Boston Mayor going to Congress for stricter gun laws

[Erebus]

<LINK>

I knew this wouldn't take long.

Boston to press Congress for tougher gun laws

January 9, 2007

BOSTON (Reuters) - Boston, facing a spike in gun violence and murders, will press the new Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives to come up with tougher national gun laws, Boston's mayor said on Tuesday.

Thomas Menino, who has led a nationwide campaign against inner-city gun violence, said he would meet House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California in Washington this month to push for stricter gun laws.

"We need to convince Congress to pass common sense gun laws -- laws that punish immoral gun dealers and protect our citizens," he said in his annual "State of the City" address.

Menino, a Democrat, said police took more than 1,800 guns off of Boston's streets last year, twice as many as 2005.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Menino lead "Mayors Against Illegal Guns," a campaign that includes 123 mayors in 44 states, Menino said. It aims to get illegal guns off America's streets.

In September, the FBI released 2005 figures showing violent crime rising 2.3 percent, the first increase in four years, as a wave of murders and shootings hit smaller U.S. cities with little experience of serious urban violence.

Some experts have viewed the increase in violent crime as the result of law enforcement resources being shifted toward anti-terrorism efforts. Others attribute it to softer gun laws, budget cuts that have left fewer police on the streets and more people living in poverty.

Attempts at tightening gun laws are opposed by advocates of unrestricted access to firearms, led by the National Rifle Association, which wields enormous influence in Washington and backs candidates who support easier gun ownership in local and national elections.

There are more than 200 million guns in private hands in the United States, according to the Justice Department.

Boston recorded 74 homicides last year, one short of a 10-year high in 2005, Boston Police statistics show.

"Guns create fear that can kill our communities," Menino said in the 89-year-old Strand Theater in Dorchester, one of Boston's most violent neighborhoods.

Boston was a leader in halting violent crime in the late 1990s when politicians basked in what became known as the "Boston Miracle." Homicides dropped 77 percent between 1990 and 1997 and the city went for almost two years without a homicide against anybody under 18.

Menino blames the upswing in violence on illegal gun trafficking and weak federal and state gun laws.

 

[Prince Yamato]

"Guns create fear that can kill our communities,"

Who knew Boston's mayor was dyslexic?

 

[Handyman]

I don't get it . Whats wrong with these people ? They seem to be intelligent , after all , they got elected to political office's - OTOH , GWB got elected so I guess intelligence dosen't matter .
Menino , Kennedy , Patrick , and there ilk can't really believe that making it harder for law abiding citizens to defend themselves is going to stop crime .
It has to be more about power , ego , and controlling the people . After all , they are smarter than all of us and they know whats best . :banghead:

 

[Molon Labe]

They seem to be intelligent

They are intelligent. But in an evil, mad scientist sort of way.

 

[geronimotwo]

Menino blames the upswing in violence on illegal gun trafficking and weak federal and state gun laws.

doesn't the word "ILLEGAL" mean that tougher laws aren't going to help?

 

[Master Blaster]

Boston was a leader in halting violent crime in the late 1990s when politicians basked in what became known as the "Boston Miracle." Homicides dropped 77 percent between 1990 and 1997 and the city went for almost two years without a homicide against anybody under 18.

Menino blames the upswing in violence on illegal gun trafficking and weak federal and state gun laws.

I gonna Guess that the Boston Miracle happened because they were addressing the Violent crimminal problem, with drug counseling and community policing, that encouraged folks who witnessed crime to testify in court. That resulted in a drop in crime because the violent Habitual crimminals were in Jail.

 

[MechAg94]

They likely had some good judges and prosecutors working at it as well.


But Yes, more gun laws will likely not deter criminals from using illegal guns when past gun laws don't. What they should consider is to increase funding or scrutiny on prosecution of criminals who use a weapon while committing a crime. Make sure those violent felons go to jail for a significant period of time and that everyone else on the street knows it.

 

[Savage3006]

This is just BS from politicians who do not know what to do to solve crime or do not have the resources to do what ought to be done. Pushing or passing new gun laws make them look like they are doing something even if it is useless.

 

[Manedwolf]

MA does not allow guns OR pepper spray without strict permits and draconian laws. No hicaps. Tasers, never. MA has very high violent crime rates and lots of shootings. You can literally listen for 9mm pops every night in Boston.

NH allows CCW, tasers, pepper spray, high-capacity mags, silencers...and has very low violent crime rates.

Hmmmmmm.....Ya THINK?

 

[romma]

"Guns create fear that can kill our communities,"

Criminals create fear... And tyrannical Mayors.

