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http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200701/NAT20070124b.html
Mayors' Summit on Illegal Arms Draws Fire From Gun Rights Group
By Randy Hall
CNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor
January 24, 2007
(CNSNews.com) - More than 50 mayors gathered in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday for a national summit "to discuss the issue of illegal guns plaguing American cities." However, a gun rights group dismissed the conference as "all rhetoric" and presenting "no real solutions" to violent crime in America.
During its day-long event, the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition (MAIG) "discussed the importance of gun trace data, joint lobbying against harmful federal legislation, cutting-edge political strategies and the unique initiatives being undertaken by mayors across the country on this issue," the group said in a news release.
The mayors also announced the creation of "a bi-partisan Congressional Task Force on Illegal Guns," which is to be led by Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Peter King (R-N.Y.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).
The purpose of the task force will be "to enact common-sense measures to stem the flow of illegal guns and provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to combat illegal guns," and its top priority will be to oppose an amendment that restricts cities' access to and use of gun trace data -- information that traces weapons back to their point of sale.
"Illegal gun violence is an epidemic sweeping across this country, causing senseless tragedy every day," said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.
"As mayors, it is our job to solve problems because city government affords citizens their first line of defense -- but we can't do it alone," Menino stated. "Mayors need partners, and that is why we are here today -- to work with Congress in a bipartisan way to address the issue of illegal guns."
During the summit, the mayors from Atlanta, Milwaukee and Chicago presented "best practices" from their cities, detailing innovative initiatives developed in their cities to combat the flow of illegal guns and curb gun violence.
"Last year, Chicago's crime rate went down 3 percent, while the national rate increased 3 percent," said Mayor Richard M. Daley. "One of the reasons for our success is that our police continue to lead the nation in removing illegal guns from the streets.
"Every time we seize an illegal gun, we reduce the probability that someone will be killed, injured or robbed at gunpoint," Daley added.
"As mayors, we are on the front lines," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who works directly with local gun dealers to change their sales practices.
"We have to look in the eyes of the mothers who lose their young sons in a heated argument with some thug who thinks nothing of carrying and using a handgun to solve a problem," Barrett noted. "We can do many things, but until we stop the flow of illegal guns in our cities, we will not be able to successfully address the violence."
The mayors also heard a presentation from Ray Schoenke, president of the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), who stated that his group "believes hunters and shooters can join together with federal, state and local policy makers to address the problem of urban gun crime without compromising away our rights."
"By taking an honest, straightforward approach, we can and will work with our nation's mayors to find solutions that will keep guns out of the wrong hands and punish lawbreakers, while at the same time standing firm in defense of the Second Amendment," Schoenke added.
'Stop trying to fool the American public'
"Our coalition has refused to fall into the same old trap that this is an either/or issue -- either respect the rights of gun owners or keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals," said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
"The fact is, respecting the rights of gun owners while cracking down on illegal guns are completely compatible goals -- and we are committed to both," the Republican mayor added. "The fight against illegal guns reaches beyond the borders of any single city or state."
However, Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), was not impressed with the conference, which he said was "all rhetoric and no real solutions to violent crime in America."
"Whether you're talking about a desire of anti-gun mayors to get their hands on confidential generic gun-tracing data to fuel harassment lawsuits of gun manufacturers and dealers, or a so-called 'sportsmen's group' claiming to represent hunters and shooters and their opinions about the gun issue," Gottlieb noted, "you still have a gathering from which the nation's leading gun rights organizations and authorities were excluded."
"Just how irrelevant can it get when three mayors selected to speak about 'best practices' in dealing with crime are Chicago's Richard Daley, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Milwaukee's Tom Barrett?" Gottlieb asked.
"These three gentlemen are adamantly opposed to the concept of armed citizens defending themselves and their loved ones against violent criminals, and they reign over three of the most dangerous cities in the country," he said.
"We'll tell you what American hunters and shooters really think about so-called illegal guns," Gottlieb stated. "Punish the people who are breaking the law and stop blaming us for crimes we didn't commit.
"Don't saddle us with ridiculous laws and regulations that are written more to create violations than they are to prevent criminal activity," he added. "Let us decide what kind of firearms we want to buy, and how many of them we want to own.
"Most importantly of all," Gottlieb noted, "stop trying to fool the American public into thinking you are doing something about crime when all you are really doing is attacking law-abiding citizens and trying to erode our civil rights."
"If these mayors honestly want to do something for America, they should go home, arrest violent criminals and leave law-abiding gun owners alone," he added.
it's done.
