Like a school yard bully...

Mayor linked to anti-gun bullying
BY AARON CAHALL
aaron.cahall@newsday.com

July 13, 2007

WASHINGTON - Mayor Michael Bloomberg's aides threatened to run negative ads against House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey if pro-gun legislation opposed by the mayor was passed in that committee, Obey claimed yesterday. The mayor's office denied the charge.

Speaking during a committee session, Obey (D-Wis.) said Bloomberg aides told his staff that TV ads painting him as anti-law enforcement would be run in his district if the provision, known as the Tiahrt Amendment, restricting police use of federal gun checks, was passed.

"The Mayor's staff came into my office, and rather than discuss the merits, they simply did what so many bullies do ... they threatened to run ads in my district if I didn't bow to their wishes," Obey said according to a transcript provided by his staff.

Obey also took issue with the National Rifle Association, saying the organization didn't endorse him despite his votes against gun control legislation.

"I don't react very well to bullying, and I don't react very well to threats," he said. "I wish I could find a way to vote against both sides of this issue."

The Tiahrt amendment was included in the bill, which passed the committee by voice vote. Obey voted for the bill, his office said.

Bloomberg is co-chairman of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group of 225 mayors, and lobbied against the amendment Tuesday in Washington.

ProtectPolice.org, a media campaign of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, lists districts of nine representatives and two senators, both Republican and Democrat, in which an anti-amendment ad runs. The ads are paid for by supporters of the organization, Bloomberg's office said.

The mayor's Washington staff said Bloomberg aides had met with Obey's staff, but denied the congressman's charge. Bloomberg called the amendment's passage "a profound disappointment."

In Defense of the Tiahrt Amendment

The anti-gun forces would have you believe that the Tiahart Amendment is somehow evil and needs to be repealed. The New York Times even ran an op-ed recently calling for it's repeal, based on the erroneous idea that it somehow keeps law enforcement from getting the valuable firearms trace data they need to investigate crimes. As you can see from the below article from ScrippsNews, this is a lie, pure and simple.

"Setting the record straight about firearms trace data
By MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN
Monday, April 30, 2007

During the past several weeks, numerous questions and articles have arisen in the media, regarding the ability of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to share firearms trace data among members of the law-enforcement community. With the recent tragic events surrounding the senseless criminal use of firearms; I felt the need to clarify this important issue.

Firearms trace data is critically important information developed by ATF to assist state and local law-enforcement in investigating and solving violent crimes. This data tracks the transfer of a firearm from the manufacturer to the gun's first purchaser, and can assist law enforcement in ultimately pinpointing the individual who used the gun to commit a particular crime.

During the investigation of the recent Virginia Tech incident, ATF provided the Virginia State Police (VSP) with trace information that allowed the VSP to determine where and from whom Seung-Hui Cho purchased the two handguns he used in the shootings. Firearms trace information was also used to solve a theft of 22 firearms from a security service in Atlanta that were subsequently purchased by an undercover police officer on the streets of New York.

ATF considers this information law-enforcement-sensitive because it is often the first investigative lead in a case. We treat it no differently than fingerprint matches and other crime-scene information, since disclosure outside of law enforcement can tip off criminals to the investigation, compromise cases and endanger the lives of undercover officers, witnesses and confidential sources.

Our agency routinely shares trace data with state and local law-enforcement agencies in support of investigations within their respective jurisdictions. Once a requesting agency receives law-enforcement-sensitive trace data from ATF, it becomes the agency's data to disseminate and share with other law-enforcement entities as it deems appropriate.

Let me be clear: neither the congressional language nor ATF rules prohibit the sharing of trace data with law enforcement conducting criminal investigations, or place any restrictions on the sharing of trace data with other jurisdictions once it is in the hands of state or local law enforcement. In fact, multi-jurisdictional trace data is also utilized by ATF and shared with fellow law-enforcement agencies to identify firearm-trafficking trends and leads. Additionally, nothing prohibits ATF from releasing our own reports that analyze trace-data trends that could be used by law enforcement.

ATF has a proud tradition of supporting its law-enforcement partners at every level of government. We will continue to provide them with the information they need to protect our communities from individuals who would use firearms to further illegal activity. Congress has recognized ATF's crucial role in that investigative process and has protected our ability to share that sensitive data with law enforcement. The restriction did nothing more than to codify ATF's longstanding policy of sharing trace data with other law-enforcement agencies for the purpose of conducting a criminal investigation.

