Rifle was made in Maine

Boston Globe ^ | 10/25/2002 | Globe Staff

[jgrubbs]

The firearm is often referred to as a civilian version of the military's M-16. The federal warrant issued against John Allen Muhammad identified the specific model as an A-35, XM15 E2S.

The gas-operated weapon is about 343/4 inches long, and it weighs 7.74 pounds without the standard 10-round magazine that Bushmaster supplies with each model.

[blam]

"Good evening, I'm Dan Rather. in yet another stinging setback for so-called President Bush, in a revelation that could hurt Republicans in the coming elections, it was revealed today that the weapon used by the DC sniper was a .223-caliber semiautomatic rifle made by Bushmaster Firearms, a gun manufacturer in Windham, Maine, the same state that is home to the President's father, former President Geaorg Bush. CBS has been unable to confirm - but we can't rule it out - that those invloved in manufacturing and selling this lethal weapon may have indeed voted for the President."

....and the Somali's who recently immigrated here to escape violence in their own country cannot be encouraged by this news.

[Mo1]

The gas-operated weapon is about 343/4 inches long

I'll admit I don't know nothing about guns

But what is a gas-operated weapon ???

[HiJinx]

Sexy!!!

I'd better go get a couple before they're banned by the ATF.

Thank goodness John Magaw is no longer the head of the TSA! (or ATF, either).

HJ

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

I wonder if the Globe writes an article on the orgin of every knife and car used in a crime?

Not likely. Better yet for the Globe, when will we register homosexuals who spread AID's virus, which kills about 12,000 Americans every year. If we could only register them, we would be able to track them and prevent the spread of AID's.

[ken in texas]

What does the location of the gun manufacturer have to do with the sniper case? Is this really news? Or just an attempt to focus on gun control?

Well, we all know it's just an attempt to make some people or a state look bad.

I know some fine people from Maine... might have to give the economy a boost and get around to buying my own little Bushmaster. :-)

[Sender]

It's typical of the Boston Globe. Give the evil gun a personality and a background, then demonize it. That poor Muslim can't help it if he was hijacked by this evil rifle! How many more deaths need to occur before we rid the world of these evil non-sporting machines, freeing terrorists and muggers to go back to picking daisies? It's only 'common sense' to ban them all!

[SCR1]

I guess Assault Weapon sounds more interesting than.... Black, Muslim, covert Al Qaida operative - possibly Bi-sexual, pedophile shoots dozens in rampage!

Hmmmm....Maybe not?!?

[Sender]

what is a gas-operated weapon ???

It means that a small part of the hot gas that pushes the bullet down the barrel is bled off through a tiny hole in the barrel. This expanding gas cocks the action, ejects the empty cartridge and loads another one.

[Dog]

LOL! With your permission I am going to post that on another tread....

[Jeff Gordon]

But what is a gas-operated weapon ???

Requires the operator consume at least one can of beans four hours before using the weapon.

[DoughtyOne]

I too could care less where this gun came from. It's legal. End of story.

[VRWC_minion]

A ban would put 75 employees out of business plus the companies that serve them.

[Mo1]

LOL ... ok thanks

[DoughtyOne]

One more thing. A number of gun laws were broken so this person could commit his crimes. Not one more, not ten thousand more gun laws would have prevented this.

[Joe Brower]

Never trust a maniac.

Too late. They have already taken over the mass media.

Oh, you meant firearms? I'm more worried about all those "weapon of mass destruction" word processors that are "on the streets".

[elbucko]

when will we register homosexuals who spread AID's virus,.. If we could only register them, we would be able to track them and prevent the spread of AID's.

Amen to that! Tattoo federal numbers with a scull and crossbones on the afflicted member to warn any potential victim and track the carnage left in the wake of the weaponized organ.

[VRWC_minion]

Not one more, not ten thousand more gun laws would have prevented this.

But we must do something.

[jgrubbs]

But what is a gas-operated weapon ??? To start with, the weapon is loaded, cocked and ready for firing. When the trigger is pulled, the cocked hammer is released and strikes the firing pin whereby the cartridge is fired. The gases produced by the explosion propel the bullet out of the barrel. At the same time the gases thrust the cartridge case and, with it, the breech block backwards. The gas pressure is so great that the sealing rollers are forced against the sloped shoulders of the bolt. The latter slides backwards, and the rollers are withdrawn into the breech block until the bolt is disengaged. The rear shoulders of the bolt strike the bolt carrier and thrust it backwards. In its backward movement the extractor of the breech block extracts the cartridge case (which is ejected by the ejector) and cocks the hammer. When the breech block has completed its backward motion, it is returned forward by the action of a spring. In the course of this return movement the end face of the breech block strips the top cartridge from the magazine and thrusts it into a chamber ready to fire. The extractor engages with the corresponding groove at the base of the cartridge. The sealing rollers are pushed outwards by the sloped shoulders of the bolt until they engage with the recesses in the breech wall. The firing cycle has thus been completed and the rifle is ready to fire the next round.

[CFW]

Where was the car from?

[SCR1]

I forgot to mention that he is an alleged member of the Democratic Party, too.