Author Topic: Washington Sniper Has A Friend In Nra (Read 2603 times)

midnight Target · « **on:** October 11, 2002, 02:35:37 PM »

Typical conservative quote - "If you got nothing to hide, what are you worried about?"

Quote

WASHINGTON SNIPER HAS A FRIEND IN NRA

FORGET HANNIBAL LECTER, the embodiment of evil in its purest form is roaming the Washington, D.C., area right now, killing and wounding adults and children with cold dispatch.

We don't know his name, but we do know this: The mystery sniper who has all of Washington hiding under its covers has an identifiable partner in crime who should be held nearly as responsible for these reprehensible acts as the shooter - the National Rifle Association.

Because of the NRA, police are having a harder time catching this crazy than they should.

Other than a chilling tarot card depicting death and bearing this handwritten message "Dear Policeman: I am God," investigators have found only one other kind of clue to track this monster down: bullet fragments.

Ballistics have long allowed police to link a bullet to a particular gun. So if they ever find this killer and his weapon, they can clearly connect rifle and crime.

But what if you could reverse the process and link a gun to a particular bullet? The technology now exists for every gun's ballistic "fingerprint" to be kept on file. In this way, police could instantly know which specific gun was used in the commission of a crime and track down the owner.

But who has opposed this sensible idea? The NRA. The organization has bullied Congress into refusing to set up a national registry of guns.

A federal program is needed because a piecemeal effort won't be enough. Maryland, where many of these shootings have been committed, requires gun manufacturers to submit ballistic fingerprints of guns sold in the state. But that information is useless if the weapon was purchased in another state, or before the requirement went into effect.

Experts believe the weapon being used is either an assault rifle or a hunting rifle. A hunting rifle, in particular, will be difficult to trace because the NRA has been very effective in keeping any information about hunting rifles away from law enforcement officials.

We're all for privacy, but it's reckless to put privacy of gun ownership above human lives. If the government has a compelling reason to know what car you drive, what home you live in and how much you earn, shouldn't it also know what kind of gun you own?

Nothing will bring back the six lives - or possibly a seventh victim gunned down last night - that have been lost, or spare the pain and terror a 13-year-old felt when he was cut down by a .223 caliber bullet. But maybe this horror in the nation's capital will finally force Congress to ignore the dangerous rhetoric of the NRA.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2002, 02:37:37 PM »

Ohhhh JEEZ, thats reaching....times are desperate for Dems aren't they?

Ripsnort · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2002, 02:38:23 PM »

FYI< CRIMINALS DO NOT REGISTER THEIR WEAPONS. Clear?

Nifty · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2002, 02:40:14 PM »

They really meant to finish with "finally ignore the gobs of liquid cash the NRA throws at Congress, much like every other special interest group that lobbies the Legislature."

Ripsnort · « **Reply #4 on:** October 11, 2002, 02:40:39 PM »

How about this: since the DC area has no CCW laws, or permits allowed, this makes that area MORE VULNERABLE to nut cases like this....in other words, if the public was armed, the chances are the sniper wouldn't take the risk of being shot by any Joe, Dick or Harry that happened to be walking by. Put that in your Kumbuya pipe and smoke it.

Sandman · « **Reply #5 on:** October 11, 2002, 02:45:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
How about this: since the DC area has no CCW laws, or permits allowed, this makes that area MORE VULNERABLE to nut cases like this....in other words, if the public was armed, the chances are the sniper wouldn't take the risk of being shot by any Joe, Dick or Harry that happened to be walking by. Put that in your Kumbuya pipe and smoke it.

If the public is armed it just increases their chances of being killed by police officers while hunting for the real sniper. Go ahead... take your gun into indian country. It won't protect you from the sniper and it'll make you a potential target for the police.

midnight Target · « **Reply #6 on:** October 11, 2002, 02:45:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
How about this: since the DC area has no CCW laws, or permits allowed, this makes that area MORE VULNERABLE to nut cases like this....in other words, if the public was armed, the chances are the sniper wouldn't take the risk of being shot by any Joe, Dick or Harry that happened to be walking by. Put that in your Kumbuya pipe and smoke it.

Kumbuya pipe...LOL I liked that one.

But Rip et-guntoting-al.

If this guy is using an M16 or M14 as reported, the gun and its ballistic signature could have been registered at the factory.

The Police would then have a place to start looking. Makes sense to me. Why would the NRA be opposed to this?

Eagler · « **Reply #7 on:** October 11, 2002, 02:48:48 PM »

But what if you could reverse the process and link a gun to a particular bullet? The technology now exists for every gun's ballistic "fingerprint" to be kept on file. In this way, police could instantly know which specific gun was used in the commission of a crime and track down the owner.

I don't have a problem with this one bit

Problem is it would be a useless waste of time as past the initial owner/buyer, the database would be inaccurate more than not ...

Nash · « **Reply #8 on:** October 11, 2002, 02:49:30 PM »

Yeah... does anyone know why they are opposed to this? Is it out of some kind of principle... a privacy thing... or is there another issue? Cost involved?

What's their take on it?

Ripsnort · « **Reply #9 on:** October 11, 2002, 02:58:38 PM »

Well, 1 in 5 people are FAT in the USA, I think we should start registering spoons, BECAUSE ITS NOT THEIR FAULT, ITS THE SPOONS FAULT!

Sandman · « **Reply #10 on:** October 11, 2002, 03:03:12 PM »

Rip... it's not about blame... it's about tracing a bullet to gun and possibly a shooter. Rather than wave our hands and say there is nothing that can be done, there is something we could do. Unfortunately the NRA opposes it.

Kinda funny... this is one of those instances that Eagler likes. You know... if you've got nothing to hide, you shouldn't be worried.

If you're not planning on committing a crime, why should you care if the government identifies the ballistics characteristics of your weapon?

SC-Sp00k · « **Reply #11 on:** October 11, 2002, 03:03:25 PM »

If everyone didnt have a spoon then there wouldnt be so much obesity tho eh? Or will you argue that they'ed just pick up a fork and forks are more deadly cause their easier to conceal ?

Ripsnort · « **Reply #12 on:** October 11, 2002, 03:06:43 PM »

Sandman, hypothetical situation (which is 95% of what happens in real life with criminals that own guns...)

I steal a gun. How you gonna trace that to me?
Hmm? Huh? Hmmm? Huh?

Ripsnort · « **Reply #13 on:** October 11, 2002, 03:08:32 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman_SBM

If you're not planning on committing a crime, why should you care if the government identifies the ballistics characteristics of your weapon?

Thats not what concerns me, its the beauracracy(sp), taxes collected. No wonder the Left supports this...tax and spend, tax and spend.

Sandman · « **Reply #14 on:** October 11, 2002, 03:09:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Sandman, hypothetical situation (which is 95% of what happens in real life with criminals that own guns...)

I steal a gun. How you gonna trace that to me?
Hmm? Huh? Hmmm? Huh?

Difficult, no doubt. But, at least it gives the police somewhere to start.