(NY) State considers becoming first to ban .50-caliber rifle

Associated Press ^

[12GA]

ALBANY -- The civilian counterpart of the .50-caliber firearm that became a war movie icon is being recast by some as a tool of terrorism.

[12GA]

I can't afford one right now, and it looks like by the time I can, I'll no longer be allowed to. Damn RINO's!

[Bogey78O]

Well sell 2 AR-15s and go get one. ;)

I'm going to use my educated guessing ability here and guess that not one .50 has ever been used in a crime.

[SpyGuy]

It was my understanding that the Communists who control California have already banned the .50-cal in that state. Am I wrong?

[Bogey78O]

'The rifles shoot a large bullet and are accurate to within four inches at 1,000 yards at supersonic velocity, then carry more than two miles with declining accuracy. '

Not too far off. That's one of the higher quality rifles there in the hands of a pro. The distance record is just about a mile and a half. In terms of accuracy the cheaper ones have a great deal of inacuracy and the idea of a guy shooting a plane out of the sky with it is pretty far fetched.

[Atlas Sneezed]

ALBANY -- The civilian counterpart of the .50-caliber firearm that became a war movie icon is being recast by some as a tool of terrorism.

On Tuesday, California's Contra Costa County approved a ban on the sale of the heavy, powerful .50-caliber firearms outside incorporated municipalities. Supporters said they hope to use the measure to leverage a broader ban, such as proposed earlier in the state legislature and in Illinois.

In New York, a ban on the sale of the large-bore firearms favored by upscale competitive shooters has become an anti-terrorism priority for the Democrats who rule the Assembly. Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said Wednesday he is considering what would be the nation's first state ban.

"The .50-caliber weapon is capable of shooting planes out of the sky, piercing armor," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Democrat who represents the lower-Manhattan area hit in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"Fifty-caliber guns have no legitimate purpose, and to keep them legal is supporting keeping them legal for terrorists and others," Silver said.

John Robertson of the 4,000-member worldwide 50 Caliber Shooters Association based in Monroe, Utah, said a .50-caliber firearm is too heavy, too hard to conceal and creates too little damage to be a terrorist tool. He said the bullet creates a half-inch hole and doesn't splinter to create further damage as in smaller-caliber bullets.

"We have a better safety record than your local high school cheerleading team," Robertson said.

The rifles shoot a large bullet and are accurate to within four inches at 1,000 yards at supersonic velocity, then carry more than two miles with declining accuracy. The forerunner is the .50-caliber machine gun that has been used in the military worldwide since World War I, but today's rifles available on the legal market are often single shot, bolt-action firearms.

Today, the rifles cost between $2,000 and $11,000, can weigh 50 pounds and are most often used by target shooters in competitions nationwide. Occasionally, they are used in big-game hunting in Africa, Alaska and some western states.

"If a target shooter wants them, why not?" said Ron Neudecker, who has sold a few of the rifles from his Neudecker's Guns & Ammo in Lansingburgh.

[dts32041]

"Fifty-caliber guns have no legitimate purpose, and to keep them legal is supporting keeping them legal for terrorists and others," Silver said.

"Democratic politicians and their fellow travllershave no legitimate purpose, and to keep them legal is supporting keeping them legal for terrorists and others," Silver said.

Is this hate speech?

[agitator]

NY state is enemy territory. I suggest leaving and take as much money & talent as you can with you.

[Puppage]

and guess that not one .50 has ever been used in a crime

Come on...everyone knows perps hold up convenience stores with 2 thousand+ dollar rifles.

[lilylangtree]

Just rec'd this 5 minutes ago via email. Gun control doesn't work!!!!!!

Whether you agree or not, it's an interesting lesson in history and
something to think about...

---

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953,
about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded
up and exterminated.

---

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5
million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.

---

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, 13
million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were
rounded up and exterminated.

---

China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million
political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.

---

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000
Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.

---

Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000
Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.

---

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one
million "educated" people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.

---

Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century
because of gun control: 56 million.

---

It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by
new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by
their own government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500
million dollars. The first year results are now in:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent!)
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up
300 percent. (Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in,
the criminals did not, and criminals still possess their guns!)

While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in
armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in
the past 12 months, since the criminals now are guaranteed that their prey
is unarmed. There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and
assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to
explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and
expense was expended in "successfully ridding Australian society of
guns."

---

The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove
it.

---

You won't see this data on the American evening news or hear our
president, governors or other politicians disseminating this
information.

---

Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes,
gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens.

---

Take note my fellow Americans.....before it's too late!

---

The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind
them of this history lesson.

---

With guns, we are citizens. Without them, we are subjects.

[looscnnn]

Looks like Mr. Barnett is going to be a busy man writing letters and traveling to straighten out idiots like these.

[Hat-Trick]

"John Robertson of the 4,000-member worldwide 50 Caliber Shooters Association based in Monroe, Utah, said a .50-caliber firearm is too heavy, too hard to conceal and creates too little damage to be a terrorist tool."

It will, however, scare the crap out of tyrannists!

[coloradan]

Someone suggested that criminals be required to use .50 cal rifles for stickups because they're so heavy and awkward.

[Austringer]

Civilian counterpart, eh? Ummmm...didn't Miller vs US outline that the militia was allowed arms that were used by the military? Oh well...New York....

[ought-six]

The only way someone is going to shoot an airplane out of the sky with a rifle is if the plane is low to the ground, is a single-engine, twin-blade, open cockpit, canvas-skinned crop duster, and the shooter gets a lucky shot and hits the pilot in the head.

[camas]

head?? if he hits him in the rear end i bet he would also come down!!!

[.38sw]

Contra Costa county has banned them, not the whole state - yet. But they're workin' on it.

[correctthought]

Sung to the tune I Love NY...

I H8 NY

[12GA]

Shooting planes out of the sky with a .50 immediately sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Who on earth believes this BS that they're shoveling?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Nobody that knows better. I'm looking at my 10th addition to my collection of A-5 Brownings. Glad I picked something cheap.

[Bogey78O]

If a terrorist wanted a weapon that could kill people accurately from afar a nice 270 would be better. smaller lighter cheaper and deadly at long ranges.