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...
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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 ...
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...
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