Bloomberg at it again

DaveH · October 4th, 2009, 08:37 AM

Mayors' group proposes gun reform - UPI.com

Quote:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- A bipartisan group of about 450 U.S. mayors says it's pressing President Barack Obama to adopt broad gun regulatory reform to disarm criminals.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns want Obama to adopt dozens of reforms to curb gun violence and create a federal interstate firearms trafficking unit, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

The reforms would "dramatically improve law enforcement's ability to keep guns out of the hands of criminals -- and, in doing so, save innocent lives," said the mayors' 51-page report, called a "Blueprint for Federal Action on Illegal Guns."

The group is headed by Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston, a Democrat, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York, an Independent.

The recommendations would tighten federal oversight of thousands of gun shows held annually, the Post reported.

"Criminal activity endemic to some gun shows goes unchecked," the mayors' report said.

washingtonpost.com

Quote:

450 Mayors Petition Obama To Adopt Broad Gun Reform

By David S. Fallis
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 3, 2009

A new report from a national coalition of mayors urges President Obama to adopt dozens of reforms to help curb gun violence, including steps to crack down on problems at gun shows and the creation of a federal interstate firearms trafficking unit.

The "Blueprint for Federal Action on Illegal Guns," a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, presents 40 recommendations that "would dramatically improve law enforcement's ability to keep guns out of the hands of criminals -- and, in doing so, save innocent lives."

The strategies outlined by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a bipartisan group of about 450 mayors nationwide, focus on the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The agency, which has been sent a copy of the report, declined to comment.

"Implementing these recommendations would achieve a goal that all participants in the gun debate support: enforcing laws already on the books," says an accompanying letter signed by the coalition's co-chairmen, Mayors Thomas M. Menino (D) of Boston and Michael R. Bloomberg (I) of New York.

According to the report, hard work by ATF field agents has "been undermined by congressional restrictions, inadequate resources, and a lack of leadership from federal officials in Washington."

The proposed changes could be accomplished within existing laws through agency reforms, regulatory moves and better funding, the report said. The strategies grew out of academic and government research, an analysis of firearms prosecutions and talks with government and law enforcement officials.

"The mayor's coalition created this document for policy discussion," said Jason Post, a spokesman for Bloomberg's office. There are no plans for public release of the document, which is being distributed to key members of Obama's administration and agencies affected by the recommendations.

The 51-page document suggests a handful of strategies that would tighten ATF oversight of thousands of gun shows held annually. The study noted that a 2007 inspector general's probe concluded the "ATF does not have a formal gun show enforcement program."

ATF agents should have greater discretion to conduct criminal investigations at gun shows identified as sources of firearms later seized in crimes, the report states, noting that "criminal activity endemic to some gun shows goes unchecked."

Agents at gun shows should "develop undercover integrity tests" to determine whether felons or out-of-state residents are making illegal purchases.

The report also calls for a better approach to crime gun tracing, the process that tracks a seized weapon back to its first retail sale. The ATF lacks the structure or resources to "fully realize its power," the report says, and information is not regularly shared with field offices, and state and local law enforcement.

To this end, the study wants ATF to be funded to create a new "Office of Tactical Trace Analysis," which would replace the current crime gun analysis branch.

Because serial numbers are sometimes obliterated on crime guns, the study also wants ATF to require that manufacturers stamp new guns with a second, hidden serial number.

Another recommendation calls for the FBI to notify local and state law enforcement every time a person attempts to buy a gun, but does not pass the background check.

"Federal law enforcement should communicate that red flag to the state and local authorities that may be best positioned to address the threat," the report says, suggesting the use of e-mail alerts.

And federal prosecutors should more aggressively prosecute people who fail the background check, the study says. In 2005, the FBI referred 67,713 cases to the ATF, but federal prosecutors pursued only 135 of those cases.

Proposed changes urge that the ATF be given additional manpower. The agency has about 2,500 agents spread among 22 field divisions, the study says, and lacks resources to effectively police gun trafficking across state and national borders.

The report wants money for a "Interstate Firearms Trafficking Unit," to better coordinate ATF investigations. Former ATF officials, according to the report, say it is common for agents to fail to reach out to their counterparts in different states. Without such coordination, investigations "may be compromised by regional ATF offices and joint task forces working at cross-purposes."

The ATF also needs $53 million to hire more field inspectors to ensure compliance by gun dealers, the report said. At the current pace, dealers are inspected once every 11 years, instead of the agency's goal of once every three years, according to the report.

retsupt99 · October 4th, 2009, 09:23 AM

Oh great, let's give ATF agents more erratically used and unfettered power

...what we need to do is change ATF into local stores...where you can get all three at reduced prices.

