Posted on 04/23/2005 7:53:08 AM PDT by Mulder
Dear Fellow Citizens
In the never-ending battle to destroy our constitution, more "big lie" propaganda is being dumped on our elected officials. The rhetoric given forth by the Violence Policy Center (VPC) so easily deceived the legislators of California, resulting in the banning of fifty caliber rifles because they are powerful and their bullets punch holes when they strike. Even single shot .50 cal rifles were banned. It's hard to believe we live in such a dark time that someone has actually banned a single shot rifle. But as you will see, this is the cleverest of all gun bans, and the end goal is civilian disarmament, the confiscation of your tools of liberty, your rifles.
What lies before us is the continuation of the misinformation campaign, trying to coax yet another state to infringe upon the U.S. Constitution as California did. The anti-freedom/anti-gun movement has discovered how transparent they appear when they propose sweeping gun bans and now are successful by biting off a little at a time. Ever so small, many politicians are trading off your rights without you recognizing their violations.
First we had the "Saturday Night Special" which was all affordable handguns, then "sniper rifles" which were any scoped deer rifles. Those were obvious, too big a scam to go unnoticed, but with the creation and demonization of the term "assault weapon," the Clinton's Crime bill produced a wasted 10-year setback on your freedoms and safe gun design. Now comes another scam. This time they are shocked to discover that rifles are "accurate and powerful."
This is the same bull the officials in the 1950's fell for when they banned the self-unfolding knife. First the knife was demonized by giving it an evil name, "switchblade," then we (the trusting public) were told that the problem of gang violence was solved with its banning. How ridiculous. It's surprising they didn't ban the leather jacket. In reality, gang violence was and is a serious social problem, but it was not related to manually unfolding verses self-unfolding knives. The elected officials voting to ban an object like a knife proved themselves unwilling or uncaring to understand the problem, and thus, incapable of any real solutions.
The handful of people that make up the VPC are solely responsible for the big lie on .50's, claiming fantastic destruction capabilities. They manipulate fear by claiming terrorists will use these rifles on targets of our infrastructure. "They will shut down our airports in flames" they claim. VPC's Tom Diaz refers to them as "super guns" lying to his dupable group of politicians, concealing the facts that there are many rifle cartridges that are comparable in performance (those will be added to the list in phase two). He is boldly telling these officials (and all who will listen) that the risk of terrorist attacks on these targets will be solved with the banning of powerful rifles, in this case, the .50 caliber rifle. In reality, terrorism is complex and will be defeated with improved intelligence. In this instance, the officials voting to ban an inanimate object like a rifle prove themselves to be ignorant of the problem of terrorism and are wasting time and resources.
You must understand the brilliance of this dangerous back door deception. Your politicians are being told that the fifty is a highly destructive cartridge that can destroy airplanes, fuel transport trucks and depot storages of fuel. They show videos like the one on 60 Minutes showing a 1/2 inch plate of steel being pierced by a .50 cal round while stopping a .308 caliber. This is all to confuse the people, those with little exposure to firearms; their impression concludes that the .50 punches holes in sensitive targets where other rifles cannot. Had they shot actual aluminum that is used on airplane construction, or aluminum or steel used in actual transport or tank construction, both the .50 and the .308 will pierce along with most all centerfire cartridges. But this, they must keep secret.
First, with the confusion of massive, (although incorrect) technical data and the hammering of urgency, the VPC demands a ban or strict regulations on rifles that chamber a cartridge that has the ability to penetrate targets. Sound ridiculous? It is.
VPC's Tom Diaz appears often on TV with maps of Washington, DC, irresponsibly instructing where to position one's self to illegally fire on vulnerable important targets of our government, promising these specific targets will be safe when .50's are banned. He pressures politicians to act quickly on this URGENT legislation needed to make these terrorist targets safe, hoping they will act before the VPC lies are discovered.
