New York City stings more dealers

Shooting Industry, Jan, 2007 by Russ Thurman

The second round of lawsuits against gun dealers by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg comes as no surprise. Buoyed by political highfiving, the mayor is enjoying the adoration of anti-gun proponents.

While Bloomberg's purpose may be honorable--stopping the flow of illegal firearms--his methods are heavy-handed and harmful as they relate to other criminal investigations. New York's self-styled "sting operations" have jeopardized, according to law enforcement experts, numerous cases by other agencies, including those of the Justice Department.

The most recent lawsuits, announced in early December, brings the number of dealers who have been sued by the city to 27. Of the first 15 dealers, six have reached settlements with New York City, with three of the dealers agreeing to have a "Special Master" oversee their sales practices. The Special Master, according to a NYC news release, "has broad monitoring powers, including unlimited review of firearms-related records."

Throughout Mayor Bloomberg's sting operations of gun dealers and his mayoral coalition against illegal guns, he has rebuffed the firearm industry's offers of assistance.

That doesn't make sense, unless you filter the mayor's objectives through a "political collateral" filter. When you do, the result is heavy doses of grandstanding. Such sledgehammer tactics, however, do not result in meaningful, long-term change or benefit.

You can be assured other large cities have studied Bloomberg's tactics and are considering similar sting operations; it's likely some have already been conducted. It's all part of the shift in anti-gun strategy from the national level to state and local governments.

That's reflected in the lawsuit brought by anti-hunting and anti-gun organizations against the California Fish and Game Commission, claiming the use of lead ammunition violates the "Endangered Species Act."

Then there's the argument by District of Columbia attorneys that the Second Amendment applies only to militias and doesn't support an individual's right to bear arms.

Face it: The challenges to the industry by those who want to ban guns and gun ownership are just part of doing business in today's world.