.50 caliber sniper rifles were designed as battlefield rifles to destroy aircraft, puncture armor, attack chemical plants and fuel tanks, and to be used for assassination due to the rifle’s astonishing range and firepower. .50 caliber sniper rifles can also fire highly lethal armor piercing and incendiary ammunition, which are currently legal and easily obtained. It was the terrorist threat of .50 caliber sniper rifles that prompted Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign legislation in California to restrict the .50 caliber rifle to military and law enforcement officials only.

The starkest wake-up call to anti-terrorism officials is the admission from Barrett Firearms, the inventor and leading manufacturer of the weapon. A marketing brochure from Barrett Firearms from the late 80’s boasts that jet engines and helicopters "are likely targets for the weapon [50 caliber sniper rifle], making it capable of destroying multi-million dollar aircraft with a single hit delivered to a vital area." The brochure continues: "The cost-effectiveness of the Model 82A1 [.50 caliber sniper rifle] cannot be overemphasized when a round of ammunition purchased for less than $10 can be used to destroy or disable a modern jet aircraft."

"The combination of distance, firepower, and lethal ammunition put .50 caliber sniper rifles in a class of their own," said Andy Pelosi. "It should be the priority of every state lawmaker to protect our residents and families in from the danger posed by these powerful sniper rifles,"

"There are too many airports, too many vulnerable chemical and industrial sites, and too many high profile targets in New York that we must take action now and stop would be terrorists and criminals from getting these weapons before it’s too late. This is about our national security and preventing terrorism, " said Pelosi.