Now slow down. A ban on a rifle because the cartridge it shoots penetrates targets? By the legislation naming and defining the targets that are damageable by rifle fire, and in this case, .50 cal. rifle fire, they create a new class of rifles. This new class is not defined by such foolishness as detachable magazines, flash hiders, or pistol grips. Instead, the test is; does it fire a bullet that punches a hole, and can the hole result in damage to specified and named targets? If so, the law-abiding citizen shouldn't be allowed to have this, so they must ban this class of rifle before they can be misused. This is the very thing California has just passed!
"Now, we are only talking about those powerful .50 cals, right? It's such a small class, no one will mind or even notice." That's what the VPC's lies have lead you to believe. No, remember they are banning rifles because specific targets named in our infrastructure are susceptible to damage. Now tell me, what centerfire rifle cartridge won't punch holes in those targets? What centerfire rifle cartridge is not powerful? Not many or not any? So, in order to comply with the spirit and intent of the law, the Attorney General or State Secretary must add those cartridges to the banned list. The big lie is exposed. They aren't just talking about .50's. They're after your hunting rifles, centerfire target rifles-just about any rifle you own.
Unlike California, we cannot allow any of our local, state, or federal officials to be deceived with any of this "big lie" gun control propaganda. The U.S. has every gun law that could possibly be needed. Virtually every real world scenario of firearm abuse is already covered in some law that is currently on the books.
Many of you have inquired as to the outcome of the letter I wrote to Police Chief Bratten of the LAPD. Unfortunately, the chief's position did not change. He continued to use his officers in the same deceptive practices formerly utilized with the city council. These few officers testifying in Sacramento ultimately contributed to the unconstitutional AB50 law being passed. It saddened me to have to tell members of the LAPD SWAT team that they would have to send someone for their rifle, because I refused to assist anyone or any organization that is in violation of the United States Constitution. In turn, the department arranged to pick up their un-serviced rifle.
Barrett cannot legally sell any of its products to lawbreakers. Therefore, since California's passing of AB50, the state is not in compliance with the US Constitution's 2nd and 14th Amendments, and we will not sell nor service any of our products to any government agency of the State of California.
I appreciate all the phone calls and e-mails from LAPD officers and civilians during that time, encouraging and supporting our actions. We shall see if other firearms companies will follow this path. I know many are corporately owned and feel like they are unable to risk the life of their company for the liberties of our nation, but if we lose our Republic, our freedom, what good is any of it? I am in the proud and fortunate position that many of our forefathers were in when they risked all for our liberties.
"Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" -Patrick Henry
This "ban large bore" insanity failed in Washington years ago, but that didn't discourage the VPC. Now it's resurfacing in city council meetings, in individual states, and it's being reintroduced in Washington. NRA-ILA Executive Director, Chris Cox, once told me "These (anti-freedom, anti-gun) guys never go away, and they never quit."
I've received thousands of e-mails and letters from you offering encouragement and support. Our Republic, our liberty, needs and demands your support. You must take action to guard your rights. First, find your State Senator and State Representative. Tell them not to fall for this scam. This lie depends on the elected official being naive about firearms and their capabilities. Stand ready to carry this same message to your U.S. Senator and Representatives. Know all of your elected officials' positions on gun issues. DO NOT ELECT ANY ANTI-GUN PERSON TO ANY POSITION!
Position yourself with me in the battles that we must fight. You need to join the NRA, the Fifty Caliber Shooters' Association, and the NSSF in order to stay informed. These people have been with me in the trenches, fighting for every inch of the liberty you enjoy.
Today we draw a line; there will be no more nibbling at our freedom. Today you stand idle no longer. Today you do something to save our country!
Ronnie Barrett Owner and CEO Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc.
Ping
--I recall a few posts from those who thought the last election settled the gun issue-----
Nope---
bump
Isn't this the guy who is refusing to ship the LAPDs 50cal back to them due to the ban? lol
The entire Second Amendement issue is under attack by two groups:
1. The uneducated, emotional left, plagued with low I.Q. that is deficient enough to believe that taking guns away from law-abiding citizens will solve all problems. Pure stupidity and ignorance.
