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Conyers Calls for Sniper Rifle Probe (Suprise!)
(AP) ^

Posted on 10/10/2002 6:26:34 PM PDT by Dallas

WASHINGTON --

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee called on federal officials Thursday to investigate the marketing of sniper rifles, saying the weapons "pose a real danger to the civilian population."

The request from Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., came as the Washington metropolitan area was being terrorized by a string of nine shootings, including seven deaths, by what police believe to be an elusive gunman. Each of the victims was hit by a single bullet fired from a distance, using a military-style rifle or hunting rifle.

Conyers wants the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the marketing of military rifles to the American public. "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."

Conyers complained that ads for military style rifles boast of being able to shoot down airplanes and helicopters, and shooting through armored vehicles. "Sniper rifles pose a real danger to the civilian population," he said.

The FTC opened an investigation into the marketing of violent movies, music and video games to children after a series of school shootings, including the Littleton, Colo., massacre at Columbine High School in which two students killed 13 people before committing suicide, Conyers said.

The FTC said it would consider the request.



TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist
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To: Dallas
Can this ASS finally retire.
21 posted on 10/10/2002 7:56:31 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
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To: Dan from Michigan
He'll only leave feet-first on a stretcher....
22 posted on 10/10/2002 8:03:09 PM PDT by Dallas
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To: Dallas
"Conyers Calls for Sniper Probe"

If this is not politicizing these useless murders, then I don't not what is! This socialist is a complete idiot
23 posted on 10/10/2002 8:17:43 PM PDT by Draakan
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To: Dallas
CRIME CONTROL; NOT GUN CONTROL is a thought completely lost on Conyers and the rest of the politically correct, anti-traditional values, anti-common sense DnC crowd.
24 posted on 10/10/2002 8:41:43 PM PDT by Cindy
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To: Dallas
Conyers needs to do some more research. .223s are not sniper rifles DOH!
25 posted on 10/10/2002 8:43:17 PM PDT by RebelDawg
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Comment #26 Removed by Moderator

To: Dallas; *bang_list
Yeah we should talk about this.
These sniper/assault/whatever weapons are a danger to civilians (actually, everyone), when they are allowed into the wrong hands.

"In the wrong hands" being the key phrase here.

I don't know if statistics have ever been gathered, but just what do you suppose the numbers would tell in a comarison of the number of innocents killed by armed government employees (a class that virtually nobody in the political establishment seeks to disarm) to the numbers of those killed by the general population of civillian gunowners? I might be all wet, but I have a pretty good guess of who would come out smelling better here.

How about the felony conviction rates of the same two groups? Which class do you suppose stands a greater chance of having one in their lifetime?

Those oughta be some interesting things to talk about, if you're seriously interested in finding ways to improve the overall safety of American citizens.

Dave in Eugene





27 posted on 10/10/2002 9:05:06 PM PDT by Clinging Bitterly
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To: Dallas
Conyers is a lifelong communist, exploiting murders to push his political adgenda to disarm law-abiding Americans. May he burn in hell.
28 posted on 10/10/2002 9:31:11 PM PDT by ozzymandus
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To: Dallas

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee called on federal officials Thursday to investigate the marketing of sniper rifles, saying the weapons "pose a real danger to the civilian population."

Such irrationality that our taxes dollars are wasted on. Does Conyers not know that guns are inanimate objects and cannot kill people -- that it is people that kill people?

Come out John Conyers, step into the debate in an open public forum. Step out from behind your protective media shield. I'm just a working-class man. Surely with your great intellect you have nothing to fret over. ...Or do you?

"There is no legitimate purpose for a military rifle than to make war," Conyers said.

Target shooting, hunting and home protection. There's no legitimate purpose for irrational politicians that demonstrate that they don't comprehend that guns -- inanimate objects that they are -- cannot hurt people. Only people can chose to hurt people. In this case it is you John Conyers that has chosen to harm people by becoming an irrational politician.

 "There is no reason these rifles should be marketed to civilians."

The reason is that there is market demand for them. Again, John Conyers, you demonstrate your incompetence. Worse, it is irrationality and incompetence such as yours that us working-class men and woman are forced at the barrel of a gun to pay your salary. Forced to pay your salary so that you and your cronies in congress can continue creating 3,000 new laws and regulations each year.

As if somehow people and society could not continue to prosper without those 3,000 new laws this year and 3,000 new laws next year, year after year. How is that us working-class men and women were able to increase prosperity and well being for years and decades prior without this year's new laws, yet suddenly you and your cronies proclaim that we working-class men and women will run headlong into destruction without you and your cronies creating all those new laws.

War of Two Worlds
Value Creators versus Value Destroyers

The first thing civilization must have is business/science. It's what the family needs so that its members can live creative, productive, happy lives. Business/science can survive, even thrive without government/bureaucracy.

Government/bureaucracy cannot survive without business/science. In general, business/science and family is the host and government/bureaucracy is a parasite.

Keep valid government services that protect individual rights and property. ...Military defense, FBI, CIA, police and courts. With the rest of government striped away those few valid services would be several fold more efficient and effective than they are today. 

Underwriters Laboratory is a private sector business that has to compete in a capitalist market. Underwriters laboratory is a good example of success where government fails.

