Given the large number of lies that anti-gun
groups have told over the years, we hesitate to say that this is the
most dishonest and deceptive thing we have ever heard from them. But
what the Brady Campaign is saying about Fabrique Nationale`s Model
"Five seveN" pistol is among the most dishonest and deceptive to
date.
The "Five seveN" is a conventional semi-automatic
pistol designed to fire various types of ammunition in Fabrique
Nationale`s (FN) new caliber, 5.7x28mm. As required under federal
law,1 only non-armor-penetrating types of 5.7mm ammunition
are imported for sale to the public, however. One such type
(designated SS196) is loaded with the Hornady V-MAX ("Varmint"-Max)
varmint bullet. Some ranchers, who would otherwise carry a rifle for
varmint control, have taken to the "Five seveN," which is easier to
carry when working in the field. A hollowpoint bullet round (SS192)
was imported initially, but FN has discontinued it in favor of the
V-MAX round.
There is nothing special about the "Five seveN."
It is a semi-automatic pistol, just like millions of other
semi-automatic pistols. BATFE has determined that it is "particularly
suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes," and has
approved its importation. There is also nothing special about the
5.7mm ammunition being sold to the public. V-MAX bullets, introduced
in 1996, are used in nine other popular calibers. BATFE has examined
the V-MAX round and determined that it is "not armor piercing
ammunition." (Emphasis in the original.)2
However, Brady Campaign (formerly Handgun Control)
claims that the "Five seveN" should be banned, further claiming that
FN`s website says that "Kevlar helmets and vests . . . will be
penetrated" with the pistol.3
Brady Campaign is lying. FN`s website makes that
statement only with regard to "Five-seveN pistols and
SS190 round"4 (Emphases in the original.) In
boldface type, FN clearly specifies that its statement applies to
only the SS190 variety of 5.7mm ammunition, which under federal law
is not legal to manufacture or import for sale to the
public.
Brady Campaign also claims to have used the pistol
to defeat a police vest thrown over a bale of hay. No conclusions
should be drawn from this stunt, of course. It was not conducted
according to rigorous test procedures approved by the U.S. Department
of Justice, nor supervised or observed by a neutral party. Also, two
important factors-the type and condition of the vest Brady Campaign
used, and the type of ammunition used-are uncertain.
Notes:
1. "Armor piercing ammunition" is restricted under
18 USC 922(a)(7).
2. www.atf.gov/firearms/firearmstech/fabriquen.htm
3. www.bradycampaign.org/ (Brady website
frontpage, Feb. 17, 2005.)
4. www.fnherstal.com/html/Index.htm |
