April 23, 2003

To the Committee on Public Safety

California Assembly

It is with great regret that we hear of yet another attempt to create the deception of a “too powerful for you” class of rifles in California.  It is further unsettling that the exact same “big lie” tactics continue to be used.  It has only been one year since the committee wisely rejected AB 2222 and already this same committee with a few new members is being lobbied, in an effort by the Violence Policy Center, to overturn that decision.  Since the rejection of AB 2222, not one crime has been committed with a .50, and not one of the ridiculous scenariosdramatically presented to you by the originator of all these lies, the Violence Policy Center, has occurred.

In fact during the past year, the VPC released more rhetoric misrepresenting my statements and twisting facts.  They have also refused to retract statements made to your committee, even though some of your fellow assemblymen exposed the deceptive, fabricated research upon which those VPC statements were based.

Point for point the misinformation the VPC dissimilates is more unbelievable than the Iraqi Information Minister.  We found the Information Minister fantastically disingenuous, because his lies were exposed by accurate and timely reporting of reality by news agencies and cameras.  Likewise, the VPC’s information is and always has been easily discredited.  The truthful information on this .50 caliber cartridge is as old as the cartridge itself.  That is why last year, I brought to you U.S. Government Manuals showing the .50 calibers performance specifications, thus laying to rest the lies about “several inches of penetration in steel” and “engaging targets at 7000 yards”.

The VPC’s agenda is not furthered by the truth.  Consequently they continue to resurrect misleading and unsubstantiated statements in an effort to sway the Committee.  Their agenda is about a disappointed few. They can’t accept 30 years of historical data that proves that violence, and now terrorism, are not related to the gun, or to the get-a- way car, or to the box cutter.  And so at last, to stay in business it is the VPC’s only shameful hope to whip up emotions with tales of fear, and imminent doom, and try to get any law passed against any smaller category of firearms.

This is plainly and simply creeping gun bans.  It causes a real distrust between elected officials, and the very rapidly growing numbers of ever loyal, gun owning, law abiding citizens.

I write to encourage you to hold fast to the spirit of liberties upon which our country was successfully founded.  Samuel Adams, during the Massachusetts convention to ratify the constitution in 1788 said, “The said constitution shall be never construed to authorize congress… to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms…”  The meaning of arms was rifles and pistols of the most current and technologically advanced design of the day.  How many of us would have voted to ratify the constitution if this were not so clear?  What if we had been told, “You may remain armed only with old technology, with limited range and feeble power, or even totally disarmed”. Where do you stand; with the statements of Samuel Adams, or with the position of those who seek to take away our constitutional freedom?  With which of those positions does our empowered elected official gain honor and inspire trust, and with which does he build distrust and chip away at our republic? Before you now is the opportunity to defend freedom and our Constitution.

I ask that you reject and rebuke peddlers of this untruthful evidence brought before this good committee, reject AB50, and continue to move meaningful legislation to the Assembly.

At your service,

Ronnie G. Barrett

President

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Barrett Firearms builds quality into every rifle manufactured at its world-headquarters in Murfreesboro.  Many of the Barrett employees are former military, and they know first-hand that the chances are that the products will wind up in the hands of brave American soldiers somewhere in the world.

In addition to quality being built into the manufacturing process, there are over 100 steps in the evolution of the rifle to further assure its quality performance.

One area of the manufacturing process where quality is exemplified is welding.  The welding team performs what is termed “finesse welding” and the tolerances are so demanding that robots could not replicate the process. In fact, a company that excels in robotic manufacturing was asked to bid on doing some welding for Barrett.  When the tolerances were described, the company acknowledged that it could not meet the Barrett quality standards.

Another area at Barrett where quality is synonymous is the assembly department.  Typically in a manufacturing environment, an assembly line allows different technicians to contribute to the process.

At Barrett, in the interest of quality, each rifle is assembled by one technician.  That technician knows the rifle so well, that if it does not look or feel completely right, the problem would be detected immediately.  Each assembly technician must put his stamp of approval on each rifle as others before him have done; all part of the quality procedure.

The post Quality – Custom Built appeared first on Barrett Firearms.

John Bolick, Industrial Engineer & Designer of the vertical barrel lapping machine

Horizontal barrel lapping machines are normally used in rifle manufacturing to smooth out the bore, which increases accuracy. While we have one of those, too… meet Barrett’s vertical barrel lapping machine. I know what you’re thinking, but no, this isn’t a standard horizontal barrel lapping machine turned on end to save space.

One of the more unique pieces of machinery here at Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc., it was built in-house by one of our own for the special purpose of slip-fitting the barrel’s accuracy ring inside the barrel stop of our Model 82A1/M107 rifles. Because of the rifle’s reciprocating barrel, accuracy demands a consistent place for the barrel to return to battery. Before this machine existed, it would take a person repeatedly pushing themselves to exhaustive limits, manually forcing the barrel downward against the recoil springs to seat the accuracy ring.

Now this machine is able to mount four barrels of standard or “CQ” length and is electronically controlled to sense when all components are seated properly and power down automatically – all within a few minutes.

Check out the video to see it in action.

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