Banning the .50 rifle...in one county.

The BBQ Pit
1

OK, this one just gets to me…I heard it on the local news, a few minutes ago.

In Contra Costa county, which is in Northern California (surprise, surprise) a county supervisor is afraid that terrorists (or someone) might try to use a .50 Sniper rifle to attack the county’s refineries. (Frankly, seeing as how often those refineries manage to have catastrophic fires in that part of the bay, I’m not sure that terrorists need the help)

So, what’s the supervisor’s solution? He’s proposing a ban on .50 rifles…

wait for it…

…in Contra Costa county.

Just Contra Costa county.

Now, I can see how a nationwide ban might be effective, or maybe even a statewide ban…but a countywide ban?

Aside from killing off the (I’m sure) bustling marketplace for $8,000 50-caliber specialty rifles in CoCo county (Population: 992,358), I’m really not sure that such a ban would keep terrorists from, oh, I don’t know, driving 30 miles to another county to buy the guns, or even maybe buying the guns illegally?

It’s just…I mean…AAAAAUGH!

2

Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Marin Counties are in for a wake-up call when it comes to gun legislation. Keep an eye out on the news in the next year or two*…

Sam

*-for LEGAL news, not sniper news, that is. I believe 2 out of the 3 counties already have ongoing suits and a 3rd is probably in the making.

3

They should outlaw the attacking of refineries with any weapons!

Would someone please think of the refineries?

4

The guy’s a county supervisor. He doesn’t have the authority to ban that particular gun in any other jurisdiction. I guess he just want’s to start small.

Haj

5

You’d be surprised at what these County Councils think they have the power to do locally…

6

That’s OK. I will just start selling .49 caliber sniper rifles there and make a killin’.

7

Those .50 caliber rifles are so big and heavy and the ammo is so expensive.

No wonder people who want them are generally collectors uninterested in doing anything but firing a couple of shells at a target range occasionally.

Criminals (and I’m figuring terrorists too) tend to prefer smaller, lighter, less expensive, easier to steal, easier to get ammo for type of firearms.

8

“OK, Abdul, Muhammed, Ali–tomorrow we shall destroy the pig-dog American refinery by firing a .50 rifle at it–Ali Akbar!!”

“But Yusef, .50 rifles are illegal in that county.”

“DAMN the American infidels!! Ok, lets fire an RPG at it.”

“Ali Akbar!!!”

9

Now, is it just the Barrett M82A1 “Light Fifty” that he seeks to ban, or all .50cal firearms? Cuz I own three (a Barrett M99A1 bolt action, a Grizzly Big Bore Competitor, chambered for the .50BMG, and an IAI Desert Eagle chambered for the .50AE round.) and I’d hate to go out to Cali for a competition or show one day and get busted for my legal holdership of these firearms.

Flang Dang, please stop. I’m laughing so hard I fear wetting myself.

10

Couldn’t the terrorist just set up over on the other side of the county border, and shoot the refineries from there? :slight_smile:

11

Let’s face it, a true sniper could do it with a .30-06 or any other large-game rifle.

Sam

12

I think “Ali Akbar” means something like “Ali is the greatest.” It’s not enough that we have to worry about renegade Shiites and Wahabbi fundies, now we’ve got the McBealites!

13

Fuck you! The second amendment guarantees my right to attack any refinery I wish!! That’s what the Founders wanted!

14

hah! why would they buy your tiny little .49 when I’m selling my extra special .51s?

15

GaWd, bo, are you stating that a .30 cal round is a big bore round? Fuckin’ A. You’ve never been hunting. I’d rather go out with a pistol chambered for the .440 Cor-Bon or .44 Winchester Supermag than a .30-06. More takedown on either of those. The Winchester .308 (NATO 7.62x51mm) has a higher ballistic coefficent than the .30-06, and the .223 Remmington (NATO 5.56x45, M881 Ball) has a higher muzzle velocity and the .338 Lapua Magnum has both an extra eighth inch in diamater and ballistic coefficient. The .30-06 just can’t cut it.

Was bear hunting in Wilkes-Barre Pa two years ago. Carried two weapons (My Barrett M99 and my Desert Eagle.) Shot a bear at 492 meters with the M99, a 522 pound black. One shot, center mass. Took it, cleaned it, ate really well for two weeks :). Anyway, my uncle had a Springfield M1903A4 chambered for the .30-06. Took down a 224 pounder at just under 80 meters. It took him five rounds to take down a smaller bear at a closer range. Yea, the ammo price was about the same, but I’d rather have the punch too.