A Narrow Victory

Thanks to a vocal grassroots opposition, the Thune Amendment on concealed weapons was narrowly defeated in the senate yesterday, signaling a victory for gun control advocates throughout the country. I'm glad our efforts paid off, but the truth is, we can't rest on our laurels - the fact that Democrats and Republicans alike voted for the measure only underscores that we must remain vigilant in the fight against the NRA.

Fighting the Thune amendment -- which would have enabled residents of states with lax gun laws to carry loaded, concealed weapons in states that strictly regulate such possession - was imperative. But even with that measure stopped, the rash of guns entering here in New York, from other states, continues to be a major problem. According to 2008 ATF data, hundreds of guns connected to New York crimes originated out of state, and the numbers went up from the year before. In fact, 88 % of the guns used in New York City crimes are from out of state. Just this year, Virginia provided 372 guns; Pennsylvania racked up 247; North Carolina, 251; South Carolina, 240; Georgia, 252, and Florida, 203. By comparison there were only 345 guns used in city crimes traced to sales in New York State.

To combat this, we need an interstate strike force to share information on illegal gun trafficking investigations, in a central clearinghouse data center.

Currently there's no such information-sharing mechanism, meaning that even if several states have data on one specific trafficker, we don't know the overall extent of their activity. However, if we linked each state's already existing data center, we could better identify the large gun traffickers, and be able to track, target, and stop them before they enter the city and wreak untold damage.

As DA, this would be one of several new initiatives I'd implement to crack down on gun violence. We scored a good victory this week, but we simply cannot let up the fight.

Comments

[GoingBust]

This victory was a great day for all of those opposed to freedom and supportive of the police state as Richard Aborn is. This will be voted on again and again until it passes.

[djkrlsn]

It would be nice if the Brady people would recognize the implications of Heller and acknowledge that once their agenda goes beyond laws narrowly aimed at controlling CRIMINALS and NOT the law abiding, it become illegitimate

[Ohio9]

It's telling that the only thing the gun grabbers can call a victory involved a bi-partisan majority vote in FAVOR of a gun rights law.

[djkrlsn]

that tortured logic is probably why the BC is still bragging about a bill (NICS improvements) that passed BECAUSE OF NRA SUPPORT

[Thirdpower]

"According to 2008 ATF data, hundreds of guns connected to New York crimes "

This right here is an outright falsehood and our DA wannabe knows it.

Page one of EVERY ATF trace report states "not all firearms traced are used in crime" and that trace data alone cannot be used for statistics.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/trace_data/2007/newyork07.pdf

[legaleagle 45]

You are good!! Let me expand on that just a bit. The report documents all police traces of guns. There are several reasons that a trace might be done, with an associated gun crime being only one of the variety of reasons for such a trace. Further, even if a crime is involved this does not mean that the gun was part of the crime. For example, if you are arrested for tax evasion and the police uncover a gun at the residence they may run a trace... this will show up in the stats.

One more thing... take a look at page 7 of the pdf... the average time from original retail purchase to the time the trace is run is 12.4 YEARS... think about that.

[Willbill]

Enjoy it while you can. You know just as much as much as us that the NRA will eventually win.

[OdinsEye]

Well, I have to give Aborn some props. Unlike Paul, Josh, and Dennis, this was some kind of major smack down, Rich at least acknowledges how close it actually was.

Was it a victory for the gun control lobby? Sure. But it was a minor one. For one thing, the gun control lobby gained nothing except the status quo. Had it been a bill and not an amendment, it would would only need 51 votes and would have passed by 7 votes. Plus it had many Dems crossing the line to vote with Republicans, further weakening the imaginary hold that the Dems think they have over Congress. And the those who voted against the measure can expect that the NRA will use that to portray them as anti-gun.

Further, national reciprocity has been an effort in Congress for many years now and is not going away, especially not with a vote like this one.

[legaleagle 45]

Agreed, with 58 senators voting for this bill, what are the chances of any legislation on the Brady Bunch wish list passing in this Congress? IMHO, slim and none.

[djkrlsn]

Mr Aborn==what you support is a nonstarter