ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS PROPOSE BAN ON .50 CALIBER RIFLES

February 28, 2005--Perhaps inspired by CNN and CBS's segments on .50 caliber rifles, or perhaps emboldened by California's recent ban on those rifles, Illinois lawmakers have proposed a ban on .50 caliber rifles in the state.

Legislation introduced by state Democrat Representative Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook and Republican Representative Beth Coulson of Glenview would ban the further possession of the rifles. Similar legislation passed in California in September of 2004 (see 9/14/2004 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Ban On .50 Caliber Guns, Ammunition ).

Referring to the rifles as "sniper rifles," and claiming that the rifles are capable of bringing down airliners from 2,000 feet away, anti-gun legislators are apparently trying to seize momentum provided by sensational news stories. Those stories have often been fed to the media by the Brady Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, the Violence Policy Center, and other gun-control groups.

Lost in the emotionally-driven debate are a few facts: no person in the US has ever been killed with a .50 caliber rifle, nor has any aircraft in the US has ever been shot down with one of these rifles.

Further, proponents of such bans should look at the history of military aircraft: through most of the last century, and continuing into this century, military aircraft have been equipped with multiple .50 caliber, belt-fed machine guns. Yet, as any veteran fighter pilot would attest, downing an enemy aircraft with a couple of hits from a .50 caliber gun isn't a likely scenario.

While the .50 BMG is indeed a formidable cartridge, anti-gun forces have grossly exaggerated its potential as a destructive device. Those who advocate banning the cartridge have claimed that it can disable tanks from miles away, penetrate armored limousines from across town, or even blow up nuclear reactors, which are designed to withstand the impact of a missile.

Not content to let facts stand in the way, Thom Mannard of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence told the Chicago Sun Times: "It is hard to imagine how anyone could be against preventing .50-caliber sniper rifles from falling into the wrong hands."

In an apparent attempt to appease those who hunt with muzzleloaders, the proposed legislation would exempt black powder rifles and other "recreational guns" that fire projectiles more than .50" in diameter.

Ironically, one of the most popular manufacturers of .50 caliber rifles--Armalite--is located in Geneseo, Illinois.

 

 

   
 

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