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Honolulu PD, NRA Square Off On Rifle Debate
KITV-4 (Hawaii) ^ | 2/22/08 | n/a

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.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: Hawaii
KEYWORDS: 50bmg; bang; banglist; hawaii; hi; nra; secondamendment
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To: mad_as_he$$
Show me a human who can hit a moving aircraft at 4 miles wiht a 50 and I will buy him the best... woman the land has to offer.

Would you be willing to just take my word for it?

141 posted on 02/25/2008 10:41:41 AM PST by Hot Tabasco ( Don’t go messing with Smokey Taylor. He just bought a whole bunch of fresh ammo.)
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To: ctdonath2

and F22 at $130 million, an Abrams at $8 million or an aircraft carrier at a couple of hundred billion. I wonder where he’s going to get the money?


142 posted on 02/25/2008 10:41:53 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government,)
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To: XeniaSt
This is a Bold faced lie !

How is that a lie? Assuming you don't live inone of the ban states, you can order one on-line from CDNN right now. They'll ship it to an FFL holder of your choice and you pick it up from him, for a usually nominal additional fee.

143 posted on 02/25/2008 10:42:04 AM PST by green iguana
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To: SoldierDad
Other than the pure excitement of shooting such a weapon, does this gun have any legitimate purpose for civilian use? I would be in support of this weapon not being available for civilian purchase.

Long range target shooting. I've met people who use .50BMG single shots for "varmint" hunting, at over 1000 yards.

And why exactly do you support banning this weapon. What other weapons do you think need to be banned? Do you know how many of these have been used in a crime? Do you know how many legally owned machineguns have been used in crimes since the 1930s? (Hint... The last time I checked, it was 1 time... And it was by a rogue cop!).

Mark

144 posted on 02/25/2008 10:43:09 AM PST by MarkL
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To: SoldierDad
Other than the pure excitement of shooting such a weapon, does this gun have any legitimate purpose for civilian use?

Define "legitimate purpose," and the question answers itself. Me, I say yes.

145 posted on 02/25/2008 10:43:39 AM PST by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: Mogollon

The Barrett model 82A1 is a semiauto w/ 10 round magazines. The model 95 is a bolt action w/ 5 round magazines.


146 posted on 02/25/2008 10:45:12 AM PST by green iguana
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To: kiriath_jearim

Who can shoot down a plane 4 miles away with a .50 caliber, I mean aside from Chuck Norris?


147 posted on 02/25/2008 10:46:09 AM PST by lowbridge ("I can't wait to see what he stands for." - Susan Sarandon on her support of Barack Obama)
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To: green iguana
Read the statement it says that you can buy it on the internet.

That is a false statement.

You can buy it from only an FFL.


148 posted on 02/25/2008 10:46:13 AM PST by Uri’el-2012 (you shall know that I, YHvH, your Savior, and your Redeemer, am the Elohim of Ya'aqob. Isaiah 60:16)
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To: beltfed308

{:0)


149 posted on 02/25/2008 10:46:35 AM PST by MileHi ( "It's coming down to patriots vs the politicians." - ovrtaxt)
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To: SoldierDad

I’ll leave the light on for you...


150 posted on 02/25/2008 10:47:28 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (ENERGY CRISIS made in Washington D. C.)
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To: SoldierDad
I'm being flamed for practicing mine. I guess it's only when you have the same point of view of others that that Freedom is allowed.

So you believe others should not practice their freedom of speech and just agree with you? Sheesh.

If you really think your freedom of speech is at risk on this forum just because others disagree with you, I can understand why you want powerful weapons only in the hands of the government. You don't really understand the issues.

151 posted on 02/25/2008 10:48:03 AM PST by what's up
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To: kiriath_jearim
"It does concern us -- shooting down airplanes four miles distances," Hawaii National Guard Gen.Gary Ishikawa said.

Somebody needs to investigate this so called general's qualifications. He's either grossly misinformed, or a really bad liar...

It seems that the "effective distance" of an M-2 machine gun is roughly 2000 meters. The maximum range is stated to be 6765m, or about 4 miles. But you won't be hitting anything at that range.... The maximum effective range is said to be roughly a mile and a quarter.

Mark

152 posted on 02/25/2008 10:48:39 AM PST by MarkL
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To: Hot Tabasco

If you will take my word how good the meal and the companionship was!!!


153 posted on 02/25/2008 10:49:51 AM PST by mad_as_he$$ (John McCain - The Manchurian Candidate? http://www.usvetdsp.com/manchuan.htm)
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To: jaydubya2
Don’t these 50s cost thousands of dollars?

Yes, and the short barrel version is four feet long, and weighs 30 pounds!

Mark

154 posted on 02/25/2008 10:50:04 AM PST by MarkL
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To: pabianice

http://www.impactguns.com/store/barrett.html

Model 99 is in stock and ready for your order. Got $4,109.99 you want to get rid of?


155 posted on 02/25/2008 10:50:43 AM PST by green iguana
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To: mad_as_he$$
Show me a human who can hit a moving aircraft at 4 miles wiht a 50 and I will buy him the best steak dinner and woman the land has to offer.

I would like that steak medium rare and the woman the same.

156 posted on 02/25/2008 10:50:53 AM PST by lowbridge ("I can't wait to see what he stands for." - Susan Sarandon on her support of Barack Obama)
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To: SoldierDad

So should we ban certain weapons because criminals/terrorists might get their hands on them? I don’t know about you, but I’d rather engage somebody at 800-1000 yards, where an AK-47 would be out of range. I could also stop their truck’s engine at half a mile with 2 or 3 regular lead loads.

Why don’t we ban .22caliber pistols because they’re the most widely used by criminals? It’s for the children, you know.


157 posted on 02/25/2008 10:54:37 AM PST by wastedyears (This is my BOOMSTICK)
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To: Emperor Palpatine
It did on almost all Japanese planes during the war.

Do you have any idea of what constitutes an anti-aircraft gun? These are machine guns, often mounted in banks of 2 or more, firing between 450 and 600 rounds per minute, PER GUN! The only way that a single round of .50BMG would bring down a Japanese plane would be if it were an incindiary round that made a very lucky hit, causing the plane to explode, or more likely, a very lucky hit, killing the pilot. Otherwise it wasn't unusual to have hundreds or even thousands of rounds fired for a single airplane to be brought down. The vast majority of all rounds fired missed the planes.

Mark

158 posted on 02/25/2008 10:57:12 AM PST by MarkL
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To: XeniaSt

“Read the statement it says that you can buy it on the internet.
That is a false statement.”

No it isn’t! I buy guns online all the time. You just have to have it shipped to the corner FFL dealer to fill out the transfer papers.

It take as much time a buying a six-pack.


159 posted on 02/25/2008 10:58:09 AM PST by Beagle8U (FreeRepublic -- One stop shopping ....... Its the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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To: SoldierDad

Luke 22:36 - Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.


160 posted on 02/25/2008 10:58:43 AM PST by wastedyears (This is my BOOMSTICK)
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