Our priority will continue to be to release trace data in a manner consistent with our longstanding policy, and to support the over 17,000 federal, state, local and foreign law-enforcement agencies that avail themselves of this crucial tool.

(Michael J. Sullivan is acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Department of Justice.)"

Another Reason NOT to Vote for Rudy

Rudy #1 With Gun Owners?

Rudy Giuliani, a supporter of gun control, still comes out on top with gun owners, a new survey has found.

The above ought to be all a gun owner concerned about his rights needs to see.

The Daily News and the Gallup organization are hardly reliable and unbiased source for gun rights-related information.

Poll results and methodology are here. Of the '2,013 adults, aged 18 and older' surveyed, the sample contained '670 gun owners.' Left unsaid is whether these were registered voters, if so, whether they were high propensity voters, whether the survey participants were a representative cross section, what questions were asked, and if the gun owners were highly motivated, indicative of a level of commitment. Also, gun ownership crosses party lines, and the report admits '[i]n the Democratic primaries, gun owners seem just as inclined as non-owners to support Clinton.'

I hardly hold myself out to be a polling expert, but this appears to be a case 'of sound and fury signifying nothing.' If anyone with credentials would like to weigh in and either confirm or challenge my assumptions, or if you just want to say your piece about this, well, that's why there's a 'Comments' section below.

From: The War on Guns

The Phantom Menace

In an article found here, Bloomberg blasts the FOP as a "Fringe Organization" and tries to promote his illegal stings in other states. Below is a graphic from the story I found rather ironic.

Whether through just plain ignorance or genuine stupidity, they chose to illustrate "The Gun Menace" with a Beretta Tomcat chambered in .32 ACP. Now the Tomcat is one of the least threatening pocket pistols in existence, just slightly more threatening than anything in .25 ACP or .22LR. And it only holds seven rounds in the magazine, eight if you load one in the snout via the flip up barrel. Yeah, I'd hate to get shot with anything, and any gun is better than no gun, but a .32 ACP round has a better chance of pissing the Bad Guy off than stopping him. As with any bullet though, it's all about shot placement, but bigger is better.

-Yuri

Kaine Criticizes Weapons Giveaway

Raffle Being Held In Government Building in Fairfax

By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

RICHMOND, May 14 -- Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) on Monday questioned the judgment of a gun-rights group in deciding to raffle off weapons and ammunition this week inside a Fairfax County government building.

"I guess it's a free country, and people can make mistakes in judgment all the time," Kaine said. "When I read about a group doing this, it just makes me wonder what makes them tick."

The Virginia Citizens Defense League, a group influential with rural lawmakers, is holding a "Bloomberg Gun Giveaway" to protest New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's efforts to crack down on illegal gun sales in Virginia.

The raffle Thursday night at the Mason District Government Center in Annandale has angered Fairfax County officials and heightened attention on Virginia's gun laws a month after a 23-year-old college student from Fairfax fatally shot 32 people and himself at Virginia Tech.

Although Kaine said the gun group showed poor judgment, Virginia's top elected Republican leaders defended the gun giveaway Monday, saying the group is defending the right to own firearms and sending a message that Bloomberg should stay out of the state's affairs.

"It is not the place for government to interfere with a private raffle," Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell (R) said through a spokesman.

House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) said gun control advocates frequently use government property to hold gun buyback events.

"The same thing happens with groups on the left when they do programs to have guns turned in for prizes or rewards," Griffith said. In this case, he said, "you got law-abiding citizens holding a raffle or contest to give away a product that doesn't violate state or federal laws."

The defense league plans to give away a semiautomatic pistol, a hunting rifle, ammunition and other supplies, including a laser scope. Fairfax County officials said they don't want guns inside a county building, but they can't find a legal reason to deny the group a permit.

The raffle was spurred by New York's decision to file lawsuits against six Virginia gun shops that the city contends sold guns illegally to undercover agents. Bloomberg maintains that illegal guns sales in Virginia contribute to violent crime in New York.

The General Assembly and Kaine approved a law this spring that will make it a felony for New York to conduct future stings in the state without the supervision of Virginia or federal law enforcement officials.

Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, said more than 2,500 people were awarded tickets to Thursday night's drawing after they spent at least $100 at Bob Moates Sports Shop in Richmond and Old Dominion Gun and Tackle in Danville, the targets of Bloomberg's lawsuits.

Van Cleave said he doesn't understand why Kaine and Fairfax officials are upset.

