http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=153427§ion=news
Our illustrious newly-elected mayor just joined this wretched organization, and in celebration the local paper has a story telling the general public about the danger of "automatic weapons." (Semi-automatic? Fully automatic? The reporter doesn't seem to care.)
If you click the link, below the mayor's picture there's a discussion board hosted by The Forum's website. I want help racking up voices for our side - but only from those who can KEEP IT CIVIL since the comments posted often end up being printed in the Sunday edition. Thanks for any help you can provide.
Link to Mayors Against Illegal Guns: http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/home/home.shtml
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Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker will join mayors from across the country next week in a show of opposition to illegal firearms.
Walaker plans to attend the National Summit of Mayors Against Illegal Guns on Monday in Washington, D.C.
Walaker said he’s a lifelong hunter, but said he staunchly opposes automatic weapons – going so far as to drop his National Rifle Association membership because of the organization’s position on the issue – and the illegal gun sales that allow criminals to obtain them.
“I don’t see a need for them, and I don’t like to see anybody up against law enforcement having better weapons than we can provide for law enforcement,” he said.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns arose from an initial meeting held in April 2006, hosted by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, to discuss ways to stop the flow of illegal guns into U.S. cities, according to the coalition’s Web site.
Walaker joined the coalition in August by signing a statement of principles drafted at the initial meeting.
Fargo is the only North Dakota city that belongs to the group, which has been expanded to 123 cities.
The coalition aims to punish criminals who possess, use and traffic illegal guns; target irresponsible gun dealers; oppose federal efforts to restrict cities’ access to gun-tracing data; develop technologies that aid in detecting and tracing illegal guns; and support local, state and federal legislation that targets illegal guns.
Fargo Police Capt. Tod Dahle said Fargo officers don’t encounter illegal firearms as often as their counterparts in big cities like Minneapolis, but they still deal with the problem.
“And we do so more often than we did in the past,” he said.
The majority of guns discovered during drug-trafficking stings are illegal firearms that have been stolen or acquired through drug transactions, Dahle said.
While in Washington, Walaker also will attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 75th Winter Meeting.
He said he plans to meet with North Dakota’s congressional delegation to lobby for issues important to Fargo, including flood control.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Mike Nowatzki at (701) 241-5528
Our illustrious newly-elected mayor just joined this wretched organization, and in celebration the local paper has a story telling the general public about the danger of "automatic weapons." (Semi-automatic? Fully automatic? The reporter doesn't seem to care.)
If you click the link, below the mayor's picture there's a discussion board hosted by The Forum's website. I want help racking up voices for our side - but only from those who can KEEP IT CIVIL since the comments posted often end up being printed in the Sunday edition. Thanks for any help you can provide.
Link to Mayors Against Illegal Guns: http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/home/home.shtml
******
Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker will join mayors from across the country next week in a show of opposition to illegal firearms.
Walaker plans to attend the National Summit of Mayors Against Illegal Guns on Monday in Washington, D.C.
Walaker said he’s a lifelong hunter, but said he staunchly opposes automatic weapons – going so far as to drop his National Rifle Association membership because of the organization’s position on the issue – and the illegal gun sales that allow criminals to obtain them.
“I don’t see a need for them, and I don’t like to see anybody up against law enforcement having better weapons than we can provide for law enforcement,” he said.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns arose from an initial meeting held in April 2006, hosted by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, to discuss ways to stop the flow of illegal guns into U.S. cities, according to the coalition’s Web site.
Walaker joined the coalition in August by signing a statement of principles drafted at the initial meeting.
Fargo is the only North Dakota city that belongs to the group, which has been expanded to 123 cities.
The coalition aims to punish criminals who possess, use and traffic illegal guns; target irresponsible gun dealers; oppose federal efforts to restrict cities’ access to gun-tracing data; develop technologies that aid in detecting and tracing illegal guns; and support local, state and federal legislation that targets illegal guns.
Fargo Police Capt. Tod Dahle said Fargo officers don’t encounter illegal firearms as often as their counterparts in big cities like Minneapolis, but they still deal with the problem.
“And we do so more often than we did in the past,” he said.
The majority of guns discovered during drug-trafficking stings are illegal firearms that have been stolen or acquired through drug transactions, Dahle said.
While in Washington, Walaker also will attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 75th Winter Meeting.
He said he plans to meet with North Dakota’s congressional delegation to lobby for issues important to Fargo, including flood control.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Mike Nowatzki at (701) 241-5528
