While they're at it you'd think they would ban the shoulder-fired rodent rocket. The squirrels are out of control in my neck of the woods.
Posted on 02/16/2005 9:06:30 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
H.R.654
Title: To ban the transfer of 50 caliber sniper weapons, and otherwise regulate the weapons in the same manner as machine guns are regulated.
Sponsor: Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] (introduced 2/8/2005) Cosponsors (18)
Latest Major Action: 2/8/2005 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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COSPONSORS(18), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 2/8/2005 Rep Carson, Julia [IN-7] - 2/8/2005
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 2/8/2005 Rep Evans, Lane [IL-17] - 2/8/2005
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 2/8/2005 Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 2/8/2005
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 2/8/2005 Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 2/8/2005
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 2/8/2005 Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 2/8/2005
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 2/8/2005 Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] - 2/8/2005
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 2/8/2005 Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 2/8/2005
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 2/8/2005 Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 2/8/2005
Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 2/8/2005 Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 2/8/2005
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109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 654
To ban the transfer of 50 caliber sniper weapons, and otherwise regulate the weapons in the same manner as machine guns are regulated.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 8, 2005
Mr. MORAN of Virginia (for himself, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. WEXLER, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Ms. WATSON, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. WYNN, Mr. EVANS, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, and Ms. CARSON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
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A BILL
To ban the transfer of 50 caliber sniper weapons, and otherwise regulate the weapons in the same manner as machine guns are regulated.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `50 Caliber Sniper Rifle Reduction Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) certain firearms originally designed and built for use as long-range 50 caliber military sniper weapons are increasingly sold in the domestic civilian market, and there are fewer legal restrictions on their possession or transfer than there are on handguns;
(2) the intended use of these long-range firearms, and an increasing number of models derived directly from them, is the taking of human life and the destruction of materiel, including armored vehicles and such components of the national critical infrastructure as radars and microwave transmission devices, in addition 50 caliber sniper weapons pose a significant threat to civil aviation in that they are capable of destroying or disabling jet aircraft;
(3) these firearms are neither designed nor used in any significant number for legitimate sporting or hunting purposes and are clearly distinguishable from rifles intended for sporting and hunting use;
(4) extraordinarily destructive ammunition for these weapons, including armor-piercing and armor-piercing incendiary ammunition, is freely sold in interstate commerce; and
(5) the virtually unrestricted availability of these firearms and ammunition, given the uses intended in their design and manufacture, present a serious and substantial threat to the national security.
SEC. 3. COVERAGE OF 50 CALIBER SNIPER WEAPONS UNDER THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT.
(a) In General- Subsection (a) of section 5845 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining firearm) is amended by striking `(6) a machine gun; (7) any silencer (as defined in section 921 of title 18, United States Code); and (8) a destructive device.' and inserting `(6) a 50 caliber sniper weapon; (7) a machine gun; (8) any silencer (as defined in section 921 of title 18, United States Code); and (9) a destructive device.'
(b) 50 Caliber Sniper Weapon-
(1) IN GENERAL- Section 5845 of such Code is amended by redesignating subsections (d) through (m) as subsections (e) through (n), respectively, and by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:
`(d) 50 Caliber Sniper Weapon- The term `50 caliber sniper weapon' means a rifle capable of firing a center-fire cartridge in 50 caliber, .50 BMG caliber, any other variant of 50 caliber, or any metric equivalent of such calibers.'.
(2) MODIFICATION TO DEFINITION OF RIFLE- Subsection (c) of section 5845 of such Code is amended by inserting `or from a bipod or other support' after `shoulder'.
(c) Conforming Amendment- Section 5811(a) of such Code is amended by striking `5845(e)' and inserting `5845(f)'.
(d) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. COVERAGE OF 50 CALIBER SNIPER WEAPONS UNDER THE GUN CONTROL ACT OF 1968.
(a) In General- Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(z)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to transfer or possess a 50 caliber sniper weapon.
`(2)(A) The prohibitions of paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a transfer to or by, or possession by or under the authority of, the United States or any department or agency thereof or a State, or a department, agency, or political subdivision thereof.
`(B) The possession prohibition of paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to the otherwise lawful possession of a 50 caliber sniper weapon that was lawfully possessed before the date this subsection takes effect.'.
(b) 50 Caliber Sniper Weapon Defined- Section 921(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(36) The term `50 caliber sniper weapon' has the meaning given such term in section 5845(d) of the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. 5845(d)).'.
(c) Penalties- Section 924(a)(2) of such title is amended by striking `or (o)' and inserting `(o), or (z)'.
Are all the above legislators...Democrats?
Here we go again - trying to make laws to solve problems that don't exist.
How many crimes were committed with a .50 cal rifle in the last 20 years?
Probably less than Ted Kennedy has committed in the last year.....
And a BUNCH less than the Clintons have committed in the last month (speculation).
They need to move this fast on Tax Cuts and Judicial Nominations.
What a bunch of Pissants!
These guns are so expensive, like a $500 permit would stop someone from getting it.. If you have $5000-$8000 to spend on a rifle and that shoots ammo that costs about $4-$5 a shot....
Totally ridiculous!
More of the same anti-freedom lies.
"Loose lips sink ships." Why in the hell is that below the posting button on my account? Oh yeah, they should go ahead and make a 49.5 caliber. Watch those Dems squirm.
this bill will go nowhere...don't worry about it.
never say never, I GUARANTEE the MSM mediots will get the MORON McCain to comment on this and put it on the front page. (cue the El Loco Diablo music!!!)
Contact your reps. Probably won't get out of commitee but we have to keep on them.
Yeah, gangbangers often cruise neighbourhoods with large, expensive rifles that require exotic, expensive ammo. What a bunch of clueless tools.
While they're at it you'd think they would ban the shoulder-fired rodent rocket. The squirrels are out of control in my neck of the woods.
After that, they're hooked!!!
And I'm a lousy shot! (Never 25 for 25 after all these years).
The .50BMG slug is slightly less than 50 caliber, and California's ban... passed last year... is so tightly drawn that a 50 caliber rifle that was actually 50 caliber wouldn't be covered.
BTTT
They'll be a run on these things when word of this bill gets out. You can't pay for advertising like this.
I know. I forgot to add the /sarcasm line at the end. That was the point that I was trying to convey. Even if someone steals one of these guns, the ammunition is not as easy to find as .22 ammo. Where I live, you have to go to specialty gun stores to find .50BMG ammo. You also pay specialty prices for it.
It didn't work for "assault weapons", and, ultimately, it won't work for the 50. However, we need to make damn sure they learn this is a losing issue for them before they pass this abomination instead of after like on the AWB. Note this bastard legislation specifically does not include a "sunset clause", which means the rats learned the wrong lesson from the AWB.
Contact your reps today. Contact them tomorrow. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Keep up the pressure. Kill this thing before it even pokes its ugly head out of commitee.
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