"They are acting like we are giving guns to criminals. They talk as if anytime a gun is sold, it's going on the street," Van Cleave said. "These guns are going to law-abiding, decent people who won't hurt anyone with them."

In addition to McDonnell, Van Cleave has the backing of the state's other top elected Republican, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling. Like McDonnell, Bolling is a possible candidate for governor in 2009.

"The VCDL is doing this as a form of protest against the actions taken by Mayor Bloomberg," Bolling said. "They have every right to lodge such a protest as long as they comply with the letter and the spirit of the law."

Fairfax Supervisor Penelope A. Gross (D-Mason) said she has received dozens of phone calls and e-mails from residents who are appalled that the raffle is taking place in a county building.

Fairfax has asked the General Assembly to allow it and other local governments to ban the possession of guns in public buildings, but lawmakers have refused. County officials can't deny a meeting permit simply for political reasons, Gross said.

"I agree with the governor. It is wrong, but help me find a way to put a stop to it," Gross said. "There is none. I tried."

...clicky...

Undercover Operations May "Sting" Bloomberg

Friday, May 11, 2007

In an effort to end the illegal, covert "Simulated Straw Purchase" stings that anti-gun New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) has been misguidedly promoting of late, Virginia Attorney General Robert McDonnell (R) recently sent a letter to Bloomberg reminding him that Virginia’s House Bill 2653 - which prohibits gun dealer entrapment schemes such as those orchestrated by the Mayor - will go into effect this summer.

With the new law going into effect in July, Bloomberg and his agents could face legal action and be charged with a felony if they do not cease their dubious "sting" operations.

"While I understand that you are attempting to take steps that you believe may enhance the public safety of the citizens of New York City, such laws are Virginia's duty to enforce," said McDonnell in his letter to the Mayor. "This new law strikes the proper balance between ensuring effective law enforcement and protecting the rights of law-abiding firearms dealers and those of Virginia citizens under the Second Amendment."

In a May 10, Washington Times article, Tucker Martin, a spokesman for Mr. McDonnell’s office, said, "Law-abiding Virginia gun dealers certainly do not deserve to be targeted by private agents intentionally misleading them as to their intentions and motives. This is a courtesy to the mayor. Prior actions of his are now felony offenses in the commonwealth, and he knows this."

Virginia’s state House and Senate overwhelmingly approved the measure, which was signed into law by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine (D) on March 23, 2007.

PA MAYOR TELLS SAF SHE IS QUITTING BLOOMBERG’S ‘DUBIOUS’ COALITION!

BELLEVUE, WA – Williamsport, PA Mayor Mary B. Wolf has quit New
York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “Mayors Against Illegal Guns”
coalition, telling the Second Amendment Foundation in a letter that
she joined in hopes of finding “community based solutions to reduce
gun violence.”

However, in a letter to Bloomberg – a copy of which Mayor Wolf
forwarded to SAF founder Alan M. Gottlieb – she told Bloomberg, “I
have learned that the Coalition may be working on issues that
conflict with legal gun ownership and that some actions on your
behalf are dubious.”

Mayor Wolf joins several other mayors who have withdrawn from
Bloomberg’s coalition. Last month, after Bloomberg’s office was
advised by the Justice Department against conducting any more “gun
shop sting” operations, Gottlieb sent an open letter to all mayors
who had joined the anti-gun group, urging them to reconsider their
involvement, which might be associated with Bloomberg’s vigilante
anti-gun activities.

“I am grateful that Mayor Wolf took a second look at Bloomberg’s
coalition,” Gottlieb stated, “and that she thoughtfully advised SAF
of her decision. Like several other mayors who think for themselves
and the constituents who are their friends and neighbors, Mayor
Wolf has demonstrated the kind of leadership that will set her
apart from those who have been beguiled by Bloomberg’s media hype.”

In her letter to Gottlieb, Mayor Wolf said that, in her opinion,
“It was always clear that licensed gun dealers, sportsmen, gun
collectors and other similarly situated individuals were not part
of the problem…”

Meanwhile, in her letter to Bloomberg, Mayor Wolf was
straightforward, noting, “The intent of the coalition was well-
founded but current initiatives seem counterproductive to…reduce
the criminal misuse of firearms.”

“It takes a special quality and a certain amount of political
courage to go against the current of political correctness and
media favoritism,” Gottlieb said. “Hers is the example that fellow
mayors ought to follow, not Bloomberg’s.”