Posted on 11/17/2004 2:19:43 PM PST by neverdem
Brother of slain city councilman voices support for stricter gun laws
The brother of the Brooklyn city councilman who was shot to death at City Hall last year returned to the scene of the crime yesterday to express support for legislation that would strengthen the city's gun control laws.
His "heart is broken beyond repair" by the shooting of his brother, the late James Davis, and he hopes to prevent similar gun-related tragedies, Geoffrey Davis said.
"These weapons are devastating our communities," said Davis, during a hearing of the City Council's Public Safety Committee. "They're used to kill, steal and destroy the very fabric of our lives."
On July 23, 2003, James Davis was in the balcony of the City Council's chambers in City Hall when he was shot and killed by a political rival. That rival, Othneil Askew, was subsequently shot to death by a plainclothes police officer.
CODE OF CONDUCT
The six measures debated during yesterday's hearing -- held in a meeting room adjacent to Council chambers -- include the creation of a code of conduct to govern the distribution and production of guns, while allowing civilians to sue violaters.
The code of conduct would require gun dealers to abide by responsible sales practices, such as selling only from a storefront location and not in homes or at gun shows. Dealers could sell no more than one gun per customer in any 30-day period, and would be required to maintain records of all sales.
Manufacturers would have to stop supplying weapons to dealers who sell guns to criminals or who otherwise fail to follow the code.
If the bill is enacted, any gun manufacturer or dealer who fails to follow the code could be held liable for injuries or deaths caused by the illegal use of their products.
OFFICIAL RESPONSE
Committee chairman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Queens) said the bill was needed to help crack down on irresponsible gun distributors.
Geoffrey Davis agreed, telling the committee it has to stop "corrupt dealers" from putting guns into the hands of violent criminals.
"Clearly, it is time for a gun industry responsibility act to be established," Davis said.
The city is currently a plaintiff in lawsuit filed against more than 30 firearm manufacturers. The lawsuit, which is expected to go to trial in April, accuses the manufacturers of failing to take adequate steps to make sure their guns aren't sold to criminals.
"Our goal is to force gun manufacturers to adopt responsible practices designed to minimize the risk that their weapons will end up in the illegal firearms market," said John Feinblatt, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's criminal justice coordinator, during his testimony yesterday.
Feinblatt said the Bloomberg administration would not comment on the merits of the bill because any such comments might undermine the city lawsuit against gun manufacturers.
OTHER MEASURES
The administration did express support for three other bills debated yesterday, including one that would ban the bulk sale of rifles and shotguns by limiting gun buyers to the purchase of no more than one rifle or shotgun every 90 days.
The other two bills the administration supports include one increasing the civil penalty for violating the city assault weapons ban and another that would require ammunition dealers to make a record of identifying information for the rifles and shotguns for which ammunition is purchased.
AGAINST 'SMART' GUNS
The administration opposes a bill that would expand the Police Department's ballistics testing responsibilities and another measure aimed at promoting the use of "smart" guns, which can only be fired by an authorized user. Administration officials argue that smart-gun technology is long way from being commercially available and that the city should see how the technology develops before beginning to mandate its use.
City Councilmen James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) and Michael McMahon (D-North Shore) said they were reviewing the six gun control bills and have not come out with any opinions on them. Councilman Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The answer is simple: Murder rates are higher in jurisdictions without shall-issue laws than in strict gun-control jurisdictions. Baltimore and D.C. have some of the strictest gun-control laws in the country; look how well it has worked for them! People will just never learn.
Not one of the above mentioned proposed gun control laws would have saved this man's brother. Talk about knee-jerk reaction......
Maybe all this will fly in the United States of Canada, but they'd be run out of town in Jesusland.
Just looking for another revenue stream.
It's all those eeeeeevil weapons out there doing eeeeevil things. The guy holding the gun is just there for moral support.
Agreed. This is nothing but a James Brady redux - "feel sorry for me and vote in my agenda".
sounds like the next host cities for the Vibe Awards.
In Mahalasville, a gun control ordinance was recently proposed but was defeated after the council decided that the idividual citizen should have the right to determine if he should hold the weapon with both hands or not.
Except when the cops have them, I suppose?
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