City sues gun shops over illegal weapons

[DoYouEverWonder]

May 16, 2006

Frustrated by the federal government's inability to keep illegal guns out of New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a federal lawsuit against 15 out-of-state gun dealers Monday, accusing them of selling guns later traced to specific crimes in the city.

In a 78-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, the shops are identified as breaking the law by selling guns the city said they should have known were intended for criminals.

Sounding like a trial lawyer arguing in a courtroom, Bloomberg said he was determined to stop the influx of illegal guns, which he said were used in 300 murders in the city. He said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has proven unable to do the job and recently he's criticized Congress for failing to pass stricter gun laws.

"These dealers have all broken federal laws and we're determined to hold them accountable. Today we're putting gun dealers that break the law on notice," Bloomberg said. "This is not about ideology, this is about law enforcement."

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/am-gunnews0516,0,51875.story?coll=ny-nyc-bigpix

[billbuckhead]

1. General Electric fires the bottom 5% producers every year

Maybe the gun dealers that have the most guns involved in crimes should lose their stores every year.

[Kagemusha]

2. The store owners don't work for Uncle Sam.

So that won't happen.

[Xenotime]

3. sigh

[SlipperySlope]

4. Is he suing car makers next?

After all, a lot of cars that speed in New York City were probably built and sold in other states.

[seriousstan]

5. I am pro gun and have no problem with this.

"Hidden cameras filmed clerks facilitating what is known as straw purchases -- when a buyer uses someone else who pretends to be the buyer to fill out the paperwork to avoid tracking the real buyer. The law requires the gun shop to halt the sale if they suspect the transaction to be a straw purchase.

In the videos, one person inquired about the guns while the second intentionally showed no interest in guns until the transaction was to become official.

"Unfortunately, such blatant straw purchases happen all too often, and they have deadly consequences for New Yorkers," Bloomberg said."

This should be stopped. When I grew the old man who ran the local gun store would run your as out if you were joking or laughing during a purchase. I have no problem with a frank and serious attitude in a gun store.

A gun shop owner should be held responsible for running a tight shop and being able to spot any "blatant straw purchases".

[BreweryYardRat]

6. Likewise.

[TX-RAT]

7. More power to him.

Just as long as he can prove the transactions were illegal.

[michreject]

8. He doesn't have the authority

to file a federal lawsuit. That job is reserved for the fed's.