Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Letter from Barrett firearms to LAPD
California NRA Members' Councils ^ | 12-11-02 | Ronnie Barrett

Posted on 02/04/2003 6:32:45 PM PST by Inspector Harry Callahan

Chief William J. Bratton
Los Angeles Police Department
150 North Los Angeles Street

Re: LAPD 82A Rifle, Serial No. 11**

Dear Chief Bratton,

I, a U.S. citizen, own Barrett Firearms Mfg. Inc., and for 20 years I have built .50 caliber rifles for my fellow citizens, for their Law Enforcement departments and for their nation's armed forces.

You may be aware of the latest negative misinformation campaign from a Washington based anti-gun group, the Violence Policy Center. The VPC has, for three or so years, been unsuccessful in Washington, D.C. trying to demonize and ban a new subclass of firearms, the .50 caliber and other "too powerful" rifles. This type of nibbling process has been historically successful in civilian disarmament of other nations governed by totalitarian and other regimes less tolerant of individual rights than the United States .

The VPC's most recent efforts directs this misinformation campaign at your state, attempting to get any California body to pass any law against .50 caliber firearms. In March 2002 the VPC caused the California State Assembly, Public Safety Committee to consider and reject the issue by a 5 to 0 with 1 abstaining vote.

Regrettably, the same material has been presented to your city council. I personally attended the council meeting in Los Angeles regarding attempts to bar ownership of the .50 caliber rifle in your city. I was allowed to briefly address the council. The tone of the discussion was mostly emotionally based, so the facts that I attempted to provide were ineffective to the extent they were heard at all. The council voted to have the city attorney draft an ordinance to ban the .50, and further, to instruct the city's representatives in Sacramento and in Washington D.C. to push for bans at their respective levels.

At that council meeting, I was very surprised to see an LAPD officer seated front and center with a Barrett 82A1 .50 cal rifle. It was the centerpiece of the discussion. As you know, there have been no crimes committed with these rifles, and most importantly, current California law does not allow the sale of the M82AI in the state because of its detachable magazine and features that make it an "assault weapon." This rifle was being deceptively used by your department. The officer portrayed it as a sample of a currently available .50 cal rifle, available for sale to the civilians of Los Angeles. One councilman even questioned how this rifle was available under current laws, but as I stated, facts were ineffective that day.

Your officer, speaking for the LAPD, endorsed the banning of this rifle and its ammunition. Then he used the rifle for photo ops with the Councilmen each of whom, in handling the firearm, may have been committing a felony. I was amazed.

Since 1968, with the closing of the U.S. Springfield Amory, all of the small arms produced for the various government agencies are from the private sector. Every handgun, rifle or shotgun that law enforcement needs comes from this firearms industry. Unless the City of Los Angeles has plans of setting up its own firearms manufacturing, it may need to guard the manufacturing sources it has now.

When I returned to my office from Los Angeles, I found an example of our need for mutual cooperation. Your department had sent one of your 82A1 rifles in to us for service. All of my knowledge in the use of my rifle in the field of law enforcement had been turned upside down by witnessing how your department used yours. Not to protect and serve, but for deception, photo opportunities, and to further an ill-conceived effort that may result in the use of LA taxpayer monies to wage losing political battles in Washington against civil liberties regarding gun ownership.

Please excuse my slow response on the repair service of the rifle. I am battling to what service I am repairing the rifle for. I will not sell, nor service, my rifles to those seeking to infringe upon the Constitution and the crystal clear rights it affords individuals to own firearms.

I implore you to investigate the facts of the .50, to consider the liberties of the law-abiding people and our mutual coexistence, and to change your department's position on this issue.

Sincerely,
BARRETT FIREARMS MANUFACTURING, INC.

Ronnie Barrett
President


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism
KEYWORDS: banglist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-127 next last
To: Squantos
definitely time to buy a new Barret unfortunately here in CT the only legal Barret one may buy is not the semi auto.
41 posted on 02/04/2003 10:38:33 PM PST by harpseal (Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

Already got my .50 Unfortunately its not a barrett, Im not that rich...yet!


Go here and look
42 posted on 02/04/2003 10:40:02 PM PST by Sabretooth (My handle is SabREtooth not SabERtooth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: harpseal
http://www.smallarmsreview.com/pdf/payload.pdf


Read and comment ........:o) Stay Safe !
43 posted on 02/04/2003 10:52:08 PM PST by Squantos (RKBA the original version of Homeland Security .....the one proven method that works !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Inspector Harry Callahan
Always knew Barrett was a good guy. But after reading this letter I'd be doubly proud to own a Barrett .50 cal rifle.
44 posted on 02/04/2003 10:53:11 PM PST by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sabretooth
Awesome ........see my #43.....comments ?

Love the Cartman wav BTW :o)

Stay Safe !!

45 posted on 02/04/2003 10:56:46 PM PST by Squantos (RKBA the original version of Homeland Security .....the one proven method that works !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Squantos
From what I understand you have to jump through some BATF hoops to own anything bigger than the .50 BMG.

I could be wrong though.

