Posted on 05/10/2007 12:56:12 PM PDT by Zakeet
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Legislators Thursday will begin considering whether to make New Jersey the second state to outlaw the powerful .50 caliber rifle which critics contend could potentially be used in terrorist attacks.
The guns, which resemble large hunting rifles, are accurate up to 1 1/2 miles, and critics of the weapons say they could be used to penetrate an airliner or ignite chemical plants, rail tanks cars and refineries.
California is the only state with a similar law.
The ban is getting renewed attention after federal investigators this week announced they had foiled an alleged terrorist plot by six men who were planning to attack Fort Dix.
"As unnerving as the Fort Dix terrorism plot was, it could have been all the more worse if the weapons of choice for alleged assailants had been .50 caliber assault guns instead of AK-47s," said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer.
The six men arrested Monday night allegedly tried to buy AK-47 assault weapons, M-16s and other weapons from a government informant.
The bill is opposed by gun rights advocates who claim it would do nothing to stem gun violence.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
The suspects were trying to purchase firearms which are already illegal — and the response is to make another class of firearms (one which they weren’t even interested in) illegal?
Of all the asinine, transparent ...
Has any of these do-gooding gun grabbers ever handled one of those 50 cal. guns? They are so heavy and unwieldy as to render them useless for the attack these terrorists were planning.
How about moving on terrorist cells instead?
Too bad they’re not moving to invalidate the “sanctuary city” laws which allowed them to not report the illegals to Homeland Security in the first place.
..and there will be a codicil that allows NJ DPS to ignore Governor caravans which do not exceed warp factor 90 on state highways and byways!
Actually, full-auto AK-47s would be far a more effective choice of rifle than the .50 cal bolt action for the type of attack they were planning -- killing as many people as possible.
They should ban cars since they could potentially be used in terrorist attacks, also.
They already had semi-autos, which is what was on the tape. They wanted full auto rifles.
Amazing how quickly 50 cal threads proliferate. Where is the picture of the tank put on its roof by a single 50 cal shot?
The terrorists at Fort Dix mentioned several times that it was impossible for them to get hold of AK-47s legally in New Jersey, and were seeking to buy them illegally from sources in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
If terrorists with money were unable to purchase the weapons they actually wanted in NJ, why does it make sense to ban weapons they didn't even want?
Further, the .50 cal would not have been suited to the terrorist's purposes at all: they were looking for automatic AK-47s which they could run quickly with in order to spray a crowd with as many rounds as possible.
The .50 cal would have been extremely unwieldy and inconvenient for them.
How about a law that states: Name = Mohammed = no sale.
They should be issuing twin .50s to non felon, mentally healthy citizens.
One by one, all guns will be outlawed.
“it’ll blow your head clean off .... well .... are you feeling lucky?.... punk!”
Outlaw guns! That’s what the libs want to do. The libs don’t want to do what is necessary to protect this country! Racial profiling. Expulsion of all who come here from predominantly jihadi countries.
Just more useless legislation from the taxsuckers in Trenton.
Like terrorists are going to be intimidated by liberal feel-good laws.
Seems to me it was illegal to bring dangerous materials onto aircraft on 9/11, but that didn’t exactly stop the terrorists, now did it?
nope but it does prove that Rats rule by excuses rather than cause.
A hang nail is an excuse for socialized medicine.
A cough is an excuse for mandatory euthenasia.
A stern look is an excuse for hate crimes.
Opposition to democrats is justification for “fairness doctrine” to silence the oposition.
It is ONLY about aquisition of personal power. NOTHING is sacred, everything can be sold to aquire power over others.
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