Ronnie Barrett on a 50 Caliber Ban

[oofogbp 3]

This is an old letter but, with bills being introduced in NJ it seems relevant.

I got to say I have a lot of respect for Ronnie and i hope a similar letter makes its way to our legislature and all the way up to the federal level.

 

 

March 14, 2008

 

Chief Boisse Correa

Honolulu Police Department

801 South Beretania Street

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

 

Dear Chief Correa:

 

I am Ronnie Barrett, President of Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc. In 1982, I invented a rifle and started producing it in my gravel-floor garage. Through hard work and financial risk, my company has grown into a brand that is known around the world for its products and services.

 

What began for me as a personal sport shooting rifle has evolved into one that is used by many sportsmen throughout the country, the United States military, law enforcement agencies and by nearly 50 American allied countries around the world.

 

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, like all U.S. small arms defense contractors, has a combination of civilian, police and government defense sales in order to sustain its business life. This is the only way we can stand ready when products are needed in both peacetime and during war.

 

Simply put, the small arms defense industry in America would not survive if not for commercial sales, which are a significant part of our business. Unless the government is ready to bring back its manufacturing arsenals that were finally closed in 1968, it needs to guard and protect the privately-owned businesses that provide these essential products.

 

The act of a governmental entity banning commercial sales of legal firearms, such as my .50 caliber rifle, not only violates the basic principles of the United States Constitution, but also puts national security at risk by ending the delicate balance between the government and the private sector. Furthermore, it sets a precedent that endangers the future of other vital defense contractors.

 

How important is this particular rifle? In 2004, the United States Army named the Barrett M107 Rifle as one of the Top 10 Greatest Inventions for helping our brave service men and women do their jobs. The free enterprise system allowed me, a civilian sportsman and manufacturer, to perfect that rifle and get it into the hands of those who use it to defend freedom.

 

I am, of course, aware that you are receiving exaggerated and untrue information that is originating from the Violence Policy Center. For many years The VPC has claimed an urgent need to ban powerful rifles by predicting some attack will soon happen that would result in preposterous destruction. Well, as much as they promote the attack idea, they don’t happen, as this is not the type of weapon our enemies are using against us.

VPC’s call for urgent action is in hopes that no time will be spent in factual research that easily reveals the irrationality of these exaggerated claims. All of these tactics have failed to work in Washington, D.C. Now, the VPC’s plan is to continue this deception at the state level.

 

I was in law enforcement myself for several years. There is something that bothers me, and I believe it should bother you as a police official. Sir, your general testimony and statements must be based on factual evidence. All police work in this great nation must be firmly grounded in facts, collected evidence, and the solid truth.

 

Throughout history, when police work was contaminated with innuendos, fabrications and fear tactics, the society was doomed. Now, I must ask you how many murders can you report that were committed in your jurisdiction with a .50-caliber rifle? How many robberies? How many .50-caliber rifles have you found at crime scenes? The answers should be the true facts; anything else is the destroyer of our society, our great republic.

 

It is the law. Barrett Firearms Manufacturing cannot sell our products to those who break the law even though the officials responsible may not yet be indicted. Barrett will not support a state or local government that is obviously in violation of the United States Constitution thereby jeopardizing the safety and security of its citizens.

 

Be aware there are more companies that will respect this position. If Hawaii or any state bans the sale of the .50-caliber rifle, we will immediately stop the sale and service of all Barrett products to that state’s government agencies. We will also welcome all small arms manufacturers to take the same action.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ronnie G. Barrett

President

[BlueLineFish 615]

From what I understand any dealer who sells Barrett also has to sign a letter stating they won't sell Barrett products to any one Barrett won't directly sell too

[oofogbp 3]

From what I understand any dealer who sells Barrett also has to sign a letter stating they won't sell Barrett products to any one Barrett won't directly sell too

 

 

Thats awesome.

If only all manufacturers followed suit and would refuse sale to state or government entities that banned their firearms.

