Virginia Atty General Bob McDonnell reads Bloomberg the Riot Act (my title)

VCDL Alert ^ | 4/13/2007 | Robert F. McDonnell Atty Genl, VA

[P8riot]

Just in time for next Thursday's "Bloomberg Gun GiveAway," here is a
letter from Attorney General Bob McDonnell to New York City Mayor
Michael Bloomber, telling the Mayor not to run any more unauthorized
stings in Virginia:

http://www.vcdl.org/pdf/AG_McDonnell_letter_to_Bloomberg.pdf

COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
April 13, 2007
Office of the Attorney General
The Honorable Michael Bloomberg
Mayor, City of New York
Municipal Building, One Centre Street
Tenth Floor North
New York, NY 10007

Robert F. McDonnell
Attorney General
900 East Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-2071
FAX 804-786-1991
Virginia Relay Services
800-828-1120
7-1-1

RE: Unauthorized Undercover Firearm Transactions in the Commonwealth
of Virginia

Dear Mayor Bloomberg:

I write you regarding Chapter 509 of the 2007 Virginia Acts of
Assembly, introduced at my request, addressing "simulated straw
purchases" of firearms in the Commonwealth. A copy of the new law is
enclosed herein for your reference. The intent of this legislation is
to prevent unauthorized activity by non-law enforcement personnel to
conduct otherwise illegal firearms purchases. The recent activities
by agents of the City of New York in Virginia brought this issue to
my attention.

As you know, the U.S. Department of Justice recently wrote to you
that such activity is counterproductive to legitimate law enforcement
efforts to police illegal firearm trafficking, and has potential
legal liabilities. Representatives of your Office have apparently
suggested publicly that they may continue such simulated firearm
transactions in Virginia perhaps with a view towards further
litigation.

The new legislation passed this year at my insistence and signed by
Governor Kaine, makes clear that such non-law enforcement activities
related to undercover illegal firearm purchases will be punishable as
a felony in Virginia. While I understand that you are attempting to
take steps that you believe may enhance the public safety of the
citizens of New York City, such laws are Virginia's duty to enforce,
and our outstanding state police take that duty seriously. Virginia
police and prosecutors now have the tools necessary to stop such
unwarranted firearms purchase activity by unauthorized outside
agents, and will faithfully enforce the law when violations are
discovered.

This new Virginia law strikes the proper balance between ensuring
effective law enforcement and protecting the rights of law abiding
firearms dealers and those of Virginia citizens under the Second
Amendment to the United States Constitution. If in the future you
have specific concerns about criminal justice matters in the
Commonwealth, please contact me, the Governor, or the proper
law-enforcement agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting
such conduct. We will be pleased to address any legitimate public
safety concerns that you might raise.

Thanks for your future cooperation.
Robert F. McDonnell
RFM/pdw

Enclosure
cc: The Honorable Timothy M. Kaine
The Honorable Charles P. Rosenberg
The Honorable John L. Brownlee
The Honorable Harvey Bryant
Col. Steven Flaherty

[P8riot]

Our Attorny General spells it out for Bloomberg. Atty General McDonnell will be on O'Reilly tonight.

[Parley Baer]

Hehehehe. Puts Bloomberg in his place.

[Lurker]

The new legislation passed this year at my insistence and signed by Governor Kaine, makes clear that such non-law enforcement activities related to undercover illegal firearm purchases will be punishable as a felony in Virginia

Now toss in a Conspiracy to Commit charge and Bloomberg can get 20 years.

L

[madison10]

Bloomberg and his band of merry men have no business doing gun business in NJ. Why Bloomberg thinks he has that right is beyond understanding.

Good for your AG.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

SLAP!

[geezerwheezer]

Don’t you know that Bloomberg knows best? Who the hell are you to question his wisdom and judgement? (sarcasm in full bloom!)

[rockrr]

That’s gonna leave a mark! Looks like you have an AG actually looking out for ya!

[jonascord]

Like Bloomberg gives a rat's patoot about anything in the Wilds on the far side of the Hudson. This virginia person, from the Sticks, is going to tell the Mayor Of The Most Powerful City In The World what to do? /s

Seriously, do you suppose a Virgina State Trooper is going to walk into Gracie Mansion and serve Da'Mare with a warrant, since the guy giving the orders is just as guilty as the one performing them?

I've only got about 50 years of life left, so it won' be in my lifetime...

[P8riot]

Yeah, he’s one of the good guys. Don’t forget to catch him tonight on O’Reilly.

[P8riot]

There always gotta be one. Virginia isn’t as far in the sticks as you think it is.

[Still Thinking]

Seemed a little wishy washy to me.

[RJL]

letter from Attorney General Bob McDonnell to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomber, telling the Mayor not to run any more unauthorized stings in Virginia:

This is very good, but why is a new law needed?

NYC LEO's and especially hired private eyes, other than instances of hot pursuit, have no law enforcement capabilities outside their jurisdiction, so when they illegally bought guns they were already breaking the current laws.

Maybe NYC Mayor Bloomberg would get a better understanding of this if Virginia sent Troopers into NYC and arrested these "straw man" gun buying criminals and hauled them back into Virginia for prosecution.

[Al Gator]

Bloomie just got spanked.

[Still Thinking]

Zackly. Now, that’s what I’M talking bout.

[Still Thinking]

But I hear he likes that, so it may be counterproductive.

[LiteKeeper]

SSSSSSSSSMACK!!!!!!!!!!

[paulcissa]

It's still professional politics; you just can't fly off the handle and woop-ass on each other. I think the letter is a concise warning to the effect that attempts to do the same thing over will result in felony charges against all involved.

Just imagine if your neighbor came by and maliciously convinced a family member to do something illegal so they could indite you and your family for political gain. I don't know about you, but logic and reason might fail me in that instance. I think the Governor is talking the right position.

[jonascord]

To someone from the City, Virginia is the Edge of the World. (I live out in Oklahoma) These guys heard from a guy in Queens that some family was scalped, last week, out in a Wild West place named Pittsburgh.

[FortWorthPatriot]

Bravo Zulu to your AG! He puts the b*stard in his place.

"I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it."
- Captain Woodrow F. Call, Texas Rangers

[Still Thinking]

Why give them a warning? If they did something illegal, then they, as state actors acting outside their jurisdiction, deserve not one iota of leeway, or a warning. Just think what we, as private citizens, would get.