More on CNN's Crusade Against the .50

CNN had a piece in October 1999 when House Democrats (who else?) tried to pass legislation restricting access to .50 BMG rifles. Entitled Is the .50-caliber rifle a gun for soldiers or civilians? (my answer is "yes,") it details the range and destructive power of the gun and its ammunition, with all the requisite buzzwords. Excerpts:

The .50-caliber rifle can be purchased at many American gun stores, with fewer restrictions than handguns.

Considering that they're huge and heavy, so what?

Also available -- armor-piercing incendiary .50-caliber ammunition -- millions of rounds that the Pentagon paid an ammunition manufacturer to take off its hands. More than 100,000 rounds have made their way to the civilian market where, according to a General Accounting Office investigation, they are incredibly easy to obtain.

None of which have been used in a crime.

Now, here's my favorite part. There's a link to click to for "Facts about the .50 Caliber Rifle." Here they are, in order:

50-CALIBER RIFLE IS DEADLY ACCURATE AT A RANGE OF 1600 YARDS - EQUIVALENT OF 16 FOOTBALL FIELDS. IT CAN FIRE WITH SOME EFFECTIVENESS AT TARGETS THREE TO FOUR MILES AWAY.

Assuming the guy behind the trigger is extremely skilled. Shooting at something 1,000 yards away is a lot tougher than it sounds. The rifle and its ammunition are important, but the skill of the shooter is the essential part.

IN THE GULF WAR THE .50-CALIBER RIFLE WAS USED TO DESTROY IRAQI ARMORED VEHICLES AND ARTILLERY.

Disable. Not "destroy." Bombs "destroy." Missiles "destroy." A 1/2" hole in an engine block "disables."

THE .50-CALIBER RIFLE WEIGHS 28 OR MORE POUNDS.

Or less. Some of the single-shot versions aren't quite that heavy, but suffice it to say, you won't be toting it under a trench coat to rob the local Quickee-Mart.

THE .50-CALIBER RIFLE COSTS $2,500 AND UP.

Some less, used. Though if the effort to ban them continues, we're going to see those prices climb again.

LOADED WITH ARMOR-PIERCING AMMUNITION, THE .50-CALIBER RIFLE FIRES EASILY FROM 100 YARDS THROUGH THREE-INCH THICK BULLET-RESISTANT GLASS. IT CAN PIERCE A THREE-AND-A-HALF INCH MANHOLE COVER AND A 600-POUND SAFE. IT ALSO CAN PENETRATE THE ONE-INCH PLATING USED ON ARMORED VEHICLES.

You know, I wondered where Teddy Kennedy got his info when he stood before the Senate and said, "Another rifle caliber, the 30.30 caliber, was responsible for penetrating three officers' armor and killing them in 1993, 1996, and 2002. This ammunition is also capable of puncturing light-armored vehicles, ballistic or armored glass, armored limousines, even a 600-pound safe with 600 pounds of safe armor plating." It's obvious! He watches CNN! I find it fascinating that the people most fearful of the ability of the .50 to penetrate armored vehicles are our elected officials. Who ride around in armored vehicles.

2000 PEOPLE ARE MEMBERS OF THE .50-CALIBER SHOOTERS ASSOCIATION. THEY SHOOT THIS WEAPON AT LONG DISTANCE TARGETS FOR SPORT.

See? Just 2,000 people. We can violate their rights. Nobody will care. They're just gun-nuts anyway.

UNDER FEDERAL LAW, YOU CAN BUY A .50-CALIBER RIFLE AT A GUN STORE AS LONG AS YOU ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE AND PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK. A FEW STATES HAVE MORE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS.

And have $2,500 and can carry 28 lbs plus ammo.

THIS MUST BE STOPPED!

A USED .50-CALIBER RIFLE CAN OFTEN BE PURCHASED WITH NO BACKGROUND CHECK AT ALL.

But if you're going to do it, you should try to do it IN YOUR STATE OF RESIDENCE, else you're committing a felony.