Posted on 02/25/2008 8:38:35 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
A battle is brewing between the Honolulu Police Department and the Hawaii Rifle Association over a proposed ban of a high-powered sniper rifle.
KITV's Catherine Cruz reported that the 50-caliber rifle is dubbed the most powerful rifle on the market today, and the HPD said it is their worst nightmare. That is why they said they want it out of civilian hands.
It's a weapon that's long been used by the military and law enforcement, but in most states, a person can buy it over the Internet or from a gun store, which is making law enforcement uneasy.
"There is nothing we have that can withstand this. If you look at an armored car, those things have a half-inch of steel. These can go through 1 inch of steel at a thousand yards," HPD Major Gregory Lefcourt said.
The rifle can fire 10 rounds in 10 seconds, and the bullets can travel for miles, police officials said.
They said that a shot fired from the rooftop at police headquarters could precisely hit a target at the state Capitol, four-tenths of a mile away.
The National Guard calls the weapon a threat to homeland security.
"It does concern us -- shooting down airplanes four miles distances," Hawaii National Guard Gen.Gary Ishikawa said.
The National Rifle Association said that a ban would infringe on the right to bear arms. It argued that the weapon hasn't ever been used in a crime in the islands.
"We haven't had any incidents of robbers at banks or terrorist shooting airplanes -- it just doesn't happen," HRA member Mark Plischke said.
But police said they don't want to wait until then.
They said the proposed ban will die in the judiciary committee if they don't get enough public support for the bill.
The rifles are outlawed for civilian use in California, New Jersey and New York.
The HRA maintained that their members use it for hunting or eradicating goats. Others users of the rifle said they enter long range firing competitions
The rifle is so powerful that it has been banned from the Kokohead Firing Range, range officials said. The rifle is only allowed at military ranges, which are off limits to civilians.
It is also very expensive. One rifle will fetch about $8,000, officials said.
There are 125 registered owners of the high-powered rifle in the state, with 90 owners living on Oahu.
My original comment was not meant as an attack against anyone’s 2nd Amendment rights. It was poorly thought out, and should not have been posted. For that I apologize.
Freepers differ on a wide variety of issues, but one thing that is uncompromising is the 2nd Amendment.
There are 125 registered owners of the high-powered rifle in the state, with 90 owners living on Oahu.
Wonder what will happen to these registered owners if the rifles are banned?
I appreciate you’re comments, and I stand with all those who defend the Constitution. My poorly thought comment not withstanding.
A good point. One that I should have considered before posting. Oh well. I can take the heat, and move on.
Martin Heemeyer had one in his self made tank, but never fired it. Albert Petrosky had one in his truck, but didn't kill that cop with it. There are a few others, but nothing really all that notable and no deaths that I am aware of.
Groups like the VPC like to include .50's in a list of everything seized from various criminal actions as if their hyperventilating over their very presence meant a damn thing. It's all just part of them trying to get yet another firearm banned.
Groups like VPC and Brady are in violation of USC Title 18, sect 241. In most cases, their victim disarmament laws they constantly push should be considered legally equivalent to "accessory to murder".
In your first post, you said:
“I would be in support of this weapon not being available for civilian purchase.”
Then you said that you didn’t want a law banning them. Just how would you keep them from being available without a law? And just how would no law be any more effective than any law that does purport to ban guns or people from getting those guns?
Then you really revealed your ignorance of history when you said:
“To defend one’s self from the Government? Not much use is this weapon when a tank is brought in to take someone out, is it?”
Ever hear of the Liberty Pistol? The Warsaw Ghetto?
I would suggest that you do some serious research. You are entitled to your opinion. Your are not entitled to ignore or make up your own facts.
I guess that would depend upon what the lawmakers of Hawaii’s goal is. If they are out to do what was done in Australia, then I guess they’d try and take those weapons from those who legally own them. Given that possibility, I’d say that people should start a campaign to stop that from happening.
FYI, I’ve recanted my comment form post #3. I didn’t think that comment out very well, and I’ve admitted to that. I’d like to move on from that if possible.
LOL! Excellent!
In the most minute technical aspect, you are correct but you are missing the larger picture.
When it is said that you can buy it over the internet, the implication is that it is done anonymously and without scrutiny. The intent is to scare people and increase pressure to ban this weapon.
The claim is a half truth and therefore a whole lie.
Good satire! :-))
I'd say that's a pretty good guess. It's what happened in NYC. In '76 the NYC govt required that semiautos be registered. The under the despicable David Dinkins (less liberal than Obama) declared the guns contraband and those who didn't give evidence to the NYC NKVD that they had disposed of the guns were arrested and their property seized.
Wow. Your support for McCain makes more sense now. Mindless state-worship, manifested in rolling back Constitutional rights to protect only what you think is a "legitimate" use of them.
FYI, I’ve recanted my original post as being poorly thought out. Please move on.
BOR = Bill of Rights, or the original 10 amendments to the Constitution.
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