Posted on 02/03/2011 4:31:41 AM PST by marktwain
Arizona officials are pretty miffed that those city slickers in Mayor Bloomberg's administration hired private investigators to illegally purchase guns at a Phoenix gun show last week. Undercover video showed investigators at the Crossroads of the West gun show easily buying Glocks like the kind used by Jared Loughner in the Tuscon massacrea loophole in federal gun laws allowed them to buy the guns without a background check, but two gun vendors illegally sold guns to "buyers" who confessed that they probably wouldn't pass a background check. The probe was a chilling reminder of how easy it is to get your hands on semi-automatic weapons, but Arizona officials think Bloomberg should just mind his own beeswax.
Arizonas attorney general Tom Horne is hurt that Bloomberg's office didn't notify local police about the probe. And he took the opportunity to do a little trash-talking about NYC:
Local law enforcement and the Arizona Department of Public Safety were never notified that Mayor Bloombergs operation was being undertaken. That is standard professional courtesy and is also designed to protect the general public. Arizona law enforcement should have been made aware that people posing as criminal elements were in fact undercover officers. The fact that no such notification was made indicates this so-called sting is nothing less than a public relations stunt.
I would suggest that Mayor Bloomberg consider the skyrocketing crime rate in New York City before he asks any more of his citys police to leave town on these p.r. missions. According to the most recent FBI statistics, violent crime in New York City increased significantly in 2010 compared to data from 2009. Robbery went up 3.9 percent, forcible rape rose 13.9 percent, aggravated assault increased 8.8 percent and murder rose 12.3 percent. Clearly, the good men and women of the New York City Police Department have more pressing crimes to investigate than alleged violations at a gun show 2,400 miles away.
Ooh, Bloomberg's going to remember that when he's President! In the meantime, an aide to the Mayor tells City Room that 90 percent of the guns recovered in crimes in New York City come from out of state, so Bloomberg has every reason to be concerned about easy gun purchases elsewhere. And maybe if Mr. Horne did his job, we wouldn't have to schlep all the way out to Arizona to make him look bad! Arizona Governor Jan Brewer also dismissed the investigation, telling reporters, "We believe our laws are fair and just in the state of Arizona."
And Bloomberg appeared on Rachel Maddow's show last night to talk about how he has, in her words, "shown some political leadership" on the issueunlike a certain someone who might not win a second term if Bloomberg has anything to say about it:
What Bloomie should be made to do is live in one of NYC’s highest crime areas, in public housing with absolutely NO bodyguards [police, private hires, etc], no limo [just public transport] and no personal guns [handguns, shotguns or rifles]. Then let’s see what he thinks of gun ownership.
If it is a loophole, then it is not illegal. People use the word loophole constantly (and incorrectly) to define exemptions written into a law.
IMHO, if I were a gun show operator, I wouldn’t let private individuals set up tables to sell their private guns. These people give the whole gun show industry a bad name.
Also, it is my opinion that many of these individuals are actually unlicensed gun dealers breaking existing law. I have seen the same people year after year selling (and trading) their “personal” guns at my local gun show. At some point, you stop being just an individual selling his personal guns and become a gun dealer.
An individual has the absolute right to sell his private property, but it doesn’t have to happen at a gun show.
Just my 2 cents
I’ll admit I didn’t read the entire article. But did these undercovers buy from a private seller or a gun dealer?
If they bought from a private seller at the gun show, just like on the street or at a friends house, you are not required to do background checks on private sells. What’s the big deal here.
Bunch of jackwagons.
So did Bloomberg, and he can't claim the benefit of being unaware - although "knowing it is against the law" is NOT a requirement in order to be found guilty of these particular federal criminal statutes.
There damn well better be indictment, or else the law plays favorites, and is worthy of nothing better than contempt.
The deal is that the private investigators, and the person who hired them to undertake illegal purchases, conspired to and did break federal law.
The seller did nothing wrong, it is the buyer (and the person who hired them) who perpetrated a felony.
Technically, the title is too long. It should be:
“Arizona Contemptuous of Bloomberg”
It doesn't really matter because their agenda is complete and total gun control for law abiding citizens.
IMHO, if I were a gun show operator, I wouldnt let private individuals set up tables to sell their private guns. These people give the whole gun show industry a bad name.
Good luck marketing gun shows with your anti-freedom stand.
Thank you for your opinion. Are you talking about the freedom to sell guns to felons, gang members and crazy people? This happens on the streets now and always will. Why bring this activity into a legitimate gun show? Since individuals can't do background checks, he has no idea if his buyer is one of these types of people. Personally, I never sell any of my guns to people I don't know, or a person that someone I trust can't vouch for.
In a perfect world with perfect freedom, I agree with you. But you know that this so called loophole is how the anti-gunners will shut down gun shows.
Just as a gun show operator should be able to control who sells guns at his event, you also have the right to boycott it.
Every gun show I've been to (in Virginia) has been clearly posted 'No Private Sales'. I think that may not apply to old Civil War pistols, because I've seen them in cases with other CW relics at tables without an FFL placard, but I personally wouldn't dare fire one without having a gunsmith inspect it carefully first.
This pocket Napoleon is one of the more arrogant little dictators in American History.
He and his buddies Schumer, Lautenberg, Menendez, and KIrstin Gillibrand are public enemies and menaces to the Republic.
In Gillibrand and Bloomberg’s case, even their sexuality is questionable. I noticed Gillibrand has apparently eschewed her sexpot image used when she ran for office for a Ellen Degeneris style hairstyle.
Agreed. Every story I’ve seen on this so far obfuscates that part. The double speak and contortions are sickening.
I was under the impression that non-residents of a state were forbidden under federal law from purchasing handguns and rifles from another state that they did not reside in and furthermore it was a felony offense to then transport said weapons across that states boundaries. I was also under the impression that even LEO’s were not exempt from those very same laws. Apparently I seem to be mistaken.
Thank you Mayor Bloomberg for your irresponsible and illegal (imo) action which surely showed the good people of Arizona the folly of indulging the vile delusions that the nanny staters and left were trying to spin after the Tuscon incident.
“...a loophole in federal gun laws allowed them to buy the guns without a background check...”
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File this under “Repeat the lie often enough...”.
Truth is there is no loophole.
You should perhaps apply for a position with either the Obama Administration or perhaps with the U.N. with beliefs you profess to have. Weapon sales between private law abiding citizens is no one others business, not even yours and most especially Big Sis or the BATF!
Not enough, yet.
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