Any government agency that is a value to people and society -- which there are but a few -- could much more effectively serve people by being in the private sector where competition demands maximum performance.

Wake up! They are the parasites. We are the host. We don't need them. They need us.

29 posted on 10/10/2002 9:48:18 PM PDT by Zon
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To: Dallas
What classic tripe!

1) there is no record of any crime ever having been committed using a .50 BMG rifle.

2) the current "sniping" going on is using a .223 Remington, one of the weakest centerfire cartridges in existence. Contrary to published reports, it is not "high power."

3) There is no such thing as a "military rifle." There is no such thing as an "assault rifle" (more properly known as 'homeland defense rifles' - HDR). Rifles are tools and any rifle can be used in a number of ways. Typical rifle systems used by the military and police for sniper and counter-sniper roles are in fact scoped bolt-action or semi-auto rifles with flat shooting rounds (.308 Winchester or the small varmint rounds). They also happen to be perfect candidates for deer hunting or varmint hunting (which is a lot like sniping).

4)Nothing I have read so far indicates if they know whether it is bolt-action, semi-auto, or some other type of rifle. Given the range and accuracy, it is probably scoped, but there is no way for them to know until they see the rifle. They can't tell what color it is either. For all they know, it could be a hot-pink Armalite or a purple polka-dotted white plastic stock on a Browning A-bolt. It could even be a Ruger single-shot.

5) Talk to somebody who fought in World War II, like Guadacanal or the Phillipines. They will tell you the truth about whether rifles can knock down low-level slow flying airplanes or not. They can't unless they get an incredibly lucky one in a trillion shot. The same is true for armored vehicles. Any soldier who served at the Battle of the Bulge will tell you how easy it was to knock out tanks with their Garand, BAR, or M1903 "sniper rifles."

6)If the Congressman isn't smart enough to tell the difference between a parody ad on the internet (.50BMG for under $30 joke ad by Birdman) and a real ad, then his family should seek a comptency hearing because he is not fit to manage anyone's affairs.

7)If there is such a danger, then Conyers should tell us the technical difference between a scoped deer rifle (.270, .308, or .30-06) and any sub-.50BMG "sniper system" he is scared of and why it is more lethal or more dangerous.

30 posted on 10/10/2002 10:01:29 PM PDT by TexasGunRunner
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To: dirtboy
"The guy could have just as easily used an old single-shot .270 (if there is such a beast),..."BB There are many such beasts alongwith the .243 and many others.

If any of this pervert's are not custom made, then the cops and the thousands of alphabet agents may not have a clue, and will again grab at straws...
31 posted on 10/10/2002 11:50:55 PM PDT by Vidalia
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To: Dallas
How in the hell does this guy (Conyers) keep getting re-elected????
32 posted on 10/10/2002 11:54:52 PM PDT by alaskanfan
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To: TexasGunRunner
Maybe Conyers is not as stupid as we think, he in typical Communist fashion is exploiting tragic events, using them to frame the debate. What is or is not a sniper rifle is irrellevant, he is using these events to villify "sniper rifles" leaving the descripton open ended, so anything can fall into the category.
33 posted on 10/11/2002 12:02:34 AM PDT by c-b 1
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To: Dave in Eugene of all places
PUT DOWN THAT AXE to grind, Dave in EUGENE, for several small furry animals with picts are running away.

Some day Sid will let you know what the answer is...
34 posted on 10/11/2002 12:14:55 AM PDT by Vidalia
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To: Dallas
He forgot to blame the NRA.
35 posted on 10/11/2002 12:30:38 AM PDT by FlyVet
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To: alaskanfan
"How in the hell does this guy (Conyers) keep getting re-elected????"

He lives in a district populated with a sufficient number of people too stupid to recognize the stupidity of Conyers. They also lack any self respect -- to allow themselves to be represented by such a incompetent clymer.
Semper Fi

36 posted on 10/11/2002 12:30:43 AM PDT by river rat
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To: Dallas
"Conyers said. 'There is no reason these rifles should be marketed to civilians.'"

Politicians like Conyers are EXACTLY why rifles like these should be in civilian hands.
But various statements by Patrick Henry put it so much more eloquently than I could.

37 posted on 10/11/2002 6:25:58 AM PDT by Redbob
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To: Dallas
These stupid Dimocrats never learn. Every time they bring up Gun Control as an issue they pay for it dearly at the polls! Here we are again just in time for the election. Have at it you idiots! It's always fun to watch the results of this campaign!!
38 posted on 10/11/2002 6:31:58 AM PDT by Destructor
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To: Dave in Eugene of all places
Actually, the statistics HAVE been gathered.
See the Dept. of Justice study on the effectiveness of the "assault weapon" ban on reducing crime.
It's on their website.

Says the "ban" took "assault weapons" off the streets simply because it made them so highly collectible!
But no measurable effect on crime.

Talk about yer unintended consequences...
39 posted on 10/11/2002 6:35:39 AM PDT by Redbob
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To: alaskanfan
"How in the hell does this guy (Conyers) keep getting re-elected????"

Two reasons:
(a) He is of the same ethnicity as the majority of voters in his district; and
(B)They are even farther down the bell curve than he is.

How's THAT for euphemism?

40 posted on 10/11/2002 6:38:17 AM PDT by Redbob
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