Posted on 10/13/2001 7:40:53 AM PDT by sailor4321
Congressman Waxman Urges Gov. Ridge, Sec. Of State Powell Take Immediate Action to Protect Americans—Letter in Response to VPC Report Warning of Tools of Terror Obtained by Osama Bin Laden
Al Qaeda Terror Network Bought 25 Barrett 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles
"Super Guns" Can Down Helicopters, Defeat Armored Limousines, Destroy Aircraft at Terminals, Ignite Fuel Tanks, From Over a Mile
Violence Policy Center Report Documents Sale, Details Terror Potential
WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Government Reform Committee, sent letters this week to the two ranking officials charged with keeping the United States safe from terrorism, Director of the Office of Homeland Security, Governor Tom Ridge and Secretary of State Colin Powell. The letters are in response to a VPC report documenting that the U.S. gun industry sold at least twenty-five 50 caliber sniper rifles to Al Qaeda according to a new 101-page study, Voting from the Rooftops: How the Gun Industry Armed Osama Bin Laden, Other Foreign and Domestic Terrorists, and Common Criminals with 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles released by the Violence Policy Center (VPC) this week. Congressman Waxman urges in the letters that immediate action be taken to remedy the serious and immediate terrorist threat posed by long-range 50 caliber sniper weapons.
Congressman Waxman is urging the Bush Administration to immediately stop granting licenses to export 50 caliber weapons to civilians.
"These 50 caliber sniper rifles in the hands of Al Qaeda, or any terrorist, domestic or foreign, have the capacity to cause horrific destruction—they are ideal tools for terror and assassination— and are easier to buy than handguns," said the study's author, Tom Diaz, VPC's senior policy analyst. "They have already been used internationally by the IRA to kill British policemen and obtained domestically by terror groups who have plotted to assassinate top U.S. officials and destroy civilian targets."
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 in the U.S. that could cause enormous casualties. The Barrett sniper rifle has spawned a bourgeoning market for these types of weapons which 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.
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 creates a grave threat to all Americans. Among the dangers the study details are:
How 50 caliber sniper rifles can create disaster at U.S. industrial facilities handling explosive, toxic, or volatile chemicals—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.
There is a much greater threat, with greater proven utility to terrorists than the .50 cal rifle.
Here's the link:
I was thinking, though, that he could probably hold a .50 caliber round in each notril comfortably--similar to the MacKenzie brothers' courtroom scene in "Strange Brew."
Snort, giggle, guffaw.
Agree. You'll notice my letter asks only that law abiding citizens be allowed to purchase them.
5. Everyone knows Waxman is an idiot anyway.
4. Banning 50-caliber rifles will not keep them out of the hands of terrorists, it will only take them from law-abiding citizens. Terrorists will simply buy them from arms dealers overseas.
3. A 50-caliber rifle would only put a large dent in the limousines used by Bush, Cheyney, Ashcroft and other top US officials. Waxman's comments about attacking government limo's are highly deceptive.
2. His proposal blames inanimate tools of man for the criminal acts of men. By the same logic we would also ban knives, baseball bats, golf clubs, industrial explosives, cars, and trucks. (Just for the record, even with the WTC attack, far more people have been killed by drunk drivers in the last 20 years than by terrorists). Did anyone hear one person suggest that we ban knives after the Simpson trial?
1. If an American city is attacked by terrorists using military weapons such as grenade launchers, lighty artillery, etc, we will need citizens armed with military-type weapons such as 50-caliber sniper riles to stop such an attack. We can't place the entire burden of defense on local police. Local police could end up outgunned and outmanned in a coordinated terrorist attack. Then they would need US citizens to provide additional firepower.
Ban Waxman from the US Congress instead!
I have no idea who he's talking about. He must be referring to radical left-wing terrorists who were numerous and active during the Vietnam War. There have been far fewer right-wing terrorist incidents than radical left-wing incidents, but the right wingers (McVeigh) were a lot more effective. Frankly, I can't imagine anyone but a lefty thinking a 50 Caliber rifle would make an effective terror weapon...
"If someone is so fearful that they are going to start using their weapons to protect their rights,
it makes me very nervous that these people have weapons at all."
~~California Representative Henry Waxman
Knowing he's said that is why I emphasize the right I'm most interested in protecting is my right to life. Put that way to him, I don't think he can safely use tht quote (because there are all sorts of people who actually think Constitutional rights can be compromized, but I've never met anyone who says we don't have a right to defend ourselves from attack).
Waxman is such an elitist scumbag!
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