver that is said to have no equal in terms of firepower.
But within days of introducing the Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum at an industry-wide trade show in Florida, an anti-gun Democrat promised to seek a nationwide ban on the product.
"It's hard for me to rationalize any particular need or purpose" for the 500 Magnum, said Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.). "I think guns are made to kill people. That's my opinion."
Asked if he would seek a nationwide ban on the 500 Magnum, Davis replied, "Yes, indeed."
Billed as the "most powerful production revolver in the world today," S&W claims its new 500 Magnum cartridge produces nearly three times the muzzle energy of the .44 Magnum round, one of the most powerful sidearm cartridges available.
But Davis said the .50 caliber revolver, which weighs 72.5 ounces and has an overall length 15-inch has no purpose in society except to cause injury and death to humans, dismissing the manufacturer's claim that it is intended for hunting wild game.
He claimed handguns in general are specifically designed kill fellow human beings, whereas rifles and shotguns are typically relegated to hunting animals.
"You don't go out hunting deer with a revolver," Davis said. "Those of us who live in big, urban centers have a different fear and a different take than some people who may live in different environments."
Davis believes the 500 Magnum has a greater potential for becoming a lethal inner-city status symbol than an effective hunting tool, at least in his congressional district. He added that its high power combined with its concealability could make it the "weapon of choice" for urban gangs.
"If you live in a place like Chicago, and you know the amount of violence that is perpetrated by individuals who grow-up with the idea that having, handling and using a gun is a way-of-life in terms of establishing yourself on the streets or as part of the culture, then I'm afraid that many of these individuals will, in fact, acquire this weapon," Davis said.
"And, of course, the thing will be, 'I've got the most powerful piece on the block,'" he said.
Can a revolver be an assault weapon?
While Smith & Wesson's new five-round revolver is billed by the company as "the most powerful production revolver ever made," it's already being reclassified by some gun control advocates.
"If you've got something that masquerades as a handgun, but has the firepower of a major weapon, you're all at risk," said Illinois State House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie. "This is not the Wild West. It hasn't been for a long time."
Currie compared the 500 Magnum to "military-style assault weapons," although she had no information to base her claims on except for a "tip" received from a reporter.
"I'm not a weapons expert, but it sounded like pretty strong firepower to me," Currie said. "The description I heard was that from a significant range you could fell a large bear."
She dismissed the notion that the 500 Magnum is a hunting revolver, but did equate it with mob violence.
"My concern is whether this kind of weaponry -- it is a handgun as I understand it -- in a crowded, urban area downtown street corners in the midst of people who are angry about something and developing the kind of rage that means vandalism and mob action - whether this kind of weapon has any place," Currie said.
Like Davis, Currie said she would examine the prospects of making the sidearm illegal in the state.
"I'm going to look at the technology, as I say, and see if there is any way to specifically keep it from operating in the state of Illinois," Flynn said. "We are also working on efforts to ban military-style assault weapons, and, perhaps there is something about this technology that makes it possible to amend that legislation to include firepower like this."
Anti-gun message said to be flawed
Rifles are most commonly used for hunting, but many gun enthusiasts have also used smaller side arms for hunting, according to Gun Owners of America Executive Director Larry Pratt, who corrected the claim by Davis that hunters don't use revolvers to shoot prey.
"He's quite ignorant because there are people who do," Pratt said. "I do know for a fact that people take large caliber handguns with them to go hunting. And, I have no doubt that if you were lucky enough to get close enough, you could take a deer down with a .44 Magnum, which until now, was the biggest gun around."
As far as Davis' contention that any would-be criminal could easily conceal the 500 Magnum, Pratt said, "Yeah, if you have a trench coat or something like that."
Asked if the 500 Magnum's predecessor, the .44 Magnum faced the same criticisms and threats by politicians upon its introduction in 1955, Pratt said the controversy over Smith and Wesson's latest offering appears to be a sign of the times.
"It was all sort of good clean fun when it was introduced, but we're 20 years further along the gun-hating sensitivity training," Pratt said. "We're talking about the frame of mind that opposes concealed carry by private citizens."
E-mail a news tip to Michael Betsch.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
Should I say it? Naw...too easy and it would just get be banned!
--Boot Hill
Same sort of self-centered liberal mindset that spawned the term "Flyover Country" and fuels the assault on SUVs.
"I live in one of these all-important urban hellholes and I don't need a SUV to go to the latte shop, so you insignificant peons out there in the rest of America don't need off-road capability either. I'm the only one who is important!"
Just because this wimpy #^%*&^^ is too much of a dumba$$ to move out of the crime-ridden sCums where he lives in fear of his life, he wants to deny the entire nation the use of tools made for life in the boonies!
&*%&$$#& Self-centered liberal ba$t@rds!!!"
It's not "luck" Larry! And you don't need to get all that close.
But more to the point, the Dan Wesson .44 Supermag, the Freedom Arms .454 Casul, and the Ruger .480 all enormously out-power the .44 magnum - and where has the outcry been?
"As far as Davis' contention that any would-be criminal could easily conceal the 500 Magnum, Pratt said, "Yeah, if you have a trench coat or something like that."
Well, duh! This IS Chicago they're talking about!
Reckon anyone in Chicago wears a trench coat?
Well, what's it going to be 'Babs'? Either Chicago's streets are mean and violent, or they're not - which is it?
"'My concern is whether this kind of weaponry -- it is a handgun as I understand it -- in a crowded, urban area downtown street corners in the midst of people who are angry about something and developing the kind of rage that means vandalism and mob action - whether this kind of weapon has any place,' Currie said."
Curie makes a wonderful argument FOR carrying a handgun like this!
Almost as silly as those who pulled a voting lever with his name beside it.
Hoowee! No wonder they were restricted to military use. My hat's off to you pioneers who layed the ground for todays hand held nukes. I'm sure a heavy smoking couch potato like me would get his short hairs singed fooling around with that old "heave it and hoof it" technology.
The kids today are bringing it back though. Trying to ride the shockwave on parachutes, now that bungee jumping is getting passe.
Ummm... in the state of Indiana you do. Your basic 30-30 cal. Deer rifle is banned here for that purpose. That leaves .357 revolvers, 12GA. Shotguns, and Bows as the only allowed tools for deer hunting in this state.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.