BATF Thugs Doing It Again

revolution: nra vs atf

Dustin's Gun Blog: ATF raid on Cavalry Arms on Feb 27

F350 · October 4th, 2009, 10:15 AM

When ever I read these accounts of BATF abuse, there is just one thing that comes to mind........

HENRY BOWMAN!!!

automatic slim · October 4th, 2009, 03:33 PM

I give up, who's Henry Bowman?
For the record, Bloomberg=LOSER.

zacii · October 4th, 2009, 04:28 PM

BATF were in Waco, remember?

torgo1968 · October 4th, 2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by automatic slim

I give up, who's Henry Bowman?

The protagonist in one of the most hilariously awful books in the history of the written word.

Anyway, this petition will be glanced at by Rahm Emanuel, he'll say, "Isn't that cute," crumple it up, and toss it in the trash. The administration can't get health care reform through and the public wants that. The notion that Bloomberg and his little pet project will mean jack squat to them is laughable.

Tom357 · October 5th, 2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torgo1968

...Anyway, this petition will be glanced at by Rahm Emanuel, he'll say, "Isn't that cute," crumple it up, and toss it in the trash. The administration can't get health care reform through and the public wants that. The notion that Bloomberg and his little pet project will mean jack squat to them is laughable.

Perhaps. Actions that can be taken by implementation of administrative rules and regulations, actions that do not require Congressional participation or Presidential signature, don't receive public scrutiny. A good example is the BATF restriction on the number of imported parts on an imported firearm, which survived the sunset of the AWB, and which causes so much confusion and inconsistent results when someone wants to modify an imported firearm. We know about it and are affected by it, but the general public is not aware of it or its idiotic implications. Bloomberg is making many such recommendations in a form intended to avoid public awareneses and scrutiny.

torgo1968 · October 5th, 2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom357

Perhaps. Actions that can be taken by implementation of administrative rules and regulations, actions that do not require Congressional participation or Presidential signature, don't receive public scrutiny. A good example is the BATF restriction on the number of imported parts on an imported firearm, which survived the sunset of the AWB, and which causes so much confusion and inconsistent results when someone wants to modify an imported firearm. We know about it and are affected by it, but the general public is not aware of it or its idiotic implications. Bloomberg is making many such recommendations in a form intended to avoid public awareneses and scrutiny.

I know they can do stuff without legislation. Point is, Obama is too chickens**t to do anything that takes a pair. There's a good article at RollingStone.com by Matt Taibbi about how Obama handled the health care reform issue. Long story short, he never had any intention of doing anything radical and began surrendering any true reforms before he'd used the john in the White House.

If any whispers are heard of something that will get gun owners riled up, he or his pit bull (Emanuel) will put word out to back off. Do not take my attitude as denigrating the role of the grass roots, far from it! It will be the reaction of the grass roots that will keep them in check. I'm just saying that my fear of anything truly restrictive getting through is almost nil.

Tom G · October 5th, 2009, 04:35 PM

Bloomberg and Obama both bought their way into office and I doubt they worry about the voters rights or opinions after they were sworn in but the citizens seem to have other ideas.

October 4th, 2009, 09:23 AM	#2
retsupt99 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 22,738	Oh great, let's give ATF agents more erratically used and unfettered power...what we need to do is change ATF into local stores...where you can get all three at reduced prices. BATF Thugs Doing It Again revolution: nra vs atf Dustin's Gun Blog: ATF raid on Cavalry Arms on Feb 27 __________________ "That I cannot do." "Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks." *********************************** NRA Life Member

October 4th, 2009, 03:33 PM	#4
automatic slim Distinguished Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The western edge of The Confederacy Posts: 1,222	I give up, who's Henry Bowman? For the record, Bloomberg=LOSER. __________________ "First gallant South Carolina nobly made the stand." Edge of Darkness Last edited by automatic slim; October 4th, 2009 at 03:34 PM.. Reason: ***

October 4th, 2009, 04:28 PM	#5
zacii Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: arizona Posts: 317	BATF were in Waco, remember? __________________ Trust in God and keep your powder dry Superduper Snubbie Thread Why 1911?

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October 4th, 2009, 10:15 AM	#3
F350 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Al Taqaddum airbase, Iraq Posts: 699	When ever I read these accounts of BATF abuse, there is just one thing that comes to mind........ HENRY BOWMAN!!!

October 5th, 2009, 04:35 PM	#9
Tom G VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,049	Bloomberg and Obama both bought their way into office and I doubt they worry about the voters rights or opinions after they were sworn in but the citizens seem to have other ideas.