[NorthJersey 1]

If the day comes when I can't buy what I want in .50 BMG, I'll thumb my nose at the Man and buy a rifle in .416 Barrett.

[n4p226r 105]

Doesn't the nypd have a bunch of Barrett 50s?

[Wojo 98]

NYPD has tactical nukes...but no 20 oz sodas in their vending machines at HQ.

[djg0770 481]

Coming soon, the Barrett model FU-NJ in 49 Barrett, a new cartridge...

[Pizza Bob 1,488]

This isn't the first time that they have tried to get a .50 caliber ban passed in this state. Here's a letter I wrote in response to an article about same, written in 2008...

 

Re: Pressure Grows for Gun Bill (Legislature’s choice portrayed as sanity vs. paranoia)

 

By George Amick

Times of Trenton 11/17/2008, as shown on NJ.Com

 

Since you raise the specter of sanity in the sub-heading of your article I’d like to begin my response with a quotation from Albert Einstein. Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Under this definition Assemblyman Gusciora and Bryan Miller definitely qualify as insane. With 20,000+ gun laws on the books, using their reasoning we should be crime-free. Sadly, that just is not the case, hence my reference to insanity. I simply fail to understand how any law that only impinges on the rights of the law abiding will have any impact on the acts of criminals. Criminals, by definition, do not obey the law.

 

While your article implies that the proposed revision (A2116) applies to only the .50 BMG caliber, and the rifles chambered for same, what you fail to divulge is that in reality it is a blanket prohibition of all modern .50 caliber (or larger) weapons. This would include a plethora of other rifle and handgun cartridges. There is nothing magical about a projectile that measures half an inch in diameter and to try to define a “destructive device” by such criteria makes no logical sense.

 

Your article further implies that .50 BMG weapons are the weapons of choice of terrorists (well I’m sure passing this law would prevent that from ever happening), please tell us how many times terrorists, nay criminals, have used the .50 BMG in pursuit of their criminal activities in NJ – no make that the country. If the problem requires legislation it must be rampant. I’m sure those gang-bangers and terrorists are just lining up to fork over the $3000 to $10,000 (ea) that it takes to acquire these weapons (and that is on the legitimate market – I’m sure obtaining one through criminal channels would exact a further premium).

 

Your reference to these weapons having “no legitimate hunting purpose” just further illustrates your ignorance of the legitimate firearm culture. I don’t recall the second amendment making any reference to “hunting”, nor are all firearms owners hunters. Many pursue various competitive disciplines or simply enjoy time spent at the range improving their skills. If you want to go down the “hunting” road, then I’ll grant you that you’d be hard-pressed to find game of suitable size to be taken with the .50 BMG cartridge, but as I pointed out earlier, this bill targets ALL .50 caliber weapons, some of which the raison d’etre is hunting.

 

You accuse us of being paranoid. Is it any wonder when travesties such as this bill further oppress law-abiding citizens, while doing nothing to remedy this state’s crime problem? This is nothing more than the “elephant’s trunk in the tent”. If they are going to use illogical criteria, such as this, as a means of gun control, what’s next, a ban of any gun that’s green in color? It makes about as much sense. If you want to have an impact on crime in this state, then encourage the legislature to pass bill A1282 – I guarantee that you would see a reduction in crime, because the inverse of Einstein’s quote means sanity must be defined as doing the same thing over and over again and getting the same result. 37 other states with statutes based on legislation similar to A1282 have statistics that bear this out. We don’t need gun control, we need crime control and the ability to defend ourselves.

 

Sincerely,

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

[oofogbp 3]

Great letter Pizza Bob.

 

If they start banning 50 it's only a matter of time before its another type of ammo on the chopping block.

[NorthJersey 1]

Great letter Pizza Bob.

 

If they start banning 50 it's only a matter of time before its another type of ammo on the chopping block.

 

Excellent letter. The last ban introduced would have impacted all the C&R stuff, correct? I bought my BFR in response to that bill.