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200701/NAT20070124b.html
Mayors' Summit on Illegal Arms Draws Fire From Gun Rights Group
By Randy Hall
CNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor
January 24, 2007
(CNSNews.com) - More than 50 mayors gathered in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday for a national summit "to discuss the issue of illegal guns plaguing American cities." However, a gun rights group dismissed the conference as "all rhetoric" and presenting "no real solutions" to violent crime in America.
During its day-long event, the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition (MAIG) "discussed the importance of gun trace data, joint lobbying against harmful federal legislation, cutting-edge political strategies and the unique initiatives being undertaken by mayors across the country on this issue," the group said in a news release.
The mayors also announced the creation of "a bi-partisan Congressional Task Force on Illegal Guns," which is to be led by Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Peter King (R-N.Y.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).
The purpose of the task force will be "to enact common-sense measures to stem the flow of illegal guns and provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to combat illegal guns," and its top priority will be to oppose an amendment that restricts cities' access to and use of gun trace data -- information that traces weapons back to their point of sale.
"Illegal gun violence is an epidemic sweeping across this country, causing senseless tragedy every day," said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.
"As mayors, it is our job to solve problems because city government affords citizens their first line of defense -- but we can't do it alone," Menino stated. "Mayors need partners, and that is why we are here today -- to work with Congress in a bipartisan way to address the issue of illegal guns."
During the summit, the mayors from Atlanta, Milwaukee and Chicago presented "best practices" from their cities, detailing innovative initiatives developed in their cities to combat the flow of illegal guns and curb gun violence.
"Last year, Chicago's crime rate went down 3 percent, while the national rate increased 3 percent," said Mayor Richard M. Daley. "One of the reasons for our success is that our police continue to lead the nation in removing illegal guns from the streets.
"Every time we seize an illegal gun, we reduce the probability that someone will be killed, injured or robbed at gunpoint," Daley added.
"As mayors, we are on the front lines," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who works directly with local gun dealers to change their sales practices.
"We have to look in the eyes of the mothers who lose their young sons in a heated argument with some thug who thinks nothing of carrying and using a handgun to solve a problem," Barrett noted. "We can do many things, but until we stop the flow of illegal guns in our cities, we will not be able to successfully address the violence."
The mayors also heard a presentation from Ray Schoenke, president of the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), who stated that his group "believes hunters and shooters can join together with federal, state and local policy makers to address the problem of urban gun crime without compromising away our rights."
"By taking an honest, straightforward approach, we can and will work with our nation's mayors to find solutions that will keep guns out of the wrong hands and punish lawbreakers, while at the same time standing firm in defense of the Second Amendment," Schoenke added.
'Stop trying to fool the American public'
"Our coalition has refused to fall into the same old trap that this is an either/or issue -- either respect the rights of gun owners or keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals," said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
"The fact is, respecting the rights of gun owners while cracking down on illegal guns are completely compatible goals -- and we are committed to both," the Republican mayor added. "The fight against illegal guns reaches beyond the borders of any single city or state."
However, Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), was not impressed with the conference, which he said was "all rhetoric and no real solutions to violent crime in America."
"Whether you're talking about a desire of anti-gun mayors to get their hands on confidential generic gun-tracing data to fuel harassment lawsuits of gun manufacturers and dealers, or a so-called 'sportsmen's group' claiming to represent hunters and shooters and their opinions about the gun issue," Gottlieb noted, "you still have a gathering from which the nation's leading gun rights organizations and authorities were excluded."
"Just how irrelevant can it get when three mayors selected to speak about 'best practices' in dealing with crime are Chicago's Richard Daley, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Milwaukee's Tom Barrett?" Gottlieb asked.
"These three gentlemen are adamantly opposed to the concept of armed citizens defending themselves and their loved ones against violent criminals, and they reign over three of the most dangerous cities in the country," he said.
"We'll tell you what American hunters and shooters really think about so-called illegal guns," Gottlieb stated. "Punish the people who are breaking the law and stop blaming us for crimes we didn't commit.
"Don't saddle us with ridiculous laws and regulations that are written more to create violations than they are to prevent criminal activity," he added. "Let us decide what kind of firearms we want to buy, and how many of them we want to own.
"Most importantly of all," Gottlieb noted, "stop trying to fool the American public into thinking you are doing something about crime when all you are really doing is attacking law-abiding citizens and trying to erode our civil rights."
"If these mayors honestly want to do something for America, they should go home, arrest violent criminals and leave law-abiding gun owners alone," he added.
