[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18720]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 COMMON SENSE ON FIFTY CALIBER WEAPONS

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, long-range fifty caliber sniper weapons are 
among the most powerful firearms legally available. According to a 
rifle catalogue cited in a 1999 report by minority staff on the House 
Government Reform committee, one manufacturer touted his product's 
ability to ``wreck several million dollars' worth of jet aircraft with 
one or two dollars' worth of cartridge.'' Some fifty caliber ammunition 
is even capable of piercing several inches of metal or exploding on 
impact.
  These weapons are not only powerful, but they're accurate. According 
to the Government Reform staff report, the most common fifty caliber 
weapon can accurately hit targets a mile away and can inflict damage to 
targets more than four miles away.
  Despite these facts, long-range fifty caliber weapons are less 
regulated than handguns. Buyers must simply be 18 years old and submit 
to a Federal background check. In addition, there is no Federal minimum 
age for possessing a fifty caliber weapon and no regulation on second-
hand sales.
  Given the facts on fifty caliber weapons, I'm pleased that Senator 
Feinstein has introduced a bill, which I have cosponsored, that would 
change the way they're regulated. Senator Feinstein's bill would ensure 
that fifty caliber weapons could only be legally purchased though 
licensed dealers. Her bill would also ensure that they could not be 
purchased second-hand. Buyers would have to fill out license transfer 
applications with the ATF, supply fingerprints and submit to a detailed 
FBI criminal background check. By any measure Senator Feinstein's bill 
makes sense and I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring the 
bill.

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