 

[TGT]

Does it really surprise anybody that there will be a revisiting of the Assault Weapons Ban and other topics of gun cotrol by the emboldened Democrats?
History does repeat itself.

It's in the Democrats blood, and they just can't help themselves but to take GW up on his vow that he would sign a new AWB presented to him. Don't depend on the already weakened RINO republicans to fend off any such new bills either. The Republicans will not have the fortitude to stand with you against half the population, the Governors, and the Police Chiefs.....in defense of you owning "weapons of war".

 

[LAR-15]

He'll get at most Ed Markey and Ted Kennedy introducing some gun laws but I don't Pelosi is stupid enough to push the issue.

The Senate is VERY divided and blocking gun legislation there would be easy.

Menino is sucking wind.

 

[Kim]

Get ready for the word "moral" to be used in an orwellian mode by the DEMS-----------they are trying to show they are religious too. They even have a lefty linguistic professor from Berkeley teaching them how to sound that way. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!! I've watched the guys speach on UCTV channel and he is blantant in teaching them how to lie well. It is going to get funny.

 

[ArmedBear]

If the problem is really caused by "illegal trafficking" then wouldn't that demonstrate that the laws are not working to stop the problem?

Menino is sucking wind.

I think what he's trying to do is what every good politician does. Find a reason that it's not HIS fault that his city is going to hell, to save his own ass.

 

[cbsbyte]

MA does not allow guns OR pepper spray without strict permits and draconian laws. No hicaps. Tasers, never. MA has very high violent crime rates and lots of shootings. You can literally listen for 9mm pops every night in Boston.

Not completely true. Actually, It is very easy to get the proper permit to own pepper spray, and high capacity magzines in most towns in the state. It is only a dozen cities and towns, such as Boston where it is near impossible to get a LTC for high capcity magazines. I also don't know of any city including Boston that makes it overly difficult to get the proper permit for Pepper spray.

 

[Manedwolf]

Not completely true. Actually, It is very easy to get the proper permit to own pepper spray,

Not true if you're not a state resident. If a resident of a neighboring state wants pepper spray, their ONLY way is to get a full $100/year LTC with the NRA course and proof of need.

Thus, all legal visitors are defenseless.

and high capacity magzines in most towns in the state. It is only a dozen cities and towns, such as Boston where it is near impossible to get a LTC for high capcity magazines.

Really. So you can walk into any store in the state and buy one of the LEO marked 17 or 20rd handgun magazines like you can in any store in NH, no check? And what if you stray into one of those "no" towns while carrying a high-capacity?

I also don't know of any city including Boston that makes it overly difficult to get the proper permit for Pepper spray.

In NH, it's something you can buy at the quickie-mart with your coffee, no questions asked.

 

[cbsbyte]

Not true if you're not a state resident. If a resident of a neighboring state wants pepper spray, their ONLY way is to get a full $100/year LTC with the NRA course and proof of need.

Thus, all legal visitors are defenseless.

We where discussing residents of the state, not non residents.

Also one can own any high capacity magazine as long as it was made before 1994 with the proper LTC.

Anyway you really know little about Mass gun laws, you just repeat everything you have read or heard from non offical sources. Next time instead of making your self look like an Ass, check your facts. Its real easy. I will even post the link for you in case you are too lazy to do it yourself.

www.goal.org

 

[Manedwolf]

Also one can own any high capacity magazine as long as it was made before 1994 with the proper LTC.

Funny, I can own one made anytime, anywhere.

We where discussing residents of the state, not non residents.

You were. I wasn't.

Next time instead of making your self look like an Ass, check your facts. Its real easy. I will even post the link for you in case you are too lazy to do it yourself.

Excuse me? Is it High Road to be that uncivil? I think the only person who looks like an "ass" here is someone who turns this from a discussion by adults into gradeschool playground insults. Perhaps you'd be happier on some other, less civil board, where you can insult those of like mind with juvenile retorts amid the spam ads?

Oh, and as for the "facts" I go by with gun laws, perhaps YOU ought to read this one:

http://www.usconstitution.net/

Do keep yourself warm with that head stuck in the sand. The only problem is that in time, you'll suffocate.

 

[longeyes]

They're intelligent, but if they really look at the roots of the problem they will be forced to see things that contradict their core values. That can make the smartest very, very "stupid."

 

[Libertylover]

Looks like Mumbles is at it again.

Normally, I'd say I'm glad the antis have a place to congregate and basque in their idiocy, but they're jumping our southern border like rats from a sinking ship, refusing to assimilate and insisting on their ways once they arrive here.

We really need to put up a fence on that southern border of ours, to protect us in NH from those loony MA$$holes...