Lawmakers Urge FTC to Probe Sniper Weapon Sales

Reuters ^ | October 10, 2002

[John Jorsett]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Several Democratic lawmakers on Thursday urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the marketing of military sniper rifles to civilians, noting that such a weapon may be involved in the recent Washington area shootings.

Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee (news - web sites), and three fellow House Democrats wrote in a letter to the FTC that sniper weapons are different from standard hunting rifles because they are designed to strike a target from a distance.

"Their accuracy and range capabilities make these weapons among the most dangerous available today," the lawmakers said. "They can hit targets accurately one mile away and can inflict damage to targets up to four miles away."

Conyers noted that the FTC did a study of entertainment industry marketing practices and violence after the Columbine school shootings in 1999.

Gun control advocates gained momentum in Congress immediately after several publicized shootings in U.S. schools but foes of new controls were able to defeat the initiatives

[GnL]

How prophetic. Oleg Volk is a genius. Anyone who isn't familiar with his graphics should follow the link from the image.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Probably time to re-post The Art of the Cache:
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b203c9f0174.htm

[spodefly]

Well, it is nice to see that Rep. John Conyers is joining Sarah Brady and the VPC in dancing gleefully on the graves of the victims in the DC area, and continuing the lies and distortions that have characterised their agenda from day 1.

This article is particularly idiotic, and I believe even many mild-mannered sheeple will see through it (sniper rifles are different from standard hunting rifles because they are designed to strike a target from a distance ... huh???)

The quickness with which these gun grabbers have re-emerged from their exile to take advantage of this situation is astonishing (and transparent.) Nothing like the blood of the innocent at the hands of a madman to get the debate going again on firearms control ... a debate that had pretty much died after 9/11. Now it is back on the front page, the lies can start again, the coffers can be refilled by the ignorant, and the laid off workers can be rehired.

[Caipirabob]

Guess if I'm going to get that Maadi .50 rifle I'd better go get it now.

If nothing else these idiot Dims will boost gun sales just before the holidays.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Actually, the record for a successful hit with a .50 caliber is 2430 meters, which is equal to 1.51 miles. This "four mile" stuff is pure fantasy.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/713521/posts

[GovernmentShrinker]

LOL! And I think I'd only charge about $10 a shot to let somebody have at me from four miles.

[Nakota]

How do the authorities know it was a .223 cartridge when all they have is the bullet and one cartridge case that may or may not have come from the murder weapon. Other cartridges also use the same bullet in the same weight; i.e. .222 Remington, .222 Remington Magnum, .22-250 Remington, .220 Swift, or maybe even .221 Fireball (not to mention a bunch of Weatherby and other stuff too numerous to mention). In addition, how can anyone assume it is an "assault rifle" in the form of an AR-15 etc. There was only one shell casing found which would lead one to belive that it may not be a semi-automatic assault rifle but rather a bolt action rifle that does not automatically eject it's fired cartridge cases. Such facts may not be important to the media but they will be important in the solving of this horrible crime.

[FormerLurker]

Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee (news - web sites), and three fellow House Democrats wrote in a letter to the FTC that sniper weapons are different from standard hunting rifles because they are designed to strike a target from a distance.

Huh? Standard hunting rifles ARE sniper weapons. A .308 bolt action rifle with a scope is employed by MANY police departments for that very purpose.

"Their accuracy and range capabilities make these weapons among the most dangerous available today," the lawmakers said. "They can hit targets accurately one mile away and can inflict damage to targets up to four miles away."

Duh, that would be a .50 caliber rifle, which has NEVER been used in a crime here in the US. The Maryland sniper is using a varmint round, the .223. A .50 caliber on the other hand can punch a hole through a manhole cover...

[Anchoragite]

The part that bothers me is this myth:

"There is no legitimate purpose for a military rifle than to make war," Conyers said. "There is no reason these rifles should be marketed to civilians."

The reason we have the second amendment is that a bunch of civilians (colonists) were being attacked by their government (British). They had arms, formed a militia, fought back, and maintained their freedom. In order to maintain a free nation, the civilian population must be able to *literally* fight against tyranny of the government, with weapons, if necessary.

[45Auto]

What caliber are you using when deer hunting? Not .223, I hope. That little bullet is quite fragile. It was designed to tear the hell out of human flesh, to break up because of its velocity upon impact. Multiple wound channels in testing were not uncommon.

[blackdog]

I've used 30-06 180 grain and 220 grain. 30-30 180 grain. My favorite is the 30-06. Every time I've shot a deer it seems to be a quick and sudden death. I don't really enjoy shooting them but the meat is excellent. I have a 6mm Swedish Mauser I've been considering customizing, but I just can't afford it now. My 30-06's are an old military Springfield that I made into a hunting gun, a 760 game master, and another military Springfield in dusty storage. The Swedish Mauser is a really long gun. I've only tinkered with it but I think it might be a fun project. I am completely clueless when it comes to any other rifles.

[45Auto]

The 180 grain 06 has a muzzle velocity of about 2700 fps and the 55 grain .223 clocks in at 3300, but I have seen data for 3600 fps. The 06 bullet will mushroom out to darn near .750 inch and leaves a very big hole on the way out, while the .223 tends to break up creating multiple wound channels and a real mess. Its great for varmints up to the size of coyotes and on ground squirrels its devastating out to about 400 yards in the right rifle.

[Pat Bateman]

Well, I guess we should ban all guns that can punch a hole through a manhole cover.

Are these manhole covers made by Dixon Foundry, Americus, GA? Then we know who to sue.

[TC Rider]

Leaving for WY this evening. Glad to know I can just walk up to them this year, Last years shot was 200yds.(I tell everyone who'll listen 300).

I'm impressed that you got that close to anything worth shooting in Wyoming.

[TC Rider]

Say, what kind of 'sniper rifle' did Sarah Brady buy for her kid last year?

According to Sarah, a Remington 30.06 with scope. I'd take it over a .223 for serious hunting.

[snooker]

Isn't it funny the guns they keep waving on the news, none have scopes.

Don't real snipers use what is effectively a deer rifle with a scope? Wonder why when real Army snipers can choose anything they want to use. Weird.

The make believe world of conyers is a fascinating world. One mile shots, now that I would like to see. Imagine the drop and windage involved. Think feet.

snooker

[SauronOfMordor]

Yeah, but why wear yourself out hiking all the way up to the deer when you can hit him from FOUR MILES AWAY with your spiffy .223 caliber "sniper" rifle? (The cluelessness of these hoplophobic Democrats is truly amazing sometimes, ain't it?)

They're not clueless. They know perfectly well they're spouting nonsense. It's just that they know the average non-gun-owner is unlikely to know it's nonsense, and the media is unlikely to call them on it, so it's a useful thing to say to advance the gun-banning agenda.

[TC Rider]

Chances are that this lunatic is shooting at distances not much longer than 100-150 yards.

At that range, isn't it possible he's not using a rifle at all. How about a Thompson Contender? Deadly accurate and easily concealed. Scope easily attached.

It would also tie in with the whole one shot thing.

[DWPittelli]

The reports I've heard say that the cops claim that the bullets are too broken up to determine [gun make and model].

Actually, if they have the grooves to prove that at least 4 of the shootings were from the same gun, they must have the info that would at least narrow down the gun model (perhaps more than one model shares a barrel type, but they don't all).

[FormerLurker]

Well, I guess we should ban all guns that can punch a hole through a manhole cover.

Why so?