 

Coming soon, the Barrett model FU-NJ in 49 Barrett, a new cartridge...

 

Hey, California got its own Barrett caliber, why not us, right?

[njpilot 671]

 

Hey, California got its own Barrett caliber, why not us, right?

 

Yes and Barrett will no longer sell or service Police owned Barretts in CA.

[MrSurfboard 1]

Thats awesome.

If only all manufacturers followed suit and would refuse sale to state or government entities that banned their firearms.

 

Wouldn't work, there would always be some company who would play ball.

[oofogbp 3]

Wouldn't work, there would always be some company who would play ball.

 

Yea i know... wishful thinking.

[incinerator950 0]

This isn't the first time that they have tried to get a .50 caliber ban passed in this state. Here's a letter I wrote in response to an article about same, written in 2008...

 

Re: Pressure Grows for Gun Bill (Legislature’s choice portrayed as sanity vs. paranoia)

 

By George Amick

Times of Trenton 11/17/2008, as shown on NJ.Com

 

Since you raise the specter of sanity in the sub-heading of your article I’d like to begin my response with a quotation from Albert Einstein. Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Under this definition Assemblyman Gusciora and Bryan Miller definitely qualify as insane. With 20,000+ gun laws on the books, using their reasoning we should be crime-free. Sadly, that just is not the case, hence my reference to insanity. I simply fail to understand how any law that only impinges on the rights of the law abiding will have any impact on the acts of criminals. Criminals, by definition, do not obey the law.

 

While your article implies that the proposed revision (A2116) applies to only the .50 BMG caliber, and the rifles chambered for same, what you fail to divulge is that in reality it is a blanket prohibition of all modern .50 caliber (or larger) weapons. This would include a plethora of other rifle and handgun cartridges. There is nothing magical about a projectile that measures half an inch in diameter and to try to define a “destructive device” by such criteria makes no logical sense.

 

Your article further implies that .50 BMG weapons are the weapons of choice of terrorists (well I’m sure passing this law would prevent that from ever happening), please tell us how many times terrorists, nay criminals, have used the .50 BMG in pursuit of their criminal activities in NJ – no make that the country. If the problem requires legislation it must be rampant. I’m sure those gang-bangers and terrorists are just lining up to fork over the $3000 to $10,000 (ea) that it takes to acquire these weapons (and that is on the legitimate market – I’m sure obtaining one through criminal channels would exact a further premium).

 

Your reference to these weapons having “no legitimate hunting purpose” just further illustrates your ignorance of the legitimate firearm culture. I don’t recall the second amendment making any reference to “hunting”, nor are all firearms owners hunters. Many pursue various competitive disciplines or simply enjoy time spent at the range improving their skills. If you want to go down the “hunting” road, then I’ll grant you that you’d be hard-pressed to find game of suitable size to be taken with the .50 BMG cartridge, but as I pointed out earlier, this bill targets ALL .50 caliber weapons, some of which the raison d’etre is hunting.

 

You accuse us of being paranoid. Is it any wonder when travesties such as this bill further oppress law-abiding citizens, while doing nothing to remedy this state’s crime problem? This is nothing more than the “elephant’s trunk in the tent”. If they are going to use illogical criteria, such as this, as a means of gun control, what’s next, a ban of any gun that’s green in color? It makes about as much sense. If you want to have an impact on crime in this state, then encourage the legislature to pass bill A1282 – I guarantee that you would see a reduction in crime, because the inverse of Einstein’s quote means sanity must be defined as doing the same thing over and over again and getting the same result. 37 other states with statutes based on legislation similar to A1282 have statistics that bear this out. We don’t need gun control, we need crime control and the ability to defend ourselves.

 

Sincerely,

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

 

May I use this as an example elsewhere?

[Pizza Bob 1,488]

May I use this as an example elsewhere?

 

Sure - feel free.

