Firearms Industry Comments on NYC Settlement With Gun Dealers

2 August 2006

The National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, said today that the proposed settlement between New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and two of 15 federal firearms licensed gun dealers targeted by Bloomberg in a federal lawsuit was redundant to existing federal regulatory oversight and joint educational programs between the firearms industry and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The agreement, announced yesterday, calls for the two dealers to receive additional training in conducting lawful sales and detecting and preventing sales to illegitimate 'straw' purchasers. "The firearms industry has for years partnered with ATF, the appropriate and legally authorized federal regulatory agency, to provide dealers with education and training on how to prevent illegal straw purchases through our 'Don't Lie for the Other Guy' program, and on how to comply with the extensive laws and regulations governing the lawful sale of firearms through our 'Partner for Progress' seminars," said Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president and general counsel of the NSSF. "It is disappointing that the mayor calls for more dealer education but continues to rebuff our proven programs. Our responsible industry is proud of its longstanding cooperative relationship with law enforcement, and we look forward to continuing this valuable partnership," added Keane. Each dealer receives extensive educational training from ATF.

The dealers also allowed a "special master," to be selected and paid by the city, to monitor their lawful and highly regulated business practices. "The monitor's oversight will be largely redundant to that of ATF," said Keane. The monitor will also be able to fine the dealers for violations of the settlement agreement. Ironically, Bloomberg opposes federal legislation (HR 5092) that would enhance the ATF's enforcement powers by permitting the agency to issue fines and to suspend licenses, in addition to revoking licenses.

Bloomberg has had an adversarial relationship with the ATF. In announcing his lawsuit in May, he claimed ATF "was asleep at the switch" and not doing its job. Bloomberg ordered sting operations to be conducted at 45 dealers without notifying either ATF or the New York Police Department. In the proces, the mayor's operations interfered with as many as 18 ongoing federal investigations, jeopardizing the lives of undercover law enforcement officers and witnesses.

"We call upon Mayor Bloomberg to support ATF rather than continually insulting the agency and interfering with its ability to do its job," said Keane. "Regrettably, Mayor Bloomberg seems more interested in making headlines than real progress."

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Important Links:

NSSF Programs: http://www.nssf.org/news/PR_idx.cfm?PRloc=common/legal/042506Summit/&PR=index.cfm

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives: http://www.atf.gov/firearms/ffrrg/index.htm

http://www.usnewswire.com/

Source: usnewswire

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