TN’s new official state rifle is so powerful

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   Stacie Lposted 8 years ago

   Tennessee’s new official state rifle is so powerful it can 'destroy commercial aircraft'
   http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tennes … li=BBnbfcL
   
   The Barrett .50 caliber rifle is a powerful gun. Originally designed for military use, its rounds can "penetrate light armor, down helicopters, destroy commercial aircraft, and blast through rail cars," according to a report from the Violence Policy Center, a gun safety group. The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence describes .50 caliber rifles like the Barrett as "among the most destructive weapons legally available to civilians in the United States."
   Why do they need an official gun and why so powerful?

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      Credence2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      That sounds a lot like military ordinance to me. How can such a weapon be available to civilians as this goes far beyond self defense? I would like to hear from the 'gun people' as to whether they believe that they should be able to buy and possess  a weapon of such tremendous destructive power.

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         wildernessposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         First, it isn't such "tremendous destructive power".  It doesn't take much to bring down a commercial aircraft; a single bullet into the air intake during takeoff or landing should do the trick.  And the Barrett isn't going to shoot far enough up to hit one at normal cruising altitude.
         
         As far as killing people, most hunting rifles are at nearly as deadly as the Barrett.  It will have a little longer range, but is far too large to be of much use outside or target shooting or a bunker type standoff.
         
         I will add that self defense has nothing to do with the right to own and bear arms.  Whether that is the intended purpose or not is irrelevant to any question of why people have the right to have a gun.

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            wrenchBiscuitposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            Just like you mentioned across town earlier, it's no more dangerous than those lethal "hands and feet" that have been killing white folks, black folks, Pacific Islanders, and Chinamen for thousands of years.

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               wildernessposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               Well, true - it isn't the gun or tool that kills, but the person pulling the trigger.  And in close combat those trained hands will be far more lethal than a huge iron club.  Of course, at a 1/4 mile distance the odds would seem to favor a gun.
               
               Guess it's all relative and dependent on circumstance, isn't it?

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   colorfuloneposted 8 years ago

   That's a mighty big gun.

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   ahorsebackposted 8 years ago

   The Barret *  rifle , like so many "assault " rifles is but one more target  adapted from military style weapons .        A sling shot can bring down a helicopter ,  or a presentation pointer laser  for that matter .   It is an impressive weapon  though and is really but one more   bolt action rifle available to civilians.
   
   
   George Washington's rifle could do all the above  if properly used .

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      colorfuloneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      As a libertarian, George Washington did great things with guns.
      That's a beauty!

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   junksellerposted 8 years ago

   A Lamborghini isn't really that fast. Pretty much like any other car really...
   
   I will at least give you guys credit for making such dopey statements with straight faces.

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