2. The calculating, far-leftist politicians who see legal gun ownership (under the Second Amendment) as a THREAT TO THEIR DESPOTIC AGENDA OF AUTHORITARIAN SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT.
They will never go away - the threat to, and attacks upon, our Second Amendment rights, for the exact reason the Second Amendment WAS WRITTEN, will not stop.
Weren't the colonial muskets .50 caliber?
I found this over at thehighroad.org
"Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars."
Kudos to Mr. Barrett.
My dad has a .300 Winchester magnum elk rifle. I shot it once. That bullet punched through a steel water tank about five hundred yards out. So this 50 caliber bullet just makes a larger hole?
"Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars."
It's already happening to car owners.
You don't think the breathilizers for DWI offenders is going to be just for them do you?
I guarantee that soon, all automanufacturers will be required to install them in cars.
"Just in Case"
I don't know, but perhaps superior range, penetration, and a bigger bullet. The first Barretts for the Army were for EOD detachments--I don't know the technical details, but those guys are pretty careful about using what works! I have also personally witnessed the difference in hitting an automobile with a Barrett (a short coast to a stop) versus the standard (at that time) M-21 Army sniper weapon (kept rolling until stopped by a Cobra in a significantly more catastrophic manner than was intended). So, bottom line, I'm trusting the guys at the use level to make the decision on what they really need.
Same with machine guns. Why does a police force like SWAT need an M-4, a fully automatic weapon? When was the last time a cop ever needed to fire a bunch of rounds quickly?
These groups are making progress using "anti-terrorism" as a weapon. Expect more of the same in the future.
Well said about the 338 Lapua. I have a Dakota Longbow that is a tack drive at extreme ranges as it should be.
The thing that really bothers me about the LAPD an other departments these days is that they have M60 GPMG's, M249's , 240G's etc etc ........surgical precision, accountability for every round and background , safety to those innocent folks downrange used to be a priority for law enforcement.
They go after a criminal in my AO with one of those I know who I would shoot to stop the threat to society.
The New Mexico legislature considered such a bill last year. HB126 would have required blood-alcohol-sensing ignition interlocks on all new vehicles beginning in 2008, and on all used vehicles beginning in 2009. To my amazement, the bill was actually passed by the House 45-22. Fortunately, it did not reach the Senate before the legislative session ended. It likely will be back.
...Barrett cannot legally sell any of its products to lawbreakers...
That excludes the BATF, the FBI, and a host of other fed and state agencies. Since every gun law is illegal, they are all lawbreakers, even the otherwise honest ones.
IMO, a lot of the worst of the worst gungrabber pols fear being shot while riding in their bulletproof limos that used to make them feel invulnerable to the peasantry.
Not that an enraged citizen couldn't knife them quietly in the elevator, but they are power graspers, not really thinkers.
You can buy a .50 blackpowder rifle today with no forms to fill out.
"Weren't the colonial muskets .50 caliber?"
Nope, .62, .75, .78, and up.
"Same with machine guns. Why does a police force like SWAT need an M-4, a fully automatic weapon? When was the last time a cop ever needed to fire a bunch of rounds quickly?"
Uh, when at 3 AM, they kick in the door of the wrong house and hose down the innocents in their beds.
Isn't that getting into cannon category? I think 20mm is cannon, and 20mm is .78 caliber (if my calculations are correct).
Not really. The military has plenty of 20mm machine guns, usually mounted on aircraft.
Warthogs have 30mm guns, and that seems to be where they start calling them 'cannons'.
But if you're an anti-gunner, any handgun over 9mm is a 'hand cannon'.
Caliber .69 to .75 generally.
Larger--mostly about .70 caliber. If you got hit by a ball from a Brown Bess, chances were that was the last thing you'd ever be hit by.
Actually they were bigger than .50, if you are talking pre revolution and for some years after he revolution. Most military muskets, and therefore civilian also, were about .72 caliber. .50s came later during the mountain mans heyday.
Swell..I'm now a criminal. I own, and shoot, a single shot rifle that's .54Cal ....
