VPC: U.S. Gun Industry Armed Osama bin Laden's Terror Network:

U. S. Newswire ^ | 7 Oct 2001 11:48 | Naomi Seligman

[dhuffman@awod.com]

VPC: US Gun Insudtry Armed Osama bin Laden  
VPC: US Gun Insudtry Armed Osama bin Laden
U.S. Newswire
7 Oct 11:48

VPC: U.S. Gun Industry Armed Osama bin Laden's Terror Network:
Al Qaeda Bought 25 Barrett 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles
To: National Desk
Contact: Naomi Seligman of the Violence Policy Center,
202-822-8200 ext. 105
E-mail: nseligman@vpc.org

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The U.S. gun industry sold
at least twenty-five 50 caliber sniper rifles to Al Qaeda, Osama
bin Laden's terror network, a study released by the Violence Policy
Center (VPC) today reports. The study, Voting From the Rooftops,
details the tremendous power of the Barrett M82A1 50 caliber sniper
rifles-which U.S. Marines used in the Gulf War to knock out Iraqi
armored vehicles from 1,750 yards away-and the gun's potential use
to commit terror acts that could cause enormous casualties. The
Barrett sniper rifle has spawned a bourgeoning market for these
types of weapons that are becoming cheaper, lighter and more widely
available. There are known to be at least fifteen 50-caliber sniper
rifle manufacturers-nearly double the number of companies that were
manufacturing and marketing 50 calibers to civilians in 1999.

"We can be shocked, but not surprised that the gun industry
would sell these dangerous military weapons to Al Qaeda," said the
study's author, Tom Diaz, VPC's senior policy analyst. "These 50
caliber sniper rifles are ideal tools for terror and
assassination."

Voting from the Rooftops explains the enormous range of 50
caliber sniper rifles, the explosive power of special
armor-piercing and armor-piercing incendiary ammunition easily
available in the United States, and why this war-fighting power in
the hands of Al Qaeda and other terrorists creates a grave threat
to all Americans. Among the dangers the study details are:

How 50 caliber sniper rifles can create disaster at industrial
facilities handling explosive, toxic or volatile chemical-the kind
of threat terrorism analysts already warn transforms a target into
a weapon.

Why a report for the Air Force warned that 50 caliber sniper
rifles endanger aircraft, bulk fuel tanks, fuel trucks and other
airport facilities-terrorists can turn planes into "bombs on the
ground."

The rash of 50 caliber sniper rifles found in the arsenals of
domestic terrorist and extremist groups, including one that plotted
to kill a state governor, U.S. Senator, and federal judges.

To obtain a copy of Voting from the Rooftops please call Naomi
Seligman at 202-822-8200 ext. 105 or visit the VPC website at
http://www.vpc.org.
 

KEYWORDS:

GUNS/FIREARMS, POLICY

-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
10/07 11:48

Copyright 2001, U.S. Newswire

[Henry F. Bowman]

They may weigh a bit more, but out there in the rest of the world, there are zillions (hundreds of thousands?) of 50BMG Browning M2 belt fed machine guns.

Big deal about the Barrett. The only lesson is that we need to make sure that honest American citizens aren't outgunned by the bad guys. Tax credits for Barretts!

[avg_freeper]

The lack of hard information to back up their claims leads me to believe this is nothing
more than a Vast Pillowbiter Conspiracy (VPC).

[Jolly Rodgers]

I may be wrong, but I suspect that Barrett would have to acquire US government approval before exporting this kind of firearm to overseas buyers. If the VPC claims are true, they probably acquired their information from the export approval forms. If so, then it certainly isn't the manufacturer that is to blame. It would be the responsibility of the administration which approved the export sales.

[xm177e2]

"We can be shocked, but not surprised that the gun industry would sell these dangerous military weapons to Al Qaeda," said the study's author, Tom Diaz, VPC's senior policy analyst. "These 50 caliber sniper rifles are ideal tools for terror and assassination."

Gee, and here I thought they mostly engaged in retail sales. I didn't realize Mr. Barrett met personally with Usama and agreed to do business with him...

[xm177e2]

I may be wrong, but I suspect that Barrett would have to acquire US government approval before exporting this kind of firearm to overseas buyers.

Did Barrett sell them overseas? They could have sold them at home, and been legally transfered to "gun clubs" overseas, that's what the KLA did to get rifles.

[sakic]

I'm not sure how they exactly purchased what they purchased, but I do know that our CIA trained and funded them during the Eighties.

