Conyers Calls for Sniper Rifle Probe (Suprise!)

(AP) ^

[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.

[Lazamataz]

In other words, he wants to ban absolutely every firearm in the world.

• 50 Caliber rifle? Sniper rifle. Banned.
• Semiautomatic rifle? Sniper rifle. Banned.
• Pump action rifle? Sniper rifle. Banned.
• Bolt action rifle? Sniper rifle. Banned.
• Breechloading rifle? Sniper rifle. Banned.
• Singe shot rifle? Sniper rifle. Banned.
• Pistol with long barrel? Sniper rifle. Banned.
• Shotgun? Sniper rifle. Banned.

[johnny7]

Conyers is a true marxist.

He's got a bill out there for his “reparations”.

Seems his pension isn't good enough.

A .223 is a varmint rifle... plain and simple. Conyers wants you to turn in your weapons and trust the thugs who threaten you.

What a floating turd!

[Lazamataz]

Conyers is a lifelong communist

And if you go up and ask him, he'll proudly tell you that.

[Lazamataz]

Carlos Hathcock did just fine with an ordinary .30-06 Winchester Model 70 - basically a deer rifle rebarreled with a heavy barrel.

In Conyer's ideal world?

Banned.

[junta]

It is a medical fact that Black men are highly succeptable to the effects of dementia more so than any other demographic group. This factoid might have some bearing on the story.

[FreedomPoster]

The one good thing about this is that maybe all those deer hunters, who never thought the gun grabbers would come for their deer rifles, will wake up and strongly support the NRA, GOA, JPFO, and pro-gun politicians.

Another comment - do these politicians not realize they are playing with fire? Do they really want to create a situation where some significant percentage (which is anything above .1%) of the hunters in America become anti-government snipers?

[J. L. Chamberlain]

Um John, would my .54 cal cap and ball bench rifle w/peep sights be considered a "sniper rifle"? It's lethal out to 225 yards in the right hands. Gonna ban that?

J

[Lazamataz]

Um John, would my .54 cal cap and ball bench rifle w/peep sights be considered a "sniper rifle"? It's lethal out to 225 yards in the right hands. Gonna ban that?

Of course. Your rifle is just what he has in mind when he says we need to ban sniper rifles.

[J. L. Chamberlain]

Ya well, FMCDH!

I have this delicious image in my head of Conyers leading a band of BATF thugs around the primitive camp at the NMLRA nationals, searching for the evil "sniper rifles". I can just see the piss streaming down their legs as they pass by folks armed with every form of weapon. 10 inch Bowie knives, tomahawks, pistols in their belts and large caliber rifles cradled in their arms.

Molon Labe, Conyers!

J

[Clinging Bitterly]

Don't really have an axe to grind here, I've just observed that there is a segment of society that's having a way above average incidence of shooting folks who oughn't be shot, and otherwise getting in trouble with the law. There are probably a number of factors that contribute to this, and I don't think an especially bad sort of charachter is drawn to the occupation so much as things within that segment of society affect one after he or she enters it. Power corrupts, and that power has been in a long period of expansion, and I think, whether or not that power is particularly desired by an individual, it still corrupts.

I've been thinking long and hard about the trouble with cops these days, and this is the short $.02 worth of this amateur's philosophy, YMMV.

I have friends who have the endless, glamorless, thankless job, as it's been called by a guy who used to play one on TV, and I see that they do get jaded. I do my part in my personal relationships with them, and try to bring in the often forgotten perspective in a non confrontational way, but this is the internet, where we are nameless and faceless (some hereabouts know exactly who I am, you don't), where we are supposed to be able to just say what we want without bothering with all the niceties, and can thereby have a more blunt conversation that will deal more directly with cause and affect.

(Who the heck is Sid, and what is he doing to those furry animals?)

Dave in Eugene

[Clinging Bitterly]

I don't subscribe to the notion that there ever was a problem with assault weapons, on the street or otherwise, in possession of the average joe. My post hinted that it might be worth examining whether or not they are a problem in the hands of the government. Post #50 above is a little bit more of what I think about this issue.

Dave in Eugene

[Vidalia]

Your observations are on target.

The term "assault" , pertaining to any rifle (or pistol) is an insult to anyone who has any knowledge of firearms.

Any firearm, regardless of size is not a "friendly" weapon.

It's history speaks volumes, for the firearm was constructed for one purpose, to kill the bastard who was coming at you in one manner or another to kill you.

Kings/Queens and other leaders simply got very tired of having to hire more and more soldiers to fight for them at swords length, so they went to the next best thing that was invented to do the most damage to the other side.

Too many of the misinformed who reside in Washington, D.C. as representatives of the population are pushing the idea of a "friendly" weapon, that being super intelligent negotiation and appeasement.

I will take a good slingshot and good ball-bearing shot ammo over that any day.

Oh, Syd is Syd Barrett, and the other is a late night reference to a Pink Floyd original...

Take care

[GRRRRR]

Calling for Conyors--your rectal probe is ready....

[metesky]

Welcome to Free Republic.

I hope you have donned your asbestos underwear for the flaming you so richly deserve.

[Dallas]

I called the Irving police, who proved to be totally incompetant.

You're certainly entitled to your inane opinion, but this single sentence proves how ludicrous your remarks are.

The police cannot protect you, nor your home.

[metesky]

Just how did you pose a threat to a couple of rednecks by riding an expensive bike? Is there more to this than you let on?

And what makes you think the smoking wars are over, bucko?

[metesky]

One other thing: Upper-middle class people that I know are armed to the teeth, and they can afford all the really nice weapons.

You're going to be a loser if you propound the view that the Second Amendment is a class issue.

[Eagle Eye]

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

Humor me here. What if we do have a terrorist cell inside our borders doing this? Doesn't it stand to reason that citizens should be armed to defend themselves against invasive threats?

I find that these snipings are a very good reason to have every style of rifle marketed to US citizens.