I see the term Sniper Rifle mentioned fairly frequently in this discussion, and I find myself curious re that term.
While I no longer compete in either long range rifle shooting or National Match Coursse Competition, I did both for many years.
I started with a Garand, which was the U.S. Service Rifle in WW2 and Korea. Shot everything from 200 through and including 1000 yards with this rifle. I pretty much wore it out, and traded it off on a bolt gun, Model 70 Winchester Standard Target Rifle. Both fired the 30-06 round.
While the Model 70 had scope blocks on it, I usually shot with "iron sights", the scope destroyed the balance of the rifle, I thought. Given that a telescopic sight can be mounted on most bolt action rifles, as well as some level action types and pump actions too, does that make them Sniper Rifles? I would think not, but then I do not worship at the Brady shrine.
At the risk of repeating myself, the ultimate and often stated goals of our anti gun friends are, THE TOTAL PROSCRIPTION OF FIREARMS. Now and then they try to parse the phraseology, but if you look at their past utterances, their stated goals are there to be plainly seen. Readers need to keep that fact in mind.
As for all those AK-47's and other, so called assault rifles, respecting such rifles that are readily available in normal commercial channels, your local gun shop, or even the local gun show, none of the items there sold make the grade as assault rifles, for none have the defining characteristic, SELECTIVE FIRE CAPABILITY. The next time you hear some blow hard political type venting on the subject, when they pause for breath, ask about or mention that aspect of the story, then observe their reaction. It might be amusing.
In conclusion, never forget the following. Outfits like The Brady Group realy are out to "degun" the law abiding. I say the law abiding because criminals simply do not obey the law, strange isn't it?
