Posted on 03/14/2008 4:16:31 PM PDT by neverdem
A Democratic senator from New Jersey, Robert Menendez, introduced a bill late last night that would strike the Tiahrt amendment, a piece of gun legislation staunchly opposed by Mayor Bloomberg's anti-gun coalition.
The introduction of the bill, called the Firearms Information Use Act of 2008, is prompting lobbyists for the gun industry to once again fight to protect the amendment.
"Of course the NRA opposes the bill. We feel like the Tiahrt amendment is there for a reason and Congress intended that trace information be available for law enforcement in bonafide criminal investigations," a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, Rachel Parsons, said."
Named after Rep. Todd Tiahrt, a Republican of Kansas, the law was introduced in 2003. It restricts municipalities from viewing firearm trace data kept by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, a constraint that supporters say prevents politicians from filing frivolous civil lawsuits against gun dealers.
Mayor Bloomberg, who contends that the amendment restricts law enforcement personnel from getting data that could help them shut down crooked gun dealers, today applauded the new bill and the lawmakers backing it, a group that includes Mr. Menendez, who introduced the bill, and senators Clinton and Schumer, who have both supported similar legislation in the past.
"This bill would erase the soft-on-crime Tiahrt restrictions from federal law," Mr. Bloomberg said in an emailed statement. "This bill is exactly what criminals are afraid of: police officers with better information and leads."
Lawmakers and lobbyists that back the Tiahrt Amendment say it not only stops politicians and activists from filing frivolous lawsuits against gun dealers, but also protects the identities of members of law enforcement.
"Public release of gun trace data jeopardizes criminal investigations and places the lives of law enforcement officers, witnesses and others at risk," the director of public...
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
McCain and the GOP should be saying, “Thank you, great timing”!
And President Bush was in personal meetings today with Bloomberg in Manhattan. No doubt this bill was brought up in conversation.
Very little doubt as to where President Bush falls on this bill.
>> Very little doubt as to where President Bush falls on this bill.
Please enlighten me as to where you think President Bush falls on this bill.
In New York, "law" depends on what the meaning of "is", is.
If you don't believe me, just ask former NY top "law" man, Eliot Spitzer...
Where are the AMERICANS in this issue?
LOL...for that matter, where are the heterosexuals on this issue?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.