Deputy Says .50 Sniper Rifle Found Near Olympic Venue 'a serviceable weapon'

Utah Standard-Examiner Newspaper ^ | February 3, 2002 | Matthew Flitton

[codebreaker]

The condition of the .50 caliber gun found 5 miles from the Soldier Hollow Olympic Venue is under debate.

Governor Mike Leavitt said Saturday he was told the weapon had no link to the Winter Olympics.

"It was rusted and did not appear to be operable," Leavitt said.

That information contradicted the observations of Wasatch County Deputy Rick Benson, who took possession of the weapon from a hunter who found it January 26 while hunting coyotes in the hills above Wallsburg.

"It doesn't look brand new, but it looks to me like a servicable weapon, " he said.

The hunter who wished to remain anonymous, also said the gun had papers dating back to 1992, indicating it was not an old weapon.

The gun often used by military and police as a sniper rifle becuase of its power, is currently being tested in the state crime lab.

[Denver Ditdat]

"Nothing to see here, move along.."

And of course, you have some stunning insight to allow such sarcasm?

Yikes, don't ask him! You'll probably just get a random phrase from his catchphrase codebook concerning moose, cheese, or peaceful religions.

[Doctor Doom]

I think they mentioned some MP5s and vests

Notice lately that's the preferred armament of the criminal class? (The kind with badges, I mean)

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

You mean you haven't heard about the new SS-18 .50 BMG round? Up to 11,000 kilometer range, and your choice of either a 25-megaton single warhead--that one can turn Cheyenne Mountain into Cheyenne Lake--or up to 10 550-750 kiloton MIRVs?

Hey, do Rock Chucker or Lee sell a dies for that yet?

[Poohbah]

Maybe the stock had a moose bite on it.

[Denver Ditdat]

Maybe the stock had a moose bite on it.

Could be. This story sounds a bit cheesy.

[Poohbah]

No, they had to go with computer-aided dies, and they used Microsoft Windows as the operating system. Still needs work.

[Cold Heat]

I posted a article on #97. I always felt that somehow the government was lying. :-)

[Travis McGee]

So noted.

[Travis McGee]

The seven M-16 rifles, three MP-5 rifles, an M-79 grenade launcher and several thousand rounds of ammunition that had been stored in the van were missing, prompting an intensive search. The weapons were found scattered in a north Memphis neighborhood.

Maybe, if it was just homies and you got them all talking and fingerpointing and making deals.

[GOPJ]

I agree it doesn't pass the smell test, but what do you think is going on?

Private owners that have forked out $3,000 to $10,000 don't leave a rifle around to rust either. Something doesn't pass the smell test in this story.

[Gun142]

I didn't see this article posted.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/nation/stories/olysniper_20020203.htm
Published Sunday, February 3, 2002

Sniper rifle find in Utah played down

ASSOCIATED PRESS

---

SALT LAKE CITY -- Olympic security officials were investigating the discovery of a sniper rifle and ammunition reportedly found in the mountains near the Park City Olympic area.

The Utah Olympic Public Safety Command confirmed Saturday that the .50-caliber rifle was found, but said it was "important to note the rifle was not near an Olympic venue."

The Standard-Examiner of Ogden reported the rifle was discovered five miles from the Olympic cross-country skiing venue at Soldier Hollow. A hunter found the weapon last Saturday, it said.

Tracy Hite, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, would not disclose where the rifle was found. Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt said he was told the weapon had no link to the Winter Olympics.

"It was rusted and did not appear to be operable," Leavitt said.

The type of weapon found is often used by military and police as a sniper rifle because of its power. It can hit a target a mile away.

The Standard-Examiner cited a report from the Wasatch County Sheriff's office that said the rifle was found in a green metal box marked "explosives" along with 386 rounds of ammunition.

A dispatcher with the sheriff's office said Saturday she had no information about the rifle.

Although security fears are high for the games, the only response by the combined federal-state-local security command for the Olympics was a three-sentence statement that the discovery was under investigation and that it did not happen near an Olympic venue. Hite, though, refused to define what "near" meant.


.

[quietolong]

A Something smells bump

[cruiserman]

What makes it a sniper rifle?

[Hammer11]

The right thing to do was turn this gun over to the police. I also do not think that anyone that was planning to use this gun at the games would leave it where it could be discovered by a passing hunter. Second, a .50 cal can shoot over a mile and kill a human. I think that anyone with ill intentions would be able to get many shots off and then get away. Third, if this was some sort of terriorist plot, after firing one shot from a Wal Mart 30.06 (store bought) rifle, there would be fear and panic and no need for anymore shots. No, this was probably some poor guy with a love for guns that was afraid that the goverment would someday come for his gun and he wanted to keep it away from his house so that the anti-gun nuts don't come down on him. thats my story and I'm sticking to it!!!

[Hammer11]

yea first like the security guard at the other games. I think the goverment paid him what? 1 milloin dollars? Yea maybe the hunter is looking to buy himself a huntin ranch at our expense. Somebody give the hunter a lie detector test.....hurry!!!

[Twodees]

OK, I apologize for the lecture.

[Twodees]

Hah, I love it. They refer to a blooper as a "gas delivery system". The feebs carry a grenade launcher which is designed to chunk a variety of spin-armed grenade rounds including frags, HE, WP and concussion besides CS, for use against citizens, and the media tries to make out that it is designed for tossing tear gas.

No mention of what kinds of 40mm rounds were also recovered. What does anyone want to bet that the feebs keep some 000 buckshot rounds for their bloopers?

[Jane G]

Yeah, and lousy accuracy for a long-range weapon. The superb accuracy potential of modern .50 cals is strictly a hand-loading proposition. Not all that difficult, but one must have all equipment and components needed; special press and dies, shell holder and trimmer, primers, powder, and projectiles. Not exactly what Mohamed the Used Camel salesman would go for! This is either a discarded stolen weapon, military field loss, or a plant. Doc