450 Mayors Petition Obama To Adopt Broad Gun Reform

[Tim Nunan]

washingtonpost.com

A new report from a national coalition of mayors urges President Obama to adopt dozens of reforms to help curb gun violence, including steps to crack down on problems at gun shows and the creation of a federal interstate firearms trafficking unit.

The "Blueprint for Federal Action on Illegal Guns," a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, presents 40 recommendations that "would dramatically improve law enforcement's ability to keep guns out of the hands of criminals -- and, in doing so, save innocent lives."

The strategies outlined by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a bipartisan group of about 450 mayors nationwide, focus on the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The agency, which has been sent a copy of the report, declined to comment.

"Implementing these recommendations would achieve a goal that all participants in the gun debate support: enforcing laws already on the books," says an accompanying letter signed by the coalition's co-chairmen, Mayors Thomas M. Menino (D) of Boston and Michael R. Bloomberg (I) of New York.

According to the report, hard work by ATF field agents has "been undermined by congressional restrictions, inadequate resources, and a lack of leadership from federal officials in Washington."

The proposed changes could be accomplished within existing laws through agency reforms, regulatory moves and better funding, the report said. The strategies grew out of academic and government research, an analysis of firearms prosecutions and talks with government and law enforcement officials.

"The mayor's coalition created this document for policy discussion," said Jason Post, a spokesman for Bloomberg's office. There are no plans for public release of the document, which is being distributed to key members of Obama's administration and agencies affected by the recommendations.

The 51-page document suggests a handful of strategies that would tighten ATF oversight of thousands of gun shows held annually. The study noted that a 2007 inspector general's probe concluded the "ATF does not have a formal gun show enforcement program."

ATF agents should have greater discretion to conduct criminal investigations at gun shows identified as sources of firearms later seized in crimes, the report states, noting that "criminal activity endemic to some gun shows goes unchecked."

Agents at gun shows should "develop undercover integrity tests" to determine whether felons or out-of-state residents are making illegal purchases.

The report also calls for a better approach to crime gun tracing, the process that tracks a seized weapon back to its first retail sale. The ATF lacks the structure or resources to "fully realize its power," the report says, and information is not regularly shared with field offices, and state and local law enforcement.

To this end, the study wants ATF to be funded to create a new "Office of Tactical Trace Analysis," which would replace the current crime gun analysis branch.

(more at link)

[Guest justme]

Yet another backdoor attempt to institute more gun control aimed not at criminals, but at the law abiding person.

the atf should not have greater authority--they should have their authority diminished.

[Guest CrazyLincoln]

Other than the gun show crackdown aspect, I don't really see a problem if they were actually to focus on illegal gun sales. However, I get the impression they see it as if a law abiding citizen can simply buy a gun, then that means a criminal can too, so outlaw the whole thing.

[eapking]

Got to be Bloomberg behind this.

[Mark@Sea]

I'd be wondering how many of those 450 mayors are aware their names are being used. Seen more than one article lately where a mayor is proclaiming that he'd never joined, and isn't happy the group (MAIG) is using his name.

[ukerduker]

And the mayors are...

Mayors Against Illegal Guns - Coalition Members

[analog_kidd]

Yep, there's the gun hatin' Mayor of Oak Ridge, Tom Beehan.

[raydog1]

NRA-ILA's youtube channel has been reporting regularly on this group. They've reported that several mayors left the group once they realized that they were really against ALL guns. Not just "illegal" guns. It was just a matter of time before they made their move.

[Guest SUNTZU]

"Office of Tactical Trace Analysis,"

Horatio Caine: You know what they say You lie down with the Devil, you wake up in Hell.

[Guest CrimsonTrace]

What's wrong with keeping criminals locked up in jail for the duration of their sentences instead of letting them out earlier so they can find new victims sooner, rather than later?

A conservatives view of guns: Don't like guns? Then don't buy'em.

A liberal's view on guns: I think guns are evil and you shouldn't be able to have any.