“Unless you are out trying to kill Godzilla there’s no need for this type of weapon in an urban environment,” police Chief William Bratton said at a news conference as he held up a .50-caliber bullet, easily longer than a finger.

That should have been, “Of course they are changing the subject…”

Of course they are subject from what we claim. We claim the .50 is (almost) never used as a criminal tool. They claim it if was owned by a criminal then we are lying and banning the .50 is justified. I guess the .50 is a bad influence on people.the mere ownership can cause them to do bad things.

I think there was one actual crime committed with a .50 BMG in the last 30 years. IIRC a deputy in Colorado (???) trying to protect an ex-wife or girlfriend of the perp. The deputy was killed and the prep took his own life. There was a .50 present but it wasn’t entirely clear if it was actually used or if it was another rifle used killed the deputy. Since the perp was dead it didn’t really matter at the time.

At least that is the way I remember it. If it’s really important I could probably find the details.

1. I think I read of a shooting that occurred where a guy had a Barret in the back of his truck. One possible meaning of “with” thus allows the (misleading) statement that the crime was committed with such a rifle.

2. Aren’t there rumors of Mexican gangs using .50 guns?

3. I have a hard time imagining any ganbanger having an AR-15 in .50 Beowulf, but has this happened? Along the same lines, have we had any recent black powder rifle crimes?

They finally repealed this silliness in Illinois about hidden compartments.