Posted on 02/25/2008 8:38:35 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
A battle is brewing between the Honolulu Police Department and the Hawaii Rifle Association over a proposed ban of a high-powered sniper rifle.
KITV's Catherine Cruz reported that the 50-caliber rifle is dubbed the most powerful rifle on the market today, and the HPD said it is their worst nightmare. That is why they said they want it out of civilian hands.
It's a weapon that's long been used by the military and law enforcement, but in most states, a person can buy it over the Internet or from a gun store, which is making law enforcement uneasy.
"There is nothing we have that can withstand this. If you look at an armored car, those things have a half-inch of steel. These can go through 1 inch of steel at a thousand yards," HPD Major Gregory Lefcourt said.
The rifle can fire 10 rounds in 10 seconds, and the bullets can travel for miles, police officials said.
They said that a shot fired from the rooftop at police headquarters could precisely hit a target at the state Capitol, four-tenths of a mile away.
The National Guard calls the weapon a threat to homeland security.
"It does concern us -- shooting down airplanes four miles distances," Hawaii National Guard Gen.Gary Ishikawa said.
The National Rifle Association said that a ban would infringe on the right to bear arms. It argued that the weapon hasn't ever been used in a crime in the islands.
"We haven't had any incidents of robbers at banks or terrorist shooting airplanes -- it just doesn't happen," HRA member Mark Plischke said.
But police said they don't want to wait until then.
They said the proposed ban will die in the judiciary committee if they don't get enough public support for the bill.
The rifles are outlawed for civilian use in California, New Jersey and New York.
The HRA maintained that their members use it for hunting or eradicating goats. Others users of the rifle said they enter long range firing competitions
The rifle is so powerful that it has been banned from the Kokohead Firing Range, range officials said. The rifle is only allowed at military ranges, which are off limits to civilians.
It is also very expensive. One rifle will fetch about $8,000, officials said.
There are 125 registered owners of the high-powered rifle in the state, with 90 owners living on Oahu.
I never would have willingly come back to this Gods-foresaken wasteland of liberal non-sense, but family is family.
Maybe this summer though. ;-)
Possibly. However, our system of justice does permit people to be released from prison via the parole system. Are you suggesting we should eliminate this system?
Can you list the laws that have effectively stopped criminals and the criminally insane or even just the garden variety insane person from obtaining a weapon when they wanted one to inflict harm on another person?
Law abiding (re-read that if necessary) citizens obey the law and criminals do not. So who does such a law target?
Anyone who says such things is not an American. Gun rights are about the ability to resist an oppressive goverment, not deer hunting.
What is it that we are always told?
If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear.
Since they are afraid, it makes me think that just maybe they have done something wrong. Ya think? ;-)
After much flaming, and realizing the mistake of my original comment, and some of my subsequent comments, I’ve acknowledged that I did not think through my comments very well. I offer my apology to you for my poorly thought out words. I hope you will accept that apology. I’d rather fight on your side than the other side of this issue.
I agree - the unfortunate reality of such laws is to deal with the aftermath of when someone uses firearms inappropriately, and nothing more. No law, by itself, is capable of preventing someone from committing an unlawful act. Therefore, people should be able to own firarms to defend themselves and their familes from those who seek to commit acts against them.
One poorly thought out comment and I’m forever labled. I’ve recanted my comment in post #3, and I do not advocate banning gun ownership.
I’d also add that gun rights are also about being able to defend you home and your family (either from the Government or other persons who are out to commit crimes against you).
Just extraordinarily bad. Fundamentally bad. Looking on you from here on with grave suspicion bad.
Bad as in "What is his son risking his life for, exactly, if his dad thinks like that?" bad.
Apology accepted, I guess.
As admitted, my comments were not very well thought out. I’m having a bad start to this week. I respectfully recant all of what I stated.
Many years ago, it used to be a given that, when a man had "paid his debt to society" and was set free, then he was a free man again, subject to all the rights of a free man. On the other hand, those who committed acts that indicated that they were the sort of person who would NEVER be safe to let free, were likely to be executed.
I would lean more towards giving people their rights back when free, but allow juries to recommend execution of repeat violent offenders, with the appeals process streamlined so that the execution WOULD occur within a year of conviction
It was shortly before I flew to Hawaii so it was etched pretty deeply in my mind.
Sure did. Marvin sure was screwed when access to his land and sewer were pretty much cut off because of a cement factory coming in.
I have caught up on the thread and saw your recantation but I do not withdraw my questions. Consider them food for thought when the subject comes up again.
Are you familiar with the Liberty Pistol or the Warsaw Ghetto?
Your questions will be answered when the 50 foot dinosaur aliens attack. We’ll all wish we had one then.
Super-Mecha Gophers are also a threat suited to the application of such firepower.
http://www.doi.gov/secretary/letters/DKFirearmsResponseLetter.pdf
“Secretary Kempthorne Responds To Letters From Senators
February 25, 2008
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today responded to letters signed by 51 U.S. Senators concerning the transporting and carrying of firearms on lands administered by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.”
May be of interest to some of you.
BTW, my comments were in response to yours in post #175, not post #3.
Don’t expect people to not to respond to you post even after recanting the words. They are there and people will respond as they read through the thread. I don’t know of anyone who reads the entire thread before commenting when something screams out for comment.
What is your estimate? And source?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.