New York man wows at Virginia gun rally with 5-foot sniper rifle

NY POST ^ | 1/20/20

[DeathBeforeDishonor1]

A New Yorker toting a massive, military-grade sniper rifle may have been the biggest star of Monday’s pro-gun rally in Richmond, Va.

The enthusiast — identified by The Washington Post as Brandon Lewis, the owner of a shooting range in upstate Bergen, NY — drew stares and compliments with his .50-caliber Barrett M82A1 rifle, a semiautomatic piece that saw use by the American military beginning in the Gulf War.

“This sends a strong visual message,” Lewis told the paper, cradling the firearm and decked out in a helmet and bulletproof vest. “The government is not above us. They are us.”

Lewis said he made the drive down to The Old Dominion from the Empire State with his wife to show their support for the rights of gun owners.

“It’s a reminder to our politicians that the government is by the people and for the people,” he said, referring to the weapon, estimated to be about 5 feet in length. “It’s to draw attention.”

And draw attention it did, with many rally attendees and journalists tweeting out photos of Lewis and his long-gun.

“This range owner brought a whole ass Barrett 50. cal, amazing,” wrote user @alec_sears.

[DeathBeforeDishonor1]

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

How many 5 foot snipers are there?

[JohnBrowdie]

mmm. k. next.

[OKSooner]

Now that’s cool.

One would also appreciate his muzzle discipline and correct placement of the index finger.

[43north]

That’s the kind of gun that shoots “bullets” so heavy that there is not a dim alive who can lift one!

[Two Kids' Dad]

That’s a fine rifle!

[2banana]

An in shape dude with a beard would have made a better pic...

[LIConFem]

Good varmint gun, if you’re being overrun by T-Rex.

[yarddog]

Around 20 years ago, I had the chance to buy a Barrett, serial number 2 for $2000. Even back then that was a steal.

The same guy had several other interesting guns either serial number 1 or 2. All at great prices. He clearly was trying to raise money.

This was at a gun show in Dothan, Al. I was about broke at the time.

[oldasrocks]

I wonder if he has actually ever shot it.

I know of several people around here that own one but wonder why. With the heavy forest landscape there are few places a good 30-30 would be a better choice.

[rightwingcrazy]

“How many 5 foot snipers are there?”

And how many of them can handle a rifle that big?

[mad_as_he$$]

A hero if he humped that thing around all day!

Stupid headline.

[mad_as_he$$]

A hero if he humped that thing around all day!

Stupid headline.

[dainbramaged]

I recall Chuck Schumer on the news years ago having what appeared to be an apoplectic seizure over the .50 BMG round and the rifles that fire such ammo.
"Bullets the size of bananas!!!" he shrieked.

[Blueflag]

How did he legally get through Maryland???

[heshtesh]

An in shape dude with a beard would have made a better pic...

I believe I would normally agree with you, but I think this guy will cause a lot of people to take a double look.

[liberalh8ter]

The husband and I were in a sporting goods store ( the one that stopped carrying guns a few years ago). They had one of these on the shelf and the price tag was handwritten. The price of the gun with the scope was $16,000 but the 1 was covered over by the $ sign. My husband stopped, asked to see the gun and turned to me and said the scope alone was about $2500. We weren’t in the market for that weapon but at $6,000 we couldn’t pass it up. As we were making arrangements to purchase it, the guy behind the counter says, “Oh wait, it’s not $6,000, it’s $16,000, the one was covered up by the dollar sign”. We passed on the purchase after seeing that but we were just talking about it the other day and what a deal of a lifetime that would have been.

[R_Kangel]

..... LOL .... You’d have to take out a second mortgage to buy a box of Ammo for that BFG ....

[gundog]

A 5 foot rifle, you say?

[PGR88]