C&P MICHAEL BLOOMBERG GETS WARNING
Copied from THE BULLET, The official publication of the Virginia Shooting Sports Association, July/August 2007
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG GETS WARNING
Hizzoner Michael Bloomberg Gets Fair Warning
The Commonwealth of Virginia has served notice to the mayor of New York that enough is enough. Virginia Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell has sent a letter to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg telling him to cease and desist the practice of sending private agents into Virginia in efforts to conduct illegal gun purchases.
If the practice continues Bloomberg's agents, and Bloomberg himself, may face felony charges. McDonnell doesn't characterize his communication to Bloomberg as a "formal cease-and-desist" preferring instead to call it a "courtesy letter to advise him about a change in Virginia law of which he should be aware."
Virginia's legal change is the result of the General Assembly's being fed up with New York City's practice of sending unannounced, and unofficial agents into the Commonwealth in a attempt to trap Virginia gun dealers in illegal sales. New legislation overwhelmingly approved in the Assembly says that Virginia or federal law enforcement officials must be present before such "stings" can be conducted.
In the Bloomberg letter, McDonnell says the new law "strikes a proper balance between ensuring proper law enforcement and protecting the rights of law-abiding firearms dealers and those of Virginia citizens under the Second Amendment."
Bloomberg has continued to insist that Virginia firearms dealers have been contributing to violent crime in New York City because of their continued practice of making a variety of illegal firearms sales. Those include the "straw man" practice where a person who is not precluded from owning a firearm purchases one for someone who, for a variety of reasons, is disqualified from owning a firearm. Bloomberg has unilaterally sent agents into Virginia in attempts to make those disqualified purchases, claiming that between 1994 and 2002 a total of 22 firearms were purchased from a single gun shop, Bob Moate's Sports Shop in Richmond.
Consequently, a suit was filed against Moate and five other Virginia dealers in U. S. District Court in Brooklyn. In all, a total of two dozen shops from surrounding states were named in the suit.
While some shops have settled, Moate and others are fighting the suit, refusing to cave in to what they call situations created to trick dealers. Moate's attorney says that when the truth is told, the "dealers will be the victims."
As the costs rise (a representative of Bob Moate's Sports Shop recently told Cam & Company on NRANews.com that the store has racked up about $50,000 in legal costs so far), a variety of fundraising activities are being held to raise money to continue the fight against the suits funded by the multimillionaire mayor.
Other states are also encouraging their accused dealers to stand and fight, encouraging them to demand that Bloomberg produce evidence to substantiate the accusations he's made. The fact is, Bloomberg is trying to limit access to firearms by reducing the sources that gun owners have to make purchases.
The ATF has made the same demands, with only limited success. Now, it seems up to the individual dealers to make Bloomberg and his political cronies either put up or shut up.
Since 1993, the number of Federal Firearms Licensed Dealers has reduced by 80%. Yes, that's right, 80%. The ATF states most of these were the "kitchen table" dealers but the fact is, less gun dealers means less access to guns.
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG GETS WARNING
Hizzoner Michael Bloomberg Gets Fair Warning
The Commonwealth of Virginia has served notice to the mayor of New York that enough is enough. Virginia Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell has sent a letter to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg telling him to cease and desist the practice of sending private agents into Virginia in efforts to conduct illegal gun purchases.
If the practice continues Bloomberg's agents, and Bloomberg himself, may face felony charges. McDonnell doesn't characterize his communication to Bloomberg as a "formal cease-and-desist" preferring instead to call it a "courtesy letter to advise him about a change in Virginia law of which he should be aware."
Virginia's legal change is the result of the General Assembly's being fed up with New York City's practice of sending unannounced, and unofficial agents into the Commonwealth in a attempt to trap Virginia gun dealers in illegal sales. New legislation overwhelmingly approved in the Assembly says that Virginia or federal law enforcement officials must be present before such "stings" can be conducted.
In the Bloomberg letter, McDonnell says the new law "strikes a proper balance between ensuring proper law enforcement and protecting the rights of law-abiding firearms dealers and those of Virginia citizens under the Second Amendment."
Bloomberg has continued to insist that Virginia firearms dealers have been contributing to violent crime in New York City because of their continued practice of making a variety of illegal firearms sales. Those include the "straw man" practice where a person who is not precluded from owning a firearm purchases one for someone who, for a variety of reasons, is disqualified from owning a firearm. Bloomberg has unilaterally sent agents into Virginia in attempts to make those disqualified purchases, claiming that between 1994 and 2002 a total of 22 firearms were purchased from a single gun shop, Bob Moate's Sports Shop in Richmond.
Consequently, a suit was filed against Moate and five other Virginia dealers in U. S. District Court in Brooklyn. In all, a total of two dozen shops from surrounding states were named in the suit.
While some shops have settled, Moate and others are fighting the suit, refusing to cave in to what they call situations created to trick dealers. Moate's attorney says that when the truth is told, the "dealers will be the victims."
As the costs rise (a representative of Bob Moate's Sports Shop recently told Cam & Company on NRANews.com that the store has racked up about $50,000 in legal costs so far), a variety of fundraising activities are being held to raise money to continue the fight against the suits funded by the multimillionaire mayor.
Other states are also encouraging their accused dealers to stand and fight, encouraging them to demand that Bloomberg produce evidence to substantiate the accusations he's made. The fact is, Bloomberg is trying to limit access to firearms by reducing the sources that gun owners have to make purchases.
The ATF has made the same demands, with only limited success. Now, it seems up to the individual dealers to make Bloomberg and his political cronies either put up or shut up.
Since 1993, the number of Federal Firearms Licensed Dealers has reduced by 80%. Yes, that's right, 80%. The ATF states most of these were the "kitchen table" dealers but the fact is, less gun dealers means less access to guns.
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