[incinerator950 0]

Thanks, it's the kind of material I want to keep handy if I get into an argument.

[NorthJersey 1]

The folks pushing this nonsense the first time were trying to convince people that Barrett is capable of bringing down a 747.

[NorthJersey 1]

Perhaps Mark Wahlberg could do this with a raufoss round?

 

 

 

Granted, that's a B-17 and not a 747 . . .

[NorthJersey 1]

[johnp 45]

 

You do know marky mark is anti-gun, right?

[Maksim 1,504]

Biggest point to consider, the 50 cal bill currently up for debate explicitly excludes hunting shotguns and muzzle loaders.... so I am afraid it is just the gun owners that are against this.... we cannot count on those hunters who just don't care.

[Wojo 98]

When idiots talk about a 50 BMG bringing down a plane, ask them if they ever saw any of the WWII movies where dozens of heavy machine guns mounted on ships or ground mounted AA batteries try to shoot down a plane. How many tracers do you see...multiply that times 10 and think about many planes get shot down per rounds shot?

 

Ask them if they can shoot skeet from 100 yards away...

[NorthJersey 1]

You do know marky mark is anti-gun, right?

 

What do his security guards carry, pool noodles? I highlighted him as the epitome of Hollywood firearms nonsense in the movie Sniper.

 

When idiots talk about a 50 BMG bringing down a plane, ask them if they ever saw any of the WWII movies where dozens of heavy machine guns mounted on ships or ground mounted AA batteries try to shoot down a plane. How many tracers do you see...multiply that times 10 and think about many planes get shot down per rounds shot?

 

Ask them if they can shoot skeet from 100 yards away...

 

Yeah, if you could actually make the one-in-a-million shot and hit a 747, you would be unlikely to have any effect at all.

 

[NorthJersey 1]

Oh yeah, that picture six posts back is a 1930's technology B-17 after being hit with an airburst round from something like this 88mm AA Gun (.50 BMG is under 13mm):

 

 

 

and it stil managed to return and land!

[oofogbp 3]

Biggest point to consider, the 50 cal bill currently up for debate explicitly excludes hunting shotguns and muzzle loaders.... so I am afraid it is just the gun owners that are against this.... we cannot count on those hunters who just don't care.

 

Yea this is what worries me, the bill might be ignored by most gun owners because it doesn't apply to them.

[Wojo 98]

Yea this is what worries me, the bill might be ignored by most gun owners because it doesn't apply to them.

 

That apathy is what got us into the mess.

[msokad 3]

If they pass the 50 caliber ban, are they going to grandfather existing 50 caliber gun owners or will they have to sell?

 

I just purchased a S&W 500 and hope I don't have to get sell it.

[Scrap 4]

The sky is going to fall, didn't you guys see, at the Trenton buyback THEY GOT A ROCKET LAUNCHER!!!! (At one point identified by one of the foolish enforcement types, a prosecutor rep claiming to be a "Detective" or something" an Anti-tank rocket launcher weapon like those used in Iraq).

 

Thankfully albeit too ltitle, too late, too logically, it was identified as, you know, a single use thing, like , you know, a relic- a wall hanger display. You can buy them from Cheaper than Dirt etc to put in your Man Room etc. etc.

 

Except we paid him cash money for his old one. Top Dollar ,too, cause its considered an illegal assault weapon lol.

[02gixxersix 0]

That's awesome and I hope other manufacturers will follow their lead. How many criminals can afford .50 rifles? THey are not a threat. And the .338 Lapua is just as effective, as is the .308 really in most situations. Stupid legislation.

[Pizza Bob 1,488]

The sky is going to fall, didn't you guys see, at the Trenton buyback THEY GOT A ROCKET LAUNCHER!!!! (At one point identified by one of the foolish enforcement types, a prosecutor rep claiming to be a "Detective" or something" an Anti-tank rocket launcher weapon like those used in Iraq).

 

That was at a Seattle, WA buyback, not Trenton.