AB 2222

California Legislative Digest ^ | 27 February 2002 | Assembly Member Koretz and The Usual Suspects

[45Auto]

AB 2222, as introduced, Koretz. .50 caliber sniper weapons.

Under existing law it is a crime to manufacture, cause to be manufactured, import into the state, keep for sale, or offer or expose for sale, or to give, lend, or possess certain dangerous weapons, as specified.

This bill would add to the list of dangerous weapons subject to those prohibitions, small arms armor piercing ammunition, as defined.

By changing the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law generally regulates the manufacture, possession, transport, and sale of machineguns, as defined.

This bill would similarly regulate .50 caliber sniper weapons, as defined. This bill would also provide, subject to exceptions, that any person who manufactures, causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives or lends a .50 caliber sniper weapon is guilty of felony punishable by 4, 6, or 8 year imprisonment in the state prison.

This bill would further provide that, subject to exceptions, possession of a .50 caliber sniper weapon in violation of law would be punishable by imprisonment in state prison or in a county jail, not exceeding one year.

By creating new crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires, except as specified, for the destruction, as a nuisance, of a machinegun possessed in violation of law.

This bill would similarly require, except as specified, for the destruction, as a nuisance, of a .50 caliber sniper weapon possessed in violation of law.

Existing law provides that persons may arrange to relinquish an assault weapon to a police or sheriff's department. This bill would similarly permit persons to arrange to relinquish a .50 caliber sniper weapon to a police or sheriff's department.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

[Ajnin]

As a law enforcement officer the government allows me to carry fully automatic machinegun. You know why you can't carry one? The government believes that your are inferior to me. The politicians that run our government would rather see the daughters of their constituants raped and strangled with their own panties then allow them to defend themselves with any gun. The 50 is just the start of the abolition of all rifle and gun ownership.

[Ajnin]

So how do you propose to wrest these dangerous items from the the rest of us great unwashed? So let's hear it - what price in blood are you willing to pay? How much butchery are you willing to support? And just how immune do you suppose yourself from the consequences? We are have with 30,000 gun deaths & 65,000 wounding per year in our country. Do I think that figure will change? Absolutely not. Do you?

Try answering the question slick. He didn't ask you to quote a bunch of irrelevant statistics. How do you think the authorities are going to get the guns?

[Ajnin]

Of the sixteen (16) other agents that were injured, most were said to have been shot by automatic weapons fire . . . including that from a .50 caliber machinegun. According to BATF agent and spokesperson Sharon Wheeler, "

For crying out loud. Do you know the difference between court documents and heresay? Oh and Maxim magazine. Nothing like quoting from a porn magazine. Your a real piece of work.

[Hemlock]

It's almost time...

Keep your powder dry, your heart pure, your body fit, and your anger well kindled.

[gc4nra]

Do you consider the right to defend yourself a restricted right also?

[Ajnin]

Of course he does. Its the job of the benevolent government to protect him.

[gc4nra]

Don't you know that every crack-head is going to run out and buy a four foot long, 35 lb. for 6 GRAND, whose ammo costs 3 bucks a round, just so they can knock over the local mini-mart for a 29 dollar payday.

No wonder these liberals can't figure out Reaganomics!

[Ajnin]

Let's say 50's are banned. The criminals will still have them and the law abiding citizens won't. The police and military will no longer have the benefit of experience and experimentation that civilians have been able to provide to them. The banning of the .50 will of course be followed by the banning and eventual consfiscation of all other rifles. Along with the rifle will go the handguns. Crime will skyrocket as it has in England and Australia. Government will become immensely more abusive as it has in the previously mentioned countries.

[wcbtinman]

"Tthis (sic) ain't the place to have a discussion about the natural rights of man."

Did you ever show up on the wrong website.

You can hold your ignorant position about 50 caliber weapons, and the "restricted right" of the second amendment, but the only way anyone is going to take my fifty is after I expend all of the ammo I've got on socialists like you who try to take it.

Obviously, you wouldn't know a natural right if it bit you on the a$$.

[TheHound]

So let me do the math 95,000 casualties a year from guns. Waco, was what, five or ten years ago. At most 16 ATFers get hit by .50s. So in that time frame, a half to one million gun casualties and only 16 from .50 cal. I think the fifties are the safest guns around.

[Ajnin]

That's just it. There were no .50's in Waco that were used against the ATF. If you look at the list created by the ATF of guns taken from Waco it does not include .50 cals. If you look at the video or pictures of the initial assault, when the ATF claims they were ambushed by a .50 you will not see any bullet holes in any of the vehicles or obstacles the ATF was hiding behind.

[Ajnin]

If you were to actually read what the founding fathers wrote rather than the anti gun drivel at HCI you would see that their intention was for civilians to have the exact same armament as the individual soldier. Besides target practice the most important use for such a weapon is to keep the government honest. As I've said before, banning the .50 is just the start of the abolition of all gun ownership. To date the has never been any crimes committed in this country with .50's. You are wrong about Waco. Read the list of weapons taken from Waco issued by the BATF. THERE IS NO .50 CAL.

[Ajnin]

So what is the common good served by folks owning 50 caliber besides as a hobby? I can see the rationale for hunting rifles, but 50 cals are excessive.

The common good is derived from self defense and protection from a tyrannical government. Apparently you are running away from my posts. I told you before, law enforcement and the military benefit greatly from the civilian use of .50 cal rifles. I want to see you explain the difference between a hunting rifle and a sniper rifle. Then tell me the difference between A .50 caliber LAR and Remington 700.

[Noumenon]

We are have with 30,000 gun deaths & 65,000 wounding per year in our country. Do I think that figure will change? Absolutely not. Do you?

By their sources, ye shall know them. And your sources are?

You might also consider that, even if your figures were true, they're a mere bagatelle compared to the results of the next American civil war that will most likely be triggered by events surrounding the registration and confiscation of firearms. Care to bet on your odds in that scenario?

[Ajnin]

I am not talking about wholesale firearms confiscation. I am talking restricting guns whose that pack excessive kinetic power like the 50 Caliber.

Here we go again with your ignorance. There are a multitude of firearms that pack almost the same amount of kinetic energy as a .50 cal. I can use a 7mm hunting rifle just as effectively as anyone can use a .50. Your fear of .50's is irrational. These weapons have never been a threat to anybody.