A new organization has urged President Barack Obama to confront firearms violence, particularly by strengthening the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Here’s hoping that he doesn’t take up the challenge set out by Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Obama’s plate already is heaped. But here’s also hoping the president keeps the pitch floating near the top of his to-do pile, to be taken up as soon as time allows.
That's a very good description of my feelings on the matter. Can you still refer to the MAIG as a "new organization," though?
According to Mr Teepen, the great thing about the mayors’ approach is that it calls for no new laws.
Instead, almost mischievously, the mayors play to the gun lobby’s own standard-issue retort to any proposed new firearms control laws or regulations -- the argument that there are enough already and all we need to do is enforce them.(A phony pose, by the way. The gun lobby works steadily to undermine enforcement by limiting the reach of current laws and chipping away at enforcement budgets. It is pleasant nonetheless to see the lobby skewered by its own debating point.)
Don't you find that interestingly ironic? The MAIG is turning the old NRA weapon around and using it on the NRA.
Why is there so much resistance, then? Who would be opposed to beefing up the ATF and other law enforcement organizations in order to better curtail criminal activity? The way it is now, the agency is able to inspect gun dealers, on average, only once every 11 years. No wonder we have gun dealers getting away with murder, figuratively speaking.
Is this what pro-gun folks want? Is this what they're fighting so hard to maintain?The report also notes that of 67,713 cases referred by the FBI in 2005, federal prosecutors pursued only 135 and recommends that the FBI alert local authorities whenever a would-be gun buyer fails a background check.
The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence reports that 276 Americans are shot daily, 100,400 every year. And small wonder. Gun shows and private sales remains essentially unregulated, amounting to nearly half of all annual sales. There is little push even against the 1 percent of licensed dealers who account for nearly 60 percent of the crime guns that law enforcement can trace.
What's your opinion? Are some of the other 40 suggestions the mayors are making so unacceptable that even the most critical one, the strengthening of the ATF, should be blocked? What do you think?
Please feel free to leave a comment.
"Don't you find that interestingly ironic? The MAIG is turning the old NRA weapon around and using it on the NRA."
ReplyDeleteNot really, because it's a lie.
MAIG does more than just ask for enforcement of current law. They also support new laws, such as laws banning private sales of firearms, lost and stolen guns laws, microstamping laws, California's recently passed ammunition law, etc.
"Who would be opposed to beefing up the ATF and other law enforcement organizations in order to better curtail criminal activity?"
The ATF is a corrupt organization. It's needs to be disbanded, not better funded.
"the great thing about the mayors’ approach is that it calls for no new laws."
ReplyDeleteThen he goes on to list some of these 40 things that can save us all and they all involve new laws.
This guy is another tool trying to fabricate support for a failing organization.
"There are 97 guns around for every 100 of us."
So how do we arm the other three? slackers?
"The report also notes that of 67,713 cases referred by the FBI in 2005, federal prosecutors pursued only 135..."
ReplyDelete0.002%
Are you going to lay some blame on federal prosecuters now?
I think we should blame the criminals.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, if the criminals weren't committing so many crimes, the law enforcement agencies would have more time to investigate the other crimes.
I hereby call about the group MAIG to go to the gangs and drug cartels and ask them to be a little inconvenienced. If they could just reduce their crime rates 10%, the prosecutors, cops, judges, prisons, etc all would have more time to focus on the serious problems.
Notice how MAIG doesn't take that approach?
Notice how MikeB doesn't take that approach?
Instead, they want to inconvenience the law abiding more and more and more, they want to make gun ownership more and more expensive (where do the criminals get their money? Working 9 to 3 at Mickey Ds?), passing greater infringement on the liberties of the law abiding.
I challenge MikeB and MAIG to go to the people committing crimes and ask them for a reduction, ask them to be inconvenienced.
How about it Champ? Willing to go to Newark and make a pitch?
How about L.A?
Says Mikeb:
ReplyDeleteWho would be opposed to beefing up the ATF . . .
If, by "beefing up the ATF," you meant taking every last one of the corrupt, treasonous Jack-Booted Thugs, smearing them with beef lard, breaking their legs, and leaving them among large prides of hungry lions; I share your puzzlement as to who would be opposed.