Posted on 03/29/2006 7:35:21 PM PST by neverdem
WASHINGTON, March 28 —Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg bluntly told a Congressional panel on Tuesday that a "god-awful piece of legislation" before the House of Representatives would cripple the city's ability to combat gun trafficking and "result in the shooting deaths of innocent people."
The mayor's testimony, before members of the House Judiciary Committee, was unusual not only for its vivid language, but also because Mr. Bloomberg, a Republican, was testifying at the request of the Democratic minority on the panel. The mayor has made taking on the gun industry a central theme of his second term, and has repeatedly used his bully pulpit to draw national attention to the issue.
The bill in question would prohibit disclosure of any records from a national gun-trace database in civil lawsuits and allow the records to be released only "in a bona fide criminal investigation or prosecution." The data, maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, includes the sales history of guns that law...
--snip--
As a result of the lawsuit, the city has received gun-trace data from 1998 to 2003, but it has been unable to get more recent records because of four amendments that have been inserted into yearly appropriations bills since 2003. The bill, introduced on March 16 by Representative Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican, would essentially make the amendments permanent.
Mr. Bloomberg told the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security that illegal guns were used in 300 of the 540 homicides in the city last year, and that 82 percent of the guns used in crimes in the city were bought outside the state. He also cited a 2000 report showing that 57.4 percent of firearms traced by law enforcement to gun dealers in 1998 were sold by 1.2 percent of licensed retailers and pawnbrokers.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES LANDMARK REPORT ON GUN INDUSTRY AND BOLD ACTIONS TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING President Clinton today, joined by Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, will release a new report from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) that provides the most comprehensive overview ever of the firearms industry. The President will also announce landmark regulatory actions that ATF will take to bolster enforcement efforts, and focus on problem dealers, in order to prevent the diversion of firearms from into the hands of criminals. One of the report's key findings is that 1.2 percent of gun dealers account for 57 percent of the total number of crime gun traces. With this evidence in hand, the President will announce several executive actions to help crack down on problem dealers and halt illegal firearms trafficking.
GROUNDBREAKING REPORT ON FIREARMS INDUSTRY. Today, the President will announce the first annual report on Commerce in Firearms in the United States. The report provides never-before released data on the gun industry and ATF’s enforcement of the nation’s firearms laws. Some of the report’s key findings include:
One Percent of Gun Dealers Account for 57 percent of Crime Gun Traces. The majority (57.4 percent) of firearms traced by law enforcement to gun dealers active in 1998 were sold by 1,020 (1.2 percent) of the 83,272 licensed retail dealers and pawnbrokers. Each of these dealers and pawnbrokers had 10 or more crime guns traced back to them, and 132 of these dealers had 50 or more crime guns traced.
Handguns Account for Nearly Half of All New Gun Sales – About 2 Million Per Year. Fifty years ago, handguns represented only one out of every 10 new gun sales. Now they account for more than four out of 10. Handguns are the weapons of choice in the commission of gun crimes; two-thirds of all homicides are committed with hand guns.
Industry Impacted by Stricter Laws. The number of licensed firearms manufacturers, importers, distributors, dealers and collectors peaked at 284,000 in 1994 and has declined to 104,000 today. This decline followed implementation of stricter manufacturer and dealer licensing requirements set forth in the 1993 Brady Act and the 1994 Crime Act. Domestic product shipments in 1997 were valued at about $1.2 billion.
TAKING EXECUTIVE ACTION TO HALT ILLEGAL GUN TRAFFICKING. As part of his strategy to reduce gun violence, the President today will announce new enforcement actions that the ATF will take to focus on problem gun dealers in order to prevent guns from entering into the illegal firearms market. While the vast majority of gun dealers are law-abiding businesspeople who recognize the importance of helping law enforcement identify gun criminals, today’s report shows the need to focus resources on the relatively small number of dealers and pawnbrokers who are the source of most of the traced crime guns. With these new actions, ATF will target enforcement and inspection resources on those dealers who have high numbers of crime gun traces, whose guns quickly turn up in crimes after sale, and who have a poor record of cooperation with law enforcement. These actions include:
Inspecting Disproportionate Sources of Crime Guns. While many gun dealers linked to large numbers of crime guns may be in full compliance with the law, the quick or frequent diversion of guns to illegal markets from those dealers is cause for serious concern. Accordingly, the ATF will conduct focused inspections of the 1,000 gun dealers who had 10 or more crime guns traced to them in 1999. ATF will also require the 450 current dealers that had 10 or more crime guns traced to them with a "time-to-crime" of less than three years from the original sale to provide ATF with information on all used guns offered for sale. This will enable ATF to trace used guns if they are later used in crime. Strong enforcement action will be taken against dealers found to be violating the law. At the same time, ATF will also work closely with law-abiding gun dealers to develop new procedures to prevent illegal trafficking.
