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Posted on 05/15/2006 6:31:05 PM PDT by neverdem
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Mayor Michael Bloomberg is suing 15 out-of-state gun shops that allegedly sold firearms illegally to undercover investigators conducting a sting operation among dealers supplying many of the weapons used in New York City crimes.
The lawsuit, which names gun dealers in Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, asks the court to halt the sales and require close monitoring of sales at those shops. It also seeks some damages and compensation.
The Republican mayor has made gun control a top priority, particularly as it relates to law enforcement, and is scheduled to lobby on the matter this week in Washington, D.C. He declared Monday that the city's new "efforts to stop this bloodshed have to reach across state lines."
The Bloomberg administration's unusual move appears to circumvent the law signed by President Bush last year that gives gun makers and dealers broad protection from civil suits, except in cases where they violate the law.
For the sting operation, the city singled out about 45 dealers based on gun trace data that links weapons sold in those shops to hundreds of shootings and other crimes in New York City from 1994 to 2001.
Private investigators wore hidden cameras and attempted "straw purchases," where one person fills out the legal forms and makes the purchase for someone else. The scam, prohibited by federal law, is typically used by people who cannot own firearms, such as convicted felons.
The city said the undercover investigators entered stores in teams of two, usually a man and a woman. While the woman roamed the store and acted uninterested, the man made all the inquiries about the gun and made it clear he was the buyer. When it came time to make the purchase, the woman would step up to fill out the paperwork.
The majority of dealers refused the sale, Bloomberg said. In a video from one such attempt, the man behind the counter shrugged his shoulders, apologized and said it would be against the law for him to sell to the woman because she was clearly not the intended user.
But the 15 dealers named in the suit allowed the transaction, and Bloomberg called them "the worst of the worst."
"They were either intentionally or negligently selling handguns in a manner that violates federal law," he said.
Five of the dealers named in the suit are located in Georgia, including A-1 Jewelry and Pawn, which authorities say supplied 42 guns used in New York City crimes from 1994 to 2001, including the killing of a Bronx man and a drive-by shooting in Brooklyn.
Owner Earl Drigger said he had cooperated with authorities on a past police sting and believes he has always complied with the law.
"We certainly do everything we can to make sure guns don't leave our store illegally," Driggers said. "I don't know what you're supposed to do. If a guy comes in and meets all the criteria and you comply with the law, I don't know what you do."
In addition to filing the lawsuit, the city is turning over its findings to authorities in the dealers' districts, as well as the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The mayor said authorities already have much of the information at their fingertips, and he accused the federal government of being "asleep at the switch," saying part of the problem is that it isn't pursuing "rogue" gun dealers.
The Department of Justice did not return repeated telephone calls for comment.
Associated Press writer Harry R. Weber contributed to this story from Atlanta.
No case. No federal or state law appears to have been broken. Grandstanding by gun-hating RINO Bloomberg.
Is that what happened?
Wouldn't be surprising at all.
Sounds like Bloomburg's boys were breaking a few laws themselves too. Wonder if the MAyor would be willing to come down here to Virginia to explain just what the he|| he thought he was doing.
No case. No federal or state law appears to have been broken.
I agree. I read another story earlier and guessed that maybe someone attempted to buy the gun but was denied because they were from out of state and then the store owners sold the gun to someone in state though clearly a straw purchase for the out-of-stater. But this does not appear to be what I initially thought it was.
Regardless of how it was done, Bloomberg has no business coming into Georgia, and I presume that's why no criminal charges were filed.
This is typically where I would make some derogatory comment about yankees, but I just don't feel like arguing the point tonight.
There is absolutely no case in Virginia or anywhere else. The local courts will toss this out instantly.
"For all there faults, the current Republican Congress has been pretty good to gun owners; Not renewing the Clinton Gun Ban, Protection of Lawful Commerce Act... still plenty of reasons to turn out the vote against DemocRATs"
Yes, and conversely... all hell will break out if the 'rats regain power. The 2nd Amendment will be urinated on by their laws and democrat "activist" judges.
This is not the first time we've had lawbreaking, rowdy boys from New York's finest down here messing around you know.
As a political side benefit, there's also more than a little bit of South bashing in this campaign, something that always goes over well with a New York audience.
Local ABC radio stated they "bought illegal guns"
How exactly does the Mayor of NYC file charges against a pawnshop in Georgia?? This is incredibly specious. If he has real evidence, he would get the ATF involved and THEY would make the straw purchase and bust any gun dealer who was violating the law. This is purely political grandstanding to avoid dealing with the real problems in NYC which are largest the fault of the liberal socialist party control to which Bloombust is a willing hostage.
Maybe ol' Bloomie would suppose me filing a lawsuit here in Las Vegas against some commodity traders there in NYC because I'm having to pay too much for gas based upon the trading desk inability to understand geo-political events and adding $30 a barrel to crude prices which are unrelated to supply and demand.
Just a lawsuit. Too many lawyers.
"Still, can't we lay a charge on these undercover guys. They conspired to purchase guns in violation of Virginia law. You have to be a resident to get one you know. This is not the first time we've had lawbreaking, rowdy boys from New York's finest down here messing around you know."
More evidence for ABSOLUTELY NO LEGAL CASE! Hell, they might even arrest the NY "witnesses" if they show up in the Old Dominion!
No. Even NYC residents may purchase fireamrs out of NY State. They just cant bring them back into NYC unless they have all of the permits or whatever they issue there.
I know a few people that live in NYC who have houses in the Catskill Mtns of NY. They can purchase guns up in the Catskills by showing the FFL their NYC Drivers ID and doing the background check, however, they must keep the guns at their house in the Catskills... This is what my father does.
Bloomburg better watch flying into Dulles or National. Both airfields are in Virginia (with only a small part of the National terminal actually being in DC).
Bloomburg better watch flying into Dulles or National. Both airfields are in Virginia (with only a small part of the National terminal actually being in DC).
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