Looks awesome, but expensive Im sure.
46 posted on 02/04/2003 10:59:29 PM PST by Sabretooth (My handle is SabREtooth not SabERtooth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Sabretooth
You are correct this is a DOD weapon modification. Won't be for civvies in this country till our goobermint trusts it's citizens again.......no I ain't holding my breath either :o)

I carried a Barrett 82A1 as part of my EOD tool kit while active duty and now have one for my own. Confidence is high for arrogant Coyotes who think 1300 meter standoff is "safe"....... Albeit my personal best with Black Hills ball is just shy of 1150 on a yote here in the Panhandle. We used the raufaus rounds in EOD work versus ball most of the time....... Very effective. This new "caliber" will be one kewl tewl for EOD and snipers alike.

Bravo ! Stay Safe !

47 posted on 02/04/2003 11:17:37 PM PST by Squantos (RKBA the original version of Homeland Security .....the one proven method that works !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Squantos
Now I just know the BATF and the CT Legislature will not let me at one of these toys but this seems like the ideal aboard gun for traveling in some of the worlds more dangerous waters such as the Southwest Pacific and parts of the Carribean.

The use of that muzzle break might on a boly action rifle might get the felt recoil almost on par with a .22cal rimfire. I will be curious as to how the reliablity holds up with those multiple recoil buffer springs in teh upper reciever but conversion kits for an existing Barrett M82A1 seem like a good idea. Besides a coversion kit is not a new firearm as the reciever is already legal in most states, not CT but nothing says I can not have one in some different state provided I legally aquired it.

I am at this point wondering where one could get ammunition for it.

48 posted on 02/04/2003 11:27:30 PM PST by harpseal (Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Sabretooth; Squantos
Given that the lower reciever is the serial numbered part what law would make this illegal to own if one had it in conversion kit form? In other words the M82A1 in .50 BMG and the upper reciever, barrel and magazne that attach to the .50BMG lower reciever?
49 posted on 02/04/2003 11:31:15 PM PST by harpseal (Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: harpseal; patton
I think were SOL for ammo sources in the USA. We could hire out as Mercs in some third world apple orchard security inc limited corp ect ect and get Uncle money bags to foot the bill and the import license ?.......Not that I haven't been thinking about it :o)

As you state .....one hell of a shark gun !

Hey Patton wheres that old gomers with no future job list you have hid ? Harp and I need some cover for this new toy !

Stay Safe !

50 posted on 02/04/2003 11:33:29 PM PST by Squantos (RKBA the original version of Homeland Security .....the one proven method that works !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Squantos
We could always get some custom dies, a lathe, soem of the miniture fuses from the 20mm miltary surplus that one can still buy. Just an idea but I think you are right about having to go to a turd world toilet to get the proper fodder for this new toy.

Hey in my old age I have been sort of feeling an urge for a warmer clime who knows maybe I will?
51 posted on 02/04/2003 11:38:53 PM PST by harpseal (Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: FreedomCalls
What does a policeman need a 50 caliber BMG rifle for?

Well, the next Mrs. Weaver may be holding a baby behind a cinder block wall.

LEOs need to be ready for any contingency.

52 posted on 02/04/2003 11:42:36 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ItisaReligionofPeace; Shooter 2.5; Joe Brower
Kalifornistan is a "front line state" in this struggle. If we lose Kali, America will no longer be the free super power it has been.
53 posted on 02/04/2003 11:45:33 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Squantos
BTTT

Regards

alfa6 ;>}
54 posted on 02/04/2003 11:46:38 PM PST by alfa6 (Let us rest our eyes on the friendly skies, And the cool, green hills of Earth RAH)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Noumenon; wardaddy
Our militarized "law enforcement" has become the standing army our founders feared.

Couldn't have said it better myself. War is coming.

And this is what it might look like, as the outer fringes of the storm arrive.

55 posted on 02/04/2003 11:52:10 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: harpseal
Seem we are the ugly Americans these days. Last I looked Brits are getting all the Ex-Pat smoothie soothie jobs with the emirs. I have been playing with a .338 lapua mag lately. I have it dialed in nicely with factory ammo.

Also been lusting for a Unertl USMC 10X that a company (that owns MMC sights and IWI H3 sights) bought and is selling "NEW" with civie serial numbers. 2500 $ a copy out the door... eliptical mil dots yada yada yak yak ayk....

I have to save my duckets for that but I'll have one I can take to the range in daylight soon.

Stay Safe !!!

56 posted on 02/04/2003 11:55:33 PM PST by Squantos (RKBA the original version of Homeland Security .....the one proven method that works !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: alfa6
Back at ya......Stay Safe !!
57 posted on 02/04/2003 11:56:28 PM PST by Squantos (RKBA the original version of Homeland Security .....the one proven method that works !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: harpseal
Do you mean a 20mm upper?

If so yes that would be legal.
58 posted on 02/05/2003 12:04:39 AM PST by Sabretooth (My handle is SabREtooth not SabERtooth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Inspector Harry Callahan
"I am battling to what service I am repairing the rifle for."

Whatever he is trying to say I don't understand.

Good intentions is no excuse for bad writing.

--Boris

59 posted on 02/05/2003 1:24:29 AM PST by boris
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Travis McGee
If you are telling me that Kalifornia is somehow similar to the rest of the country, I'll tell you that you are crazy.
60 posted on 02/05/2003 4:11:57 AM PST by ItisaReligionofPeace (The one and only.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-127 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson