1
For further information, see CRS Report RS22074, Limiting Tort Liability of Gun
Manufacturers and Gun Sellers: Legal Analysis of 109
th
Congress Legislation, by Henry Cohen.
2
26 USC, Chapter 53, §5801 et seq.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Order Code RS22151
May 20, 2005
Long-Range Fifty Caliber Rifles:
Should They Be More Strictly Regulated?
William J. Krouse
Domestic Social Policy Division
Summary
In the 109
th
Congress, legislation has been introduced to more strictly regulate
certain .50 caliber rifles, some of which have been adopted by the U.S. military as sniper
rifles. These rifles are chambered to fire a relatively large round that was originally
designed for the Browning Machine Gun (BMG). Gun control advocates have argued
that these firearms have little sporting, hunting, or recreational purpose. They maintain
that these rifles could be used to shoot down aircraft, rupture pressurized chemical tanks,
or penetrate armored personnel carriers. Gun control opponents counter that these rifles
are expensive, cumbersome and rarely, if ever, used in crime. Furthermore, they
maintain that these rifles were first developed for long-range marksmanship
competitions and, then adopted by the military as sniper rifles. Related amendments
may be offered during Senate-consideration of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in
Arms Act (S. 397).
1
The issue for Congress is whether to regulate these firearms more
stringently based on their destructive potential in a post-9/11 environment. And if
regulation is pursued, what measures seem most effective and appropriate. This report
will be updated as needed.
Legislative Proposals in the 109
th
Congress
In the 109
th
Congress, two proposals have been introduced to more strictly regulate
certain long-range .50 caliber rifles. The Fifty Caliber Sniper Weapons Regulation Act
of 2005 (S. 935), introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein, would amend the National
Firearms Act (NFA)
2
to regulate “.50 caliber sniper weapons” in the same fashion as
short-barreled shotguns and silencers, by levying taxes on the manufacture and transfer
of such firearms and by requiring owner and firearm registration. The other proposal
introduced by Representative James Moran, the 50 Caliber Sniper Rifle Reduction Act
(H.R. 654), would also amend the NFA to include these weapons, but would also amend
