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.
The admin Mod has taken care of it. My thanks to the admin moderator. I’ll need to go back and find perhaps a couple more posts that were made in poor judgement as well.
Yes, and that plays a good part in my realization that I started out on the wrong side of this issue.
I agree with where you’re coming from. I’ve not considered #5 before, and it makes perfect sense.
A lesson one should know from following the political arena - Next time I engage brain first.
Nah, I’m not that far thinking to have accomplished that. I really did make a huge fopah with that knee-jerk comment. However, the thought crossed my mind that perhaps this would generate some really good discussion, and it did.
Number of Jap planes shot down- 1941-1945=Y,
X divided by Y = approximately 12000---
—also —see post #121—
Wow. Cool weapon. I can just imagine the effect it has on targets.
Ft Drum just made Ft Story into “occupied territory”...
We were living Hogan’s Heros... Now we have to get to work! GAH!
LoL.
Well, tell him to holler at me if he needs anything. I’m in logistics.
How close to the 1/89 Cav Reg (2nd BCT) might that be? I’ll pass that word onto him. Thanks.
Depends on how close to Egypt he’ll be a year from now ;P
Hard to say as yet. He could be back in Iraq or in Afghanistan.
You fooled me. ;-) You take care bud.
Oh.
But in reality 12000 rds per plane is total nonsense.
That figure has nothing to do with reality.
There were pilots that shot down five planes in one mission.
You too. Looking forward to new discussions in the future.
Same here.
I got flamed for saying that I personally wouldn’t use an AR-15 to go hunting. I never said that people shouldn’t own them.
Dunno why I got flamed.
Just checked out your about page. I like what you have to say.
Thank you. I like your short one too. It’s says a lot.
Now I just have to engage the brain before I run off at the mouth and give people reason to doubt what I say I believe in (LOL).
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