Posted on 07/13/2007 11:37:29 AM PDT by neverdem
WASHINGTON - Mayor Michael Bloom- berg's aides threatened to run negative ads against House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey if pro-gun legislation opposed by the mayor was passed in that committee, Obey claimed yesterday. The mayor's office denied the charge.
Speaking during a committee session, Obey (D-Wis.) said Bloomberg aides told his staff that TV ads painting him as anti-law enforcement would be run in his district if the provision, known as the Tiahrt Amendment, restricting police use of federal gun checks, was passed.
"The Mayor's staff came into my office, and rather than discuss the merits, they simply did what so many bullies do ... they threatened to run ads in my district if I didn't bow to their wishes," Obey said according to a transcript provided by his staff.
Obey also took issue with the National Rifle Association, saying the organization didn't endorse him despite his votes against gun control legislation.
"I don't react very well to bullying, and I don't react very well to threats," he said. "I wish I could find a way to vote against both sides of this issue."
The Tiahrt amendment was included in the bill, which passed the committee by voice vote. Obey voted for the bill, his office said.
Bloomberg is co-chairman of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group of 225 mayors, and lobbied against the amendment Tuesday in Washington.
ProtectPolice.org, a media campaign of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, lists districts of nine representatives and two senators, both Republican and Democrat, in which an anti-amendment ad runs. The ads are paid for by supporters of the organization, Bloomberg's office said.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
The Congressman from Ground Zero
Moonbats are back to showing their true colors again!
I’ll get rid of my guns when they get rid of theirs............
bump
You may want to consult with your comrade John F'n Kerry.
I wonder if Obey was cleaver enough to secretly record the conversation of Bloomberg’’s thugs while they were in his office? I wonder if Obey has guts enough to bluff that he did, even if he didn’t? Sure would be fun to watch old Bloomers squirm.
As more reasonable people, regardless of party affiliation, realize what the midget fascist billionaire is doing, we’ll see more responses like this.
“July 7, 2007
VIA FACSIMILE and U.S. MAIL
Hon. Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor of the City of New York
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Re: Resignation from Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Dear Mayor Bloomberg,
Upon careful review of your statements and actions, listening to the concerns of many of my constituents and receiving communications from and speaking with Fraternal Order of Police, officials at the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearm industry’s trade association, I hereby, effective immediately, resign my membership in the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition (MAIG).
I joined your coalition because of its purported purpose to combat the criminal acquisition and misuse of guns, which is a goal shared by all Americans. Regrettably, it has become abundantly clear to me that you are using this coalition of mayors to advance a hidden agenda of
bringing lawsuits against members of the firearms industry and spreading anti-gun propaganda.
It is simply unconscionable that this coalition, under your leadership, would call for a repeal of the Shelby /Tiahrt amendment that helps to safeguard criminal investigations and the lives of law enforcement officers, witnesses and others by restricting access to firearms trace data solely to law enforcement. How anyone, least of all a public
official, could be willing to sacrifice such a law enforcement lifeline in order to gain an edge in suing an industry they have political differences with is repugnant to me. The fact that your campaign against this protective language consisted of overheated rhetoric, deception and falsehoods is disturbing. In a recent editorial entitled
“Setting the Record Straight,” ATF Acting Director Sullivan repudiated your long-held mantra that the current legislation forbids law enforcement from sharing trace data. In clearing up this mistruth, Acting Director Sullivan stated, “Let me be clear: neither the
congressional language nor ATF rules prohibit the sharing of trace data with law enforcement conducting criminal investigations, or place any restrictions on the sharing of trace data with other jurisdictions once it is in the hands of state or local law enforcement.”
According to ATF and the Department of Justice, your actions in having civilian private investigators conduct clandestine sting operations against federally licensed firearms dealers, without the knowledge of ATF or your own police department, actually interfered with ongoing
criminal investigations, putting the lives of law enforcement officers and others at risk. The Department of Justice warned you to refrain from these actions because such efforts could “interrupt or jeopardize ongoing investigations.” In response, your Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler
stated that the operations would not necessarily stop. I do not want the blood of a police officer on my hands so that you can advance your anti-gun litigation campaign. I prefer instead to support the Fraternal Order of Police, a group that opposes your coalition’s efforts to gain access to gun trace data for use in civil lawsuits. If a federally
licensed firearms dealer is engaged in criminal activities it is the job of law enforcement, chiefly ATF which works closely with state and local law enforcement agencies to investigate and arrest those that would abuse their license for criminal purposes. Instead of supporting ATF I have learned recently that you and your criminal justice coordinator John Feinblatt have repeatedly insulted the Bureau, saying it was “asleep at the switch” and that “ATF does not take its mission seriously.” I will not be associated with such inappropriate behavior.
While re-examining my participation in MAIG I learned of several instances, all well documented, in which you actually rebuffed the efforts of the firearms industry a community that has repeatedly shown its willingness to work with federal, state and local authorities on programs to curb criminal access of guns. This is indeed disconcerting. Perhaps if you had allowed NSSF to address the coalition we would have learned about some of their proven programs. One such program, called Don’t Lie for the Other Guy, seems to be a productive and legal way of working with firearms retailers to better educate them about recognizing would-be straw purchasers. The program, done in conjunction with ATF, also has a public relations component that warns residents in targeted areas of the severe penalties associated with straw purchasing firearms.
Mayor Bloomberg, I can only hope that you will see my departure and the recent departure of other mayors from your coalition as a sign that things must change. We are all on the same side when it comes to stopping criminals from getting guns. Where you lose me is in your true
quest to end lawful firearms ownership and destroy a lawful American industry.
Sincerely yours,
Harry Moore
Mayor, Oldmans Township, N.J.”
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Bloomberg and his ilk want to CONFISCATE all guns in private hands.
Period.
The purpose of this piece of legislation was to get him this information.
PS—In Bloomie’s world, ALL GUNS WHATSOEVER are “illegal”. Period.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
No freedom in the NYC beehive, not even a basic concept of freedom.
Did Bloomy learn that from Rudy?
Of course his definition of illegal guns is all guns not in the hands of agents of the city, state, or federal government.
Not to mention being Federal Felony crimes, that is attempted "straw purchases", among other things.
You bastid sumbitches.
Thanks for the text. Here’s a URL for it.
http://www.nssf.org/news/PR_idx.cfm?PRloc=common/PR/&PR=Moore_Letter_070707.cfm
“...when they get rid of theirs...”
Funny how they always avoid that solution. As a sign of good faith—they can go first.
BS pure and simple. Police needing information on a criminal case will be able to access any information.
The Tiahrt Amendment prevents anti-gun politicians like Bloomberg from going on fishing expeditions. That's why he hates it so much.
Thanks for the great site.
No sh!t, Sherlock
Doesn’t take a bloody rocket scientist to figure that out.
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