New Terrorist Weapon?
International terrorists and assassins have been eager to add these .50-caliber long-range sniper rifles — which can blast bullets through the air at 4,000 feet a second — to their private arsenals.
     Yet in the United States, there are fewer restrictions on this high-powered weapon than on conventional handguns and thousands have made their way into private hands.
     “It’s only a matter of time before a domestic terrorist uses one,” predicted Tom Diaz of the Violence Policy Center, while testifying today at a hearing organized by Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill.
     Diaz said an expertly trained marksman could use the rifle to hit targets at distances of 7,500 yards — about the distance from the Lincoln Memorial and across the Potomac River to the Pentagon.
     And there’s a variety of armor-piercing ammunition freely available on the open market, according to an ongoing probe by the General Accounting Office.

Used in Gulf War
Weighing between 28 and 60 pounds, the most common model of this rifle, which comes in bolt action and semiautomatic versions, first made its mark in the 1991 Gulf War after proving it could effectively challenge Iraqi vehicles, aircraft and bunkers at long range.
     These unregulated weapons have since been released on the open market and are advertised in newspapers, magazines and on the Web, according to GAO investigators.
     Anyone over age 18 with a clean record can purchase one in the United States. No age restrictions apply for the mere possession of the weapon, which can be bought discreetly at gun shows or on the Web with few questions asked.

Ammo Dealers Ready to Ship
While working undercover as potential buyers, GAO agents found that many dealers urged a quick purchase before Congress decides to ban the weapons.
     Investigators also located ammunition suppliers advertising on the Web.
    After discussing if the bullets could penetrate an armored limousine or “take down a helicopter,” suppliers in Alaska, Nebraska and Oregon seemed ready to sell ammunition over the telephone in a matter of minutes and mail the shipments to Washington.
     Tape recordings of phone conversations reflect little concern for the potential use.
     “I’m going to be using this against, um, you know, something with an armored limousine and something with ballistic glass,” said the agent, after requesting the shipment be made to the nation’s capital.
     “OK,” said the dealer in Nebraska.

Just Another Sporting Gun?
Defending the weapon as a sporting rifle, James A Schmidt II, president of Arizona Ammunition Inc. in Phoenix, cautioned lawmakers about regulating the weapon because “it has not been demonstrated that it is a problem.”
     “It is not an assault rifle, cheap Saturday night special, military surplus, or everyday plinker,” said Schmidt, who is also a director of the 50-Caliber Shooters Association. He added that the gun is “as much a sporting rifle as a .308 Winchester deer rifle,” except that it is much more cumbersome and costly.
     Schmidt also noted that the .50-caliber rifle is just one of many with similar firing ranges are on the market.