Gun enthusiasts were relieved yesterday when the state House Judiciary Committee fell short of a quorum to move a bill that would have banned .50-caliber Browning machine gun rifles and cartridges.

Earlier this month, the committee deferred the bill. But committee leaders agreed to try to round up votes after the Honolulu Police Department said it was a priority on its agenda. A committee hearing yesterday did not attract enough lawmakers for a quorum, so the bill could not go forward.

A similar bill in the state Senate has also failed to move as the deadline for bills to cross over between chambers approaches next week. Lawmakers said the idea is essentially dead for the session.

"It's just another firearm," said Maxwell Cooper, the legislative co-chair of the Hawai'i Rifle Association. "People want to ban fur coats and Hummers, I guess. This is similar. It's still a free country."

The HPD purchased four of the high-powered rifles to help deal with suspects who might use vehicles as weapons or in other volatile situations. Police have argued that the weapons are not useful for recreational target shooting and hunting, and that they could pose a threat to civil aviation.

"I think it's more of a potential thing," said HPD Maj. Gregory Lefcourt. "You'd hate to wait for something to happen."

Gun enthusiasts have said the weapons are used for target shooting and that the threat to civil aviation is remote.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.