[onedoug]

"...I suspect that Barrett would have to acquire US government approval before exporting this kind of firearm to overseas buyers."

Bubba was fonda' this business.

[FatherTorque]

I didn't really worry about the map itself too much. I'm sure just the act of buying a .50 from Mark put me and my address on a bunch of government lists. Hell I figure from that and posting here I'm probably at the top of a lot of lists!!!!

[xm177e2]

The guy grabbed a bunch of stuff from the .50 cal bulletin board I hang out at, www.biggerhammer.net. He grabbed some pics and a map that one of the members made for us showing what area we live in on a U.S. map.

Maybe you could ask him for a map showing the locations of major VPC supporters...

[Bush2000]

BFD. How about the tens of thousands of Kalishnikovs from Russia?

[Servant of the Nine]

It is not possible to legally export weapons without State Department aproval.

These weapons were either sold to bin Laden with State Department aproval, or they were sold in the US with valid background checks and then illegally smuggled out of the country in contravention to the Munitions Control Act.

So9

[sneakypete]

Everybody should call Naomi and ask her to mail them a copy of this study. You should also ask everybody you know to call and request hard copy's me mailed to them,too.

[Charles Martel]

I wonder how VPC discovered this "fact"? Hmmmm? Let's see, maybe they merged the names of all of the terrorists, their aliases and their organizations with the names of .50BMG purchasers? No? No one keeps these lists? Thank goodness!

Oh well. They had no credibility with me to start with. I imagine Ms. Seligman needs comments since I'm sure they keep a close watch on public opinion.

The "evidence" is the statement of a naturalized American citizen of Egyptian birth. He gave testimony in the criminal trials which followed the terrorist bombings of the American embassy bombings in Africa. It appears that the purchaser had every right as a citizen to purchase the firearms. Naturally, the article makes it sound as though Barrett accepted a contract directly from Al Qaeda - typical of VPC drivel.

In this article, VPC attempts to blame the firearms industry but they end up underscored the fact that it's not just the "illegals" we have to worry about - some American citizens will be suspect, regretably.

[TLI]

If they were smuggled out, how did VPC get a count and where is their evidence? Any way you slice it VPC is either lying or has broken the law. If they did NOT break the law and shipping records are public, lets see ALL the records and find out who shipped what to where. Seems like I remember a few folks didn't want anyone to know where they got THEIR Anthrax... `cause they got it right here in the good old USA!

[sailor4321]

It is worthwhile going to their site and reading the report. The report does not support the claims made in the headlines. It is advocacy, not presentation of fact. The domestic illegal uses of .50 cal weapons (2-3 at most) have not involved using the weapon as a sniper rifle or as armor piercing. There is nothing supporting claims made about international terrorist use of such weapons. Even the supposed sale of such weapons to international terrorists is highly suspect. Instead, the report fantasises about how terrorist MIGHT use such weapons.

In sum, people, this is the anti-gun crowd shamelessly trying to capitalize on the general fear of terrorists to advance their agenda.

It is my belief we should be doing the same in order to advance our agenda. Write your representatives and newspapers saying our gun laws facilitate terrorism by creating gun free zones (schools, churches, etc. etc.) that have been shown to be attractive targets in Israel and that our gun laws make it difficult for citizens to acquire guns and impossible to acquire weapons equivalent to those terrorists are likely to use in our midst (e.g., the millions of AK-47's available around the world). Do it today.

[Mercuria]

Okay...do we start demanding Naomi provide sources and evidence beyond VPC propaganda-gungrabbin'-spin...or should I just open up a can of bitch-slap right here and now?

[MissAmericanPie]

(handing Mercuria a can opener) Sheesh what a load..show me that sales slip..

[calypgin]

It is my belief we should be doing the same in order to advance our agenda. Write your representatives and newspapers saying our gun laws facilitate terrorism by creating gun free zones (schools, churches, etc. etc.) that have been shown to be attractive targets in Israel and that our gun laws make it difficult for citizens to acquire guns and impossible to acquire weapons equivalent to those terrorists are likely to use in our midst (e.g., the millions of AK-47's available around the world). Do it today.

I agree 100%... the gun grabbers are only too happy for another *event* to use to push their agenda, despite having to resort to extraordinary convolutions. However, not to sound insensitive, this is an ideal time to be pushing for relaxed/elimination of gun restrictions.

I vote for the canned stuff here and now... and thanks for the *ping*!