RAMPAGE AT THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING (Rudy's Response to Terrorist in 1997: More Gun Control!)

NYTimes via LexisNexis ^ | 02/25/1997 | David Firestone

[Ultra Sonic 007]

About 9 A.M. yesterday, United States Representative Carolyn McCarthy was on her way to Southampton, L.I., for a day off when a call came in from Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's office. Could she turn around and come to City Hall -- right now -- to appear with the Mayor at an 11 o'clock news conference and help make the case that gun control might have prevented the Empire State Building shootings?

[FredHunter08]

“It worked so well it stopped Colin Fergusson, right? One person on that train with a gun could have stopped that slaughter. Just one.”

“Gun control” is not about crime, but about *control*. Areafiftyone seems to be fine with the idea of being *controlled*.

[Smokin' Joe]

You know I give up on you guys. You guys live in a small little bubble.

Well, in my 'bubble' there are fewer residents in an area larger than NYC than you have cops. There are generally three sheriff's deputies patrolling the county, add in a couple of town cops and one or two State Police, any you have the sumtotal of Law Enforcement in the area.

Oh. And add in the thousands of private citizens who are armed, who got their concealed carry permits--just 'cause they wanted one, and who pack a weapon. No 'Dodge City' here, and some of the lowest violent crime in the nation.

I'll take my sparsely populated 'big' bubble over the hive any day. YMMV.

[zarf]

Criminalization of drugs has been a disaster for this country.

[rmlew]

As a New Yorker who campaigned for and voted for Rudy, I agree with you.
People don't understand how liberal he is.

[Redcloak]

I know people who had guns when Rudy was mayor and still have them.

So you're saying that gun control worked in NYC because it was ineffective? Disarming the people worked because they weren't really disarmed?

Supporting a candidate shouldn't require one to become a verbal contortionist. The fact that you're turning yourself into a pretzel is a warning sign that something's amiss.

[beltfed308]

You have no idea what it was like to walk the streets at night or rid a subway where you were so afraid you might get killed.

I think your confused A51. Just because your fellow citizens never fought to exercise self defense rights in such as bad time helped to make you all potential victims. You would rather trust a stranger with a uniform to come to your aid rather than stand up for yourself. In short the citizens of NYC had chosen to live in fear. If your neighbors porch is on fire do you at least try to control it with a garden hose until the FD gets there or just stand and watch until the professionals get there?

[KATIE-O]

“......Sorry but Gun Control worked for NYC whether you like it or not. You didn’t live there during the Dinkins era. You have no idea what it was like to walk the streets at night or rid a subway where you were so afraid you might get killed........”

I can’t imagine living in a city that size if every thug could have legal access to weapons! What a nightmare scenario. Hasn’t the Sullivan Law been a part of NYC culture for many years?? I don’t think Rudy Giuliani invented gun control.

[sig226]

Which of the 1,000 murders committed every year under David Dinkins were committed by people with legal guns? The guy that shot up the Empire State Building was breaking the law when he brought the gun into New York City. Think about it.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

The laws have been in place for long before Rudy was mayor. All Rudy did, was actually enforce the laws for a change, which is what he is so well known for. Doing what needs to be done to fix the situation.

On one hand, many here condemn Rudy for doing what they condemn the other politicians of for not doing. It falls under the correct definition for hypocrisy.

And on the other hand, when we need a President who is not afraid to enforce the laws Rudy is condemned for taking action and achieving results. It just doesn’t make sense.

[sig226]

"To purchase a gun in the state of New York you have to give your full name, your date of birth, your residence, your occupation. You have to prove that you're a United States citizen, you have to show you are of good character, competency and integrity. And you have to demonstrate a real need for the weapon."

This statement is typical Giuliani in that is pure BS. If you want a carry permit in New York City, you must demonstrate a need (the standard is illegal, BTW.) If you go upstate, the carry permit is much easier to obtain. Applicants typically list hunting, fishing, hiking, target shooting as reasons for the permit.

In New York City, most of the handgun permits extant are known as 'Premises Permits.' This permit allows the person to keep a handgun at a licensed premises like a home or business. The owner can take the gun to a range for target practice on certain days specified on the permit. The owner may be able to take the handgun target shooting on the 14th and the 27th, for example. I am not making that up.

Giuliani is delusional if he thinks Kamal couldn't get a handgun if he lived in New York City. He could have bought an illegal one, or he could have done what Colin Ferguson did - spend a month and several thousand dollars to travel to California - to get the pistol he used to shoot up the Long Island Rail Road.

[KATIE-O]

“......The laws have been in place for long before Rudy was mayor. All Rudy did, was actually enforce the laws for a change, which is what he is so well known for. Doing what needs to be done to fix the situation..........”

Thanks! It does seem a tad hypocritical for so-called “law and order people” to be bashing Rudy for enforcing laws on the books for decades.

[TampaDude]

“Criminalization of drugs has been a disaster for this country.”

I agree 100%.