Check my tagline
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.
Look, speaking from experience, each of us at some moment in time have said something on the forum that deserved flaming. Don’t lose heart. Sometimes things hit us certain ways before we consider the rest of the story, and we respond in a way we ourselves wouldn’t agree with when the matter is more fully discussed.
Hang in there. I did. LOL
I’m glad you were able to read through before flaming me. I’d love to go shooting with you, or anyone else for that matter.
My recantation wasn’t so much about education as much as it was just realizing what was at stake with this issue. I’ll give more thought to making comments regarding firarms in the future.
I appreciate that. I’d rather be on the right side of this issue, and do not have any explanation for my knee-jerk comments.
Lesson learned. Believe me.
“does this gun have any legitimate purpose for civilian use? I would be in support of this weapon not being available for civilian purchase.”
Liberal troll.
Please fully read through the thread. If you still feel this way, let me know.
Wrong again. The military ranges at Atterbury here in Indiana routinely open the KD range to civilian competition. The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association has a yearly long range competition held on ARFTA's 1K berm. Ft. Sill also allowed it and I think Ft. Cambell does to.
“In a prolonged fight, we will never be the winner over the government.”
And IMO, that is a sin in the eyes of the Founding Fathers.
We should have a government that is afraid of us, not the other way around.
Folks, I think you have made your point.
We all miss one once in a while. How about it...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975963/posts?page=305#305
Thanks DoughtyOne. I appreciate the attempt.
I couldn’t agree with that any more than I do.
It is shocking the lack of respect our leaders hold for us.
I know someone selling a 90mm cannon. $125,000 and it’s yours.
Knob Creek Video featuring the 90mm... as well a couple of privately owned, fully operational tanks. The 90mm is fired at about 1:28 into the vid. All perfectly legal and protected by the Constitution. Check some of the links on the side of the vid link for more Knob Creek goodies. I even have some personal vid near the bottom of my freerepublic homepage where I blow up some stuff.
Yes, and I’m trying to suture my wounds now. I got what I asked for, I’ll admit that. Now I’m just trying to make amends and show that I’m on your side.
I come home today after not selling anything (muni bonds, GNMA PAC2s, Agencies) to a skitish market, and I see someone make an ignorant statement.
STOP...Note: Ignorance can be cured. Stupid and Evil can't. Gun banners (ANY TYPE OF GUN) should be scruitinized mercilessly.
I defend their right to form stupid opinions, but will fight to the death when they try to infringe on an inalieable right. My opinion is to the right of most of you: If you can "bear it" you should be able to own it/operate it. If Bill Gates wants to buy a Ticongeroga class CG and park it off of Seattle, I have no problem with it as long as he doesnt mess up my jet ski wave jumping. If a law abiding citizen wants to own an M1A2, just keep it on your side of the road please, and no shooting after midnight unless you invite me.
I'm gonna go grab a good vintage beer ;) and celebrate all of you guy's job with Soldiersdad today.
Let's have a Freeper full auto shoot sometime (in the spirit of TexasCowboy) and get together.....how about a Freeper prairie dog hunt? I have a hunting club and a gravel pit close to Little Rock that we can shoot .50 cal M2s in all day long. Bad news is that I'm down to <1,000 rounds of linked .50 cal. ammo (CW2 reserve), so you'll have to bring your own. Soldiersdad and his son get to tear up the first car (preferably a hybrid).
Good job, and SCOUTS OUT!
I'm there.
I just forgot...I have a Boys AT rifle (look it up)...thats one of the nicer .50 calibers to introduce people to. It’s rechambered to .50 cal. from the original .55 cal.
I’ll check it out tonight after work.
That’s okay. Folks mean well. There are times when you just have to laugh at yourself and not take it too personally.
Remember, folks don’t read down to see where you’ve been taken to task or that you agree you may have been off base.
They enter the thread and think they’re the first one to see what you said.
Like I said, laugh at it and it will help. I’ve had to do it.
Looks like you’ve got an invite up a few posts from a guy who is a strong Second Amendment advocate. You take care.
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