... powered by black powder, but still...
I regret not purchasing one of Barrets' rifles 'back when' and, as a CA resident, now I can't. I took the opportunity of firing one at a range awhile back; quite an experience!
He makes some excellent points in his letter. The propaganda, and resulting legislation, centers on firearm 'types'; RKBA be damned.
Time to add a "black gun" to the armory while I still can.
We need to enlarge your AO from border to border and coast to coast.
Don't you think the ground would jump up and smack you too.
BUMP!!!
I've been thinking of buildiing a 40mm blackpowder rifle
I mean muzzle loader, black powder, what could be wrong with
that?
an RtKaBA ping for the RKBA pinglist
Bump.
The VPC would demnize my little squirrel plinker because it can shoot through aircraft grade aluminum.
Be Ever Vigilant!
A gunsmith in Arizona was building muzzleloaders made from shot out 20mm Vulcan cannon barrels He cut out the part with the chamber throat erosion and had four feet of good barrel to work with. I suppose you could fins some surplus 25mm barrels from the Bradley fighting vehicles and do the same.
Good for him. I love the Barrett .50.
In fact if COB's ever goes missing, I think he's going to check my house first. ;-)
I hear that!
There is no doubt about the superior range, penetration or stopping power of the fifty. But in an Urban environment NO ONE is going to be taking shots more than 600 yds. And most urban snipers are trained at 100-200yds. In the military for every 20 guys that are rated for 600 yd kills, there is 1 who is rated at 1000 plus. And half of that at 1500. The .308 which most consider the standard sniper rifle is good at 600 yds. up to 1000yds. Plenty for 99% of all urban sniping. The only time the fifty would ever need to be employed, is if someone is driving a Bradley down the street.
A .338 lapua at 300-400 yds with an ap tip will most definetly stop a car.
It comes down to this. Its now illegal to own a fifty in Cali.. But also A Barrett with scope is $8000 plus $5+ per round too expensive for cops to afford on their own. But hey tell city hall you need one for anti terrorism and they'll give you whatever you want. If I were a cop, I'd want the force to buy one of these toys to.
One other thing. Practice. It takes A LOT of practice to be sniper level with one of these. Like I said $5+ per round. Keeping someone qualified on this is going to cost a lot of money. Also, you don't shoot one of these just anywhere. I know there is a Marine base in California with a 2000 yd range, and I think the army has a long range also in Cali.
Thanks fo the info, mountain man. You certainly know your stuff.
We may be eating peanut butter and leaves for a bit, but I will have one of them in my safe before 2006.
Anyone who has told the State of California to go pee up a rope is good enough to get my hard earned bucks.
L
You have a helluva wife!
L
"Isn't that getting into cannon category? I think 20mm is cannon, and 20mm is .78 caliber (if my calculations are correct)."
No, not at all. The British Brown Bess was a .75 caliber, (11 gauge and used 11 balls to the pound) smooth bore musket.
The French musket used by the America's war of independence was a .69 caliber.
Some of the large caliber muzzleloaders for African dangerous game ranged in size up to 4 bore, or used only four (four ounces each) balls to the pound, which meant one ball weighed in at 1/4 lb.
I have a Tulle fusil de chasse .62 caliber (20 gauge and uses 20 balls to the pound) smooth bore.
Even in the American civil war .79 caliber muskets were used.
Excerpt from: http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:GCk8miQBPVoJ:www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/gabel5/gabel5.asp+.79+caliber+french+musket&hl=en
"In addition to the Springfields, over one hundred types of muskets, rifles, and rifled muskets-ranging up to .79-caliber-were used during the American Civil War."
Nothing, aside from your missing shoulder after you fired the first shot from your 40 mm (about 1.7 in.).
I think it would be much cheaper to go with the surplus barrels. How many gunsmiths could drill and rifle a 25mm bore, not many, and if they did it would cost an arm and a leg.
I just started a a machine shop, we make custom barrels. I'm not familar with stock costs; yes, it is expensive, but it really isn't the largest cost of making the barrel.
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