Ok the Guy stuck in Iraq's Turn:
First this is Scary to think that ANYONE would base legislation on a study put out by the Violence Policy Institute, esp one as shot thru with holes and double speak as the study/ essay about the terrorist threat of .50 cal rifles. First to buy Firearms leagally you MUST be a US citizen of good standing (no felony convictions, or no Lautenburg Act violations (domestic violence) **OR** have a clearance from the U.S.A. Goverment that gives (or in some cases strongly requests) the sale of certine weapons to approved countries. So the Idea that the .50 cal manufactures are flooding the market overseas is pure bull.
Why would anyone want a .50 BMG rifle? why not they are a blast to shoot, and the challange of putting that BIG bullet into the bullseye at 2000 meters is a hoot. Seriously though there are several legitimate reasons, long range compitition, the 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms (some people take it VERY seriously), and Hunting (yes I said hunting, some states have allowed hunting with these large rifles, New Mexico is or was one of them, and I have heard of animals such as elk being harvested at over 1500m with them. Now I personally don't own one.. YET, but once I get one it will mostly be a disply peice, but I will be using it every chance I get for long range compitition.
As to why this law from Califonia (or as some call it Commiefornia) affects us is that often what happens in the political hotbed of CA moves to Washinton DC later, so don't be surprised when you hear about a simular or the exact same bill being introduced in the senate or congress in the next year or two. Also this affects us because many of the people in Arizona now days are from other states, and califronia prolly has the highest percentage of transplants. Which means what goes on there can happen in Az too, do to the large amount of Commiefornication that has been happening to the western US.
BTW I was born in northern Commiefornia, lucky for me though it was in a rural area that still believed in personal freedoms. So before any fellow californians get all huffy, remmber I'm one myself.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Hey, in that case, why don't I own a fully functional T-72? Or a Hornet? Ok, i'll tell you. It's because it has no purpose in civilian lives! It's the same as a .50 cal rifle. Do you REALLY need one? If it's just for collection, I'm sure you can go out and obtain a de-militarized rifle.
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You actually can own these Items if you have the money for it, they aren't cheap. I remember reading about a guy that bought one of the Mig-25's from the Russians after the collapse of the USSR, he wanted a high proformance jet in his collection of aircraft. What he didn't expect was the mig to arrive in boxes with armament also! Yes he did the right thing and reported it, and had the munitions destroyed, but he had all the leagal paperwork to own it all, due to his importation license. Most privately owned tanks and military vehicles have the weapons demilled to save them from having to have Destructive Device permits, but there is a few around that are still in "Mint" working condition.