Schwarzenegger Bans Rifle in Support of Gun Control
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=6234778§ion=news
Tue Sep 14, 2004 03:37 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Breaking with Republican lawmakers who oppose gun control and a Hollywood film career filled with gun play, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill banning .50-caliber BMG rifles, an aide said on Tuesday.
The large-caliber, high-powered rifle is used by the military and police to shoot at long-range targets, including ones more than a mile away. Really, I didn't know that. I don't see the justification to ban the BMG rifle... yet.
Civilian owners of the weapon typically use the rifle at firing-ranges and for big-game hunting, but with armor-piercing ammunition the rifle can penetrate concrete shelters and lightly armored vehicles. You never know when you'll be assaulted by a pesky concrete building. Better to be prepared! But, still no justification for the ban...
Critics of the rifle argue there is no reasonable civilian use for the weapon. They say it could be used by terrorists to shoot at oil refineries and airplanes, or by snipers against people. Gun rights advocates maintain the weapon has not been used in a crime in California. Now we get to the heart of the issue. No harm has actually been brought by anyone in possession of this weapon. It's just a bunch of "critics" who think it "could" be used by terrorists. Well hell, you may as well ban cell phones, computers and the internet, television, and Boeing 747s. We've already seen where they've used all of these items to administer terror on us. Or is that somehow different? Argue your point and justify your position!
Despite his gun-toting film career, Schwarzenegger is in favor of some gun controls, including the 10-year federal ban that expired on Monday on certain semiautomatic firearms known as "assault weapons," said his spokeswoman Terri Carbaugh. If the ban was effective, it would not have expired, period!
"He's committed to keeping the public and law enforcement as safe as possible," said Carbaugh. "This lines up with his philosophy that reasonable gun control measures are necessary to accomplish that objective." There's nothing wrong with wanting to keep people safe, but you must respect ALL people's rights while doing it. Period!
Tue Sep 14, 2004 03:37 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Breaking with Republican lawmakers who oppose gun control and a Hollywood film career filled with gun play, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill banning .50-caliber BMG rifles, an aide said on Tuesday.
The large-caliber, high-powered rifle is used by the military and police to shoot at long-range targets, including ones more than a mile away. Really, I didn't know that. I don't see the justification to ban the BMG rifle... yet.
Civilian owners of the weapon typically use the rifle at firing-ranges and for big-game hunting, but with armor-piercing ammunition the rifle can penetrate concrete shelters and lightly armored vehicles. You never know when you'll be assaulted by a pesky concrete building. Better to be prepared! But, still no justification for the ban...
Critics of the rifle argue there is no reasonable civilian use for the weapon. They say it could be used by terrorists to shoot at oil refineries and airplanes, or by snipers against people. Gun rights advocates maintain the weapon has not been used in a crime in California. Now we get to the heart of the issue. No harm has actually been brought by anyone in possession of this weapon. It's just a bunch of "critics" who think it "could" be used by terrorists. Well hell, you may as well ban cell phones, computers and the internet, television, and Boeing 747s. We've already seen where they've used all of these items to administer terror on us. Or is that somehow different? Argue your point and justify your position!
Despite his gun-toting film career, Schwarzenegger is in favor of some gun controls, including the 10-year federal ban that expired on Monday on certain semiautomatic firearms known as "assault weapons," said his spokeswoman Terri Carbaugh. If the ban was effective, it would not have expired, period!
"He's committed to keeping the public and law enforcement as safe as possible," said Carbaugh. "This lines up with his philosophy that reasonable gun control measures are necessary to accomplish that objective." There's nothing wrong with wanting to keep people safe, but you must respect ALL people's rights while doing it. Period!
posted by Don Bangert | 8:20 PM
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