Targeting Uncooperative Dealers. Some dealers fail to respond promptly to ATF crime gun trace requests, or keep poor records, severely eroding the ability of law enforcement to apprehend and prosecute gun criminals. In response, ATF will conduct focused inspections of the 50 dealers with the worst response records, and will issue demand letters requiring them to regularly submit all firearms acquisition and disposition records.
Focusing on Stolen Firearms. In FY 1999, 1,290 crime guns were traced back to licensed gun dealers (federal firearms licensees, or FFLs) who claimed that the firearms were shipped but never received. To enhance reporting of theft or loss, and to better track stolen and missing firearms, ATF will propose a new rule requiring all FFLs to conduct regular inventories and report discrepancies to ATF. ATF will publish a second rule requiring FFLs who ship firearms to report any firearms lost or stolen in transit within 48 hours.
Helping the Industry Increase Accountability. To help manufacturers and importers to monitor the distribution of their firearms and learn whether particular models are frequently used in crime, ATF will provide to manufacturers, upon request, a list by serial number of firearms they sold that were traced as crime guns during the previous year.
FIGHTING FOR PASSAGE OF COMMON SENSE GUN LEGISLATION AND THE MOST AGGRESSIVE FIREARMS ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE IN HISTORY. The President today will also highlight additional proposals to keep guns out of the wrong hands. In his State of the Union Address, President Clinton called for state-based licensing for all handgun purchasers to ensure that all buyers are eligible to possess a firearm and know how to safely handle and store their gun. In addition, the President has proposed an unprecedented $280 million gun enforcement initiative to hire 500 new ATF agents and inspectors, over 1,000 new federal, state and local gun prosecutors, and fund comprehensive crime gun tracing and increased ballistics testing to catch and prosecute more gun criminals. The President’s budget also includes $10 million to support research in "smart gun" technologies that can limit a gun's use to its authorized owner. Finally, the President will emphasize again that it is long past time for Congress to pass common-sense gun measures to close the gun show loophole, ban the importation of large capacity ammunition clips, and require child safety locks.
Commerce in Firearms in the United States February 2000 pdf format
I always thought Bloomberg was a homosexual. This is beginning to make sense.
IBTP!
Bloomberg must be powerfully afraid of his constituients! --Can't trust 'em--no sir, can't trust 'em at all!
???
I call bull crap.
If this POS is a republican, then I'm the King of Siam.
He ain't even a decent damn RINO.
Bring back Rudi.
Now there was a freekin' MAYOR. Not like this candy-@ss weenie.
Check comment# 1. Folks have asked about the source of the numbers Bloomy is using. I found it, IMHO. No, I haven't read the pdf. These other links are from the NY Daily News. They're intended mostly for folks on my NY list.
'I've been to too many police officers' funerals' Gun bill 'coddles' crooks, roars furious Bloomy
If only he was exciting. The guy is a bore. NYC doesn't toleate bores.
ROFL!!!
His viewpoint doesn't count west of the Hudson.
"Accordingly, the ATF will conduct focused inspections of the 1,000 gun dealers who had 10 or more crime guns traced to them in 1999. ATF will also require the 450 current dealers that had 10 or more crime guns traced to them with a "time-to-crime" of less than three years from the original sale to provide ATF with information on all used guns offered for sale."
They jacked it up to 3 years to doctor the numbers.
"Bring back Rudi."
"Now there was a freekin' MAYOR. Not like this candy-@ss weenie."
Rudy Giuliani is a gun grabber too.
They are not illegal guns, they are undocumented hardware.
tell it to the S&W, Mikey. (stinkin' RINO...)
Could some NY FReepers please help me out by answering a few questions?
1.) Has everyone in NYC gone insane?
2.) Does everyone in NYC act, think and behave like Hillary Clinton and Bloomberg?
3.) Has everyone in NYC forgotten 9/11?
I really would appreciate some reassuring words, I'm really beginning to wonder. Right after 9/11 I felt such empathy towards you folks, esp. firefighers, police, good ol' tough Irish, Italian stock, told it like it is, the kind you can count on in a fight, but in the last couple of YEARS I dunno...
Many people in NYC know who the American Idol is but not much else. (a NYCer)
1.) Has everyone in NYC gone insane?
