HONOLULU -- A battle is brewing between the Honolulu Police Department and the Hawaii Rifle Association over a proposed ban of a high-powered sniper rifle.

KITV's Catherine Cruz reported that the 50-caliber rifle is dubbed the most powerful rifle on the market today, and the HPD said it is their worst nightmare. That is why they said they want it out of civilian hands.

It's a weapon that's long been used by the military and law enforcement, but in most states, a person can buy it over the Internet or from a gun store, which is making law enforcement uneasy.

"There is nothing we have that can withstand this. If you look at an armored car, those things have a half-inch of steel. These can go through 1 inch of steel at a thousand yards," HPD Major Gregory Lefcourt said.

The rifle can fire 10 rounds in 10 seconds, and the bullets can travel for miles, police officials said.

They said that a shot fired from the rooftop at police headquarters could precisely hit a target at the state Capitol, four-tenths of a mile away.

The National Guard calls the weapon a threat to homeland security.

"It does concern us -- shooting down airplanes four miles distances," Hawaii National Guard Gen.Gary Ishikawa said.

The National Rifle Association said that a ban would infringe on the right to bear arms. It argued that the weapon hasn't ever been used in a crime in the islands.

"We haven't had any incidents of robbers at banks or terrorist shooting airplanes -- it just doesn't happen," HRA member Mark Plischke said.

But police said they don't want to wait until then.

They said the proposed ban will die in the judiciary committee if they don't get enough public support for the bill.

The rifles are outlawed for civilian use in California, New Jersey and New York.

The HRA maintained that their members use it for hunting or eradicating goats. Others users of the rifle said they enter long range firing competitions

The rifle is so powerful that it has been banned from the Kokohead Firing Range, range officials said. The rifle is only allowed at military ranges, which are off limits to civilians.

It is also very expensive. One rifle will fetch about $8,000, officials said.

There are 125 registered owners of the high-powered rifle in the state, with 90 owners living on Oahu.