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Real firepower on streets
The Republican ^ | Wednesday, February 01, 2006 | PATRICK JOHNSON

Posted on 02/01/2006 6:35:58 AM PST by holymoly

SPRINGFIELD - The first five bullets from the AK-47, delivered in two short bursts, tore through the metal of the U.S. Postal Service mailbox.

The remaining 70 shots in the 75-round clip fired in one continuous spray turned a bullet-proof vest into Swiss cheese.

"I went through it in what, five seconds?" said Springfield police officer Sean Sullivan of the empty and now smoking rifle.

During a demonstration for the press in the basement shooting range at police headquarters, Sullivan showed what an assault rifle, illegally converted into a machine gun capable of firing as many as 400 rounds per minute, can do.

"It's a scary weapon to face, and scary knowing there are people out there who have them," said Sullivan, a member of the police Street Crimes Unit.

That particular weapon, said Sgt. John Delaney, "was out on the streets five days ago in the hands of a drug dealer."

It was one of 13 guns confiscated by police over the past few days, he said.

In addition, police also seized a semiautomatic AK-47, a semiautomatic M-16 and a Thompson submachine gun, and several semiautomatic pistols and revolvers.

So far this year, confiscations number 21, compared to three in January 2005.

In 2005, police confiscated 151 handguns, rifles and shotguns.

Despite the emphasis on getting illegal weapons off the streets, "Guns, drugs and gangs continue to be a problem," said acting Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet.

"The firepower has enormous potential for danger. It's what police officers face every day," he said. "In some cases, police officers are out-gunned by these weapons."

Fitchet pledged that anyone found with an illegal gun or using a gun in the commission of a crime will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Shooting range master Joseph Lech said a bullet fired from an AK-47 cannot only go right through a metal mailbox, it can perforate "both sides" of the standard police-issue protective vest.

"It pierces, goes through the officer, and pierces the back," he said.

Sullivan said when members of the Street Crime Unit seized the fully automatic AK-47 during a drug raid, its owner had a 75-round clip, plus two 30-round and two 20-round clips.

"That's more ammunition than the regular soldier carries in combat," he said, still holding the weapon in his hands.

"Unfortunately, it is not the only one out there," he said.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; bradywatch; donutwatch; hoplophobes
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To: marine86297

Thank you and God bless you.


101 posted on 02/01/2006 3:38:06 PM PST by taillightchaser
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To: GingisK
I'm not "one of those", but I don't always catch it when others are.

Good show with the Canadian.

102 posted on 02/01/2006 6:56:35 PM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: Tree of Liberty

I have had several debates (clip vs. magazine), here, over the years on this semmingly trivial, and yet, I think, importamt distinction.

While I am in agreement with you, the majority of our fellow freepers think I am being too pedantic, if not outright anal.


103 posted on 02/02/2006 5:13:10 AM PST by x1stcav (First Afghanistan! Then Iraq! When Cuba?)
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To: x1stcav

75 round drum magazines are fairly common for 7.62x39R AK variants... I have six of them myself. China, Russia, Yugoslavia and Romania all built them. The Chinese were imported in large numbers in the 80s and early 90s until Klinton banned further Chinese weapons importation. The Romanians are currently being imported in numbers. The Russian and especially the Yugo drums are rarer and were only brought in small quantities.


104 posted on 02/02/2006 8:22:09 AM PST by El Laton Caliente (NRA Member & GUNSNET.NET Moderator)
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To: holymoly

Count: Author's Wadded Up Panties: 0, Piss: 1


105 posted on 02/02/2006 8:23:23 AM PST by Lazamataz (I have a Chinese family renting an apartment from me. They are lo mein tenants.)
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To: Paloma_55

www.ak-47.net

Everything you want to know about AKs before you purchase... I'm a mod over there and use the same handle.


106 posted on 02/02/2006 8:24:57 AM PST by El Laton Caliente (NRA Member & GUNSNET.NET Moderator)
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To: x1stcav

"Group" and "pattern" are other confused terms novices use. Group is the extreme spread of rifle or pistol bullets, pattern is what shotgun pellets make on a target.

I hate being at a gun range shooting my rifle and some joker comes up and asks me what kind of pattern I am getting.


107 posted on 02/02/2006 8:26:29 AM PST by Supernatural (All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie! bob dylan)
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To: marine86297
Where do these people come up with this stuff?

The same place they get 30 round AK-47 "clips."

108 posted on 02/02/2006 8:29:04 AM PST by ASA Vet (Those who know don't talk, those who talk don't know.)
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To: Supernatural

I know what you mean.

Correct terminology does have a bearing on determining someone else's knowledge and competency, and I do like to know how much of both other people have when they around me with weaponry.


109 posted on 02/02/2006 8:35:15 AM PST by x1stcav (First Afghanistan! Then Iraq! When Cuba?)
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To: x1stcav

"Assault Rifle" seems to be the most misunderstood term of them all.


110 posted on 02/02/2006 8:37:01 AM PST by Supernatural (All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie! bob dylan)
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To: yarddog; Squantos

Well, I've got a select-fire Finnish AK, a Valmet M-76F in 5.56/.223. Very controllable in full auto, and very accurate in semi-auto. Absolutely love it.


111 posted on 02/02/2006 8:37:02 AM PST by TEXASPROUD
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To: Supernatural

You mean a selective fire, magazine fed, rifle or carbine chambered for a medium powered round?

(Damn! I forgot the bayonet! damn, damn, damn, Oh! Sh!t! and the dreaded flash suppressor!)

I'm assuming you mean the term is misunderstood by the non-shooting public, media, etc which probably covers about 98% of us.


112 posted on 02/02/2006 8:55:53 AM PST by x1stcav (First Afghanistan! Then Iraq! When Cuba?)
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To: x1stcav

Exactly what I mean. Lot's of folks think an M14 or an FAL is an assault rifle. Or an M1A. Or a semi-auto CETME G3.

Actually, an M2 .30 carbine would meet the definition.


113 posted on 02/02/2006 9:10:10 AM PST by Supernatural (All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie! bob dylan)
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To: absolootezer0
Re: May I buy the Thompson. Please?

Get your own... I've had my '28 since 1971 and it ain't leaving my hands yet!

114 posted on 02/02/2006 9:14:44 AM PST by Bender2 (Stop doodling around... Read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel.)
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