Short wise-ass answer: No, just those with common sense. Longer serious answer: NYC has changed in a dramatic way over the past few years. Not only is 9/11 still very much a spectre in the city, but there is also big money at risk now. It's a boom town and the prevailing feeling is "get some while the getting is good."
2.) Politics in NYC is secondary to business. It always has been. However, President Bush is so hated that political qualifications can consist of little more than "Bush hating."
3.)Nobody has forgotten 9/11. Many of us are reminded of it daily.
Bonus: 4.) Guns aren't a factor in NYC. They are neither part of the culture nor the culture of those raised in the city. The vast majority of folks simply don't own guns and have no particular desire to own one. For Bloomberg to come out against guns is like him coming out against Chicken Fried Steak.
Throw this POS rino out of our party, we don't need him. Can we just cut NYC off from the rest of the landmass and let it drift out to sea?
Where did you grow up, and when were you born?
I'm still growing up, though in advancing years. From the city...
You forgot to answer when you were born. Let me guess? You're a lady who never went to a range, let alone the West Side Rifle & Pistol Club at 20 W. 20th St. in Manhattan.
But to answer what I think is your question -- guns really aren't a part of the city's cultural make-up. They are eschewed by a large portion of the city's residents. The range down by Wall Street basically closed up for lack of business. Holland&Holland and Beretta both have showrooms that cater to the "carriage trade," but aren't what you would call bustling. And, there are a few dealers (aside from those catering to NYPD) tucked away on some second and third story shops on Madison Avenue or out in Queens, Brooklyn, etc.
Although there are a bunch of folks out in Brooklyn/Queens who hunt regularly, there isn't the same emphasis on firearms in NYC as there is in Texas or even Pennyslvania. That is to say, you won't find guns displayed in a livingroom or den. They are more than likely to be tucked away in a basement or closet. The few exceptions to this, of course, are the high end collectors who invest several million in their antique arsenals.
I went to the range downtown when it was open. didn't care for it. don't care for the West Side range, either.
Yeah, right! He's as bad on guns as Bloomberg.
Man, you city folks is weird. Most of y'all probably don't own no bass boat neither. :-)
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
That's true, but we can all name 397 different varieties of cheese.
In before the ping.
Bloomburg is an obnoxious little New York pansey who is no more a Republican than an illegal invader is an immigrant.
Of course, retired LEOs and political contributors can get a concealed weapons permit, while serfs are denied. Another good reason to live in Connecticut.
C'mon, the guy hit on a "safe" issue that doesn't seem to have a chance of going anywhere.
Why waste time with this issue? Why not address the fact that the R train continues to operate at peak capacity, yet TAKES FOREVER to show up at 59th street in Brooklyn going south? Why not address the fact that there are too many damn sushi restaurants, even in Brooklyn. Why not address the fact that Arabs and Mexicans should be banned from making pizza, yadda, yadda, yadda...
PIZZA BY PISANOS ONLY!
My take on this thing is that he feels the city is running reasonably well and wants a 'BIG ISSUE' he can trot out a couple times a year. The PBA likes it, the Upper West Side likes it, everything he needs to know is on a single sheet of paper. And, best of all, there doesn't need to be any movement on the issue.
In any event, look to see me back in town around April 27th. You will likely pass me by not knowing who I am...
They's only two, silly: yella cheese and that cheese what got the holes in it.
Ha! Welcome back then...
BTW, you're the second guy I know who complained about the declining quality of the pizza. Frankly, I haven't noticed, but something may be going on...
Actually, there still is great pizza in New York, as long as you avoid the delis, the chains, and any place that sells "pizza and chicken."
See, you'd never pass the mandatory NYC entrance exam...better study up.
http://shop.zabars.com/on/demandware.store/WFS/Zabar-ZabarStorefront-Site/
http://www.deandeluca.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/store/framescat.d2w/report
I'm not a pizza snob. I don't even like (Gasp!) John's that much. Famous Rays, Original Famous Rays, Ray's Original Famous, Rays Famous Original etc. etc. etc. etc. are good enough for me.
Bloomberg really is a RINO, specifically. He ran on the Republican ticket because 1) he couldn't make it through the Dem selection process, and 2) he was far more palatable to the Republicans than the complete nutjobs the Dems were putting forward.
When it comes to guns, if Bloomin' Idiot is for it, I'm against it. If he's against it, I'm for it.
And for those who worship Guiliani, he's a gun-grabbing RINO as well. A pox on both their houses.
You didn't hear about this?
He was just as much of a gun-grabber as this current homo.
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