Wonder if Bloomberg will join Menino on a 7 day waiting period for litebrites!
Posted on 02/01/2007 8:41:34 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
Mayors Against Illegal Guns swells its ranks
By CAROL DeMARE, Staff writer Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Wednesday, January 31, 2007
The coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns got a boost last week with 31 more mayors joining the bipartisan group -- bringing the total to 154.
Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, a member, said at the top of the organization's agenda is lobbying Congress to oppose what are known as the Tiahrt Amendments.
The amendments are riders, attached to Department of Justice appropriations bills for the last four years without a floor vote or full debate, that "limit how police and other city law enforcement authorities can access and use ATF (U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) gun-trace data, which is a vitally important tool in combating illegal gun trafficking," according to a coalition news release. "Asking law enforcement to combat gun crime with these restrictions in place is asking them to fight crime with one hand behind their backs."
Jennings said Tuesday, "One of our biggest challenges is stopping the illegal flow of handguns into our communities ... preventing criminals from getting illegal handguns and using them. Sixty percent of illegal handguns in this country are sold by 1 percent of legal gun dealers, and that information is something we can't access because of restrictions in federal law."
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino are co-chairmen of the coalition -- which had its initial meeting last April and is comprised of mayors from 44 states and the District of Columbia.
The mayors met in Washington, D.C., last week for the 75th Winter Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors, and while there the coalition held what it calls a national summit on illegal guns.
"We are not trying to take away legal guns," Jennings said. "But it's an issue of life and death and law and order, and it's a bipartisan coalition, Democrats, Republicans and Independents."
Motorcycle cops Veteran Albany Police Officer Pat Fox has been re-elected to his second two-year term as international secretary of the Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, the largest police fraternal bikers' club in the world, with 20,000 members in 28 countries.
Fox has 35 years on the force and is assigned to the Traffic Safety Division. Ballots were opened for officers in Bangor, Maine, where the organization for active and retired members of law enforcement was founded in 1974. Seven police officers in that part of the country "got together and decided they wanted to start a motorcycle club of police officers and promote a better image," Fox said.
There was a need to change the perception that those who rode motorcycles were members of gangs, he said. The organizers "never imagined it would take off as it did, and we would have 20,000 members today," he said.
In addition to promoting a better image, the club focuses on motorcycle safety and philanthropy. Since its founding, the organization has donated more than $8.5 million to charities, Fox said.
There are chapters throughout the United States and in Canada, Australia, Germany, England, France, Italy, Poland and numerous other European countries.
Now, the Blue Knights have a first -- a new member in Japan. The story goes that a Japanese police officer was on a cruise and met Blue Knights from the state of Washington. They told him about the club and the Japanese cop became a member at large. He planned to start a chapter when he returned home, which would make Japan the 29th country, Fox said. Trooper benefit An event to benefit the New York State Trooper Foundation -- "A Night of Winter Magic" -- is set for Monday, Feb. 19, at Tuscan's Grill on Route 9, Clifton Park. The evening begins with a 6:30 p.m. cocktail hour and includes a full-course dinner.
Entertainment will be provided by magician Sean Robinson. The cost is $50 per person, and reservations must be paid for by Feb. 15. For information, call 785-1002.
Time to head over to the local sporting goods store to buy some additional ammo.
That is good, I'm against illegal guns too.
Now, on to more pressing matters...
They're for illegal guns, they want as many guns now in civilian hands declared illegal as possible.
I don't know anything about Mayor Jennings. I do know that too many people want to make all guns in the hands of citizens illegal therefore making the above statement true. These groups are usually influenced by those who have already taken whatever measures they could to outlaw all guns. When we hear strong statements from these groups upholding the right of citizens to own firearms I'll believe that they have some noble purpose.
Its a shakedown, pure and simple. They want to collect "damages" from gun stores, gun makers, etc, to put them out of business.
When all these mayors are for getting rid of illegals out of their town, and put a stop to sanctuary laws, and deport any illegal gang member, then maybe I will listen.
But don't count on them taking away the illegal's rights to be in their towns and use their illegal guns against legal citizens! Can't have that, oh noooo.
Everyone should have at least two to clean, drive the car, do the shopping, do the gardening, babysit, vote for them.
BLOAT
What does the Blue Knights Motorcycle Gang have to do with Mayors against Illegal Guns?
Now, just for an intellectual exercise, go back up to the article and substitute "drugs" for "guns".
Wonder if the "hizzoners" will ever get serious about the real cause of most of their crimes, rather than guns?
They want the data for civil suits, pure and simple.
Since guns are legal under the 2nd amendment I've never met an illegal gun. Now, since state and local authorities have taken upon themselves to unconstitutionally restrict the 2nd amendment they may consider some guns "illegal" in either configuration or whom they are posessed by but definition is dubious in the former instance and arbitrary in the latter. The controversy is self inflicted.
Yep. Time to get some more SVT ammo (formerly known as Black Talon) before it becomes illegal.
AGAIN.
Wonder if Bloomberg will join Menino on a 7 day waiting period for litebrites!
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