Firearm Industry Requests Seat at Mayors' Gun Summit

[Paladin]

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_ht ... _id=124716

"Firearm Industry Requests Seat at Mayors' Gun Summit

NEWTOWN, CT -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/24/2006 -- In a letter faxed today to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office, the trade association representing the firearm industry officially requested a seat at the table at tomorrow's national summit on illegal guns organized by Bloomberg and Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston.

Lawrence G. Keane, who signed the letter on behalf of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), said the industry shares the mayors' concerns about further reducing crime by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.

"Our industry has developed programs that are working to reduce criminal misuse of firearms, as well as reduce firearms accidents. We would welcome the opportunity to educate mayors about these programs, including Don't Lie for the Other Guy, the straw purchase deterrence initiative developed in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives," said Keane, senior vice president and general counsel.

ATF Director Carl J. Truscott has praised Don't Lie for the Other Guy as a great success and, "an important tool for ATF as we pursue our mission of preventing terrorism, reducing violent crime, and protecting the public..."

Others also have recognized the firearm industry's goal of keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. In dismissing its lawsuit against the industry, the City of Boston acknowledged, "that members of the industry and [NSSF] are genuinely concerned with and are committed to the safe, legal and responsible sale and distribution and use of their products."

While the industry remains committed to cooperation, it does not hold out much hope for constructive dialogue given the overheated rhetoric from City Hall. Mayor Bloomberg recently asserted in testimony before a Congressional subcommittee that in effect every firearm traced by law enforcement was the consequence of a "bad" sale by the firearms dealer. "That assertion is demonstrably false," said Keane.

"Corrupt firearms dealers should be prosecuted, but the mere fact that a trace has occurred does not mean that anyone in the chain of commerce has done anything wrong," he added. "Tracing is a law enforcement investigative tool and the data it produces should not be misused as evidence to bring lawsuits."

Bloomberg has threatened to sue firearms retailers using such gun trace data.

Note to Editors: Please click the following link to read the full letter from Keane: http://www.nssf.org/share/legal/042506Summit "

[jimlongley]

While this is a fine idea, I fear that the anti-gun forces will prevent it from taking place. Probably some excuse about private industry not belonging at the mayors' conference or some such.

Of course the Brady Bunch will be prominently represented.

[KBCraig]

You should fear that NSSF will get a seat -- and strike a deal.

NSSF is not the NRA.

[jbirds1210]

KB, I could not agree more! Who does a deal benefit, the shooter or the store? I really wish that some of these groups would not choose to represent the masses.
Jason

[stevie_d_64]

The Yahoo update...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060426/ap_ ... ayors_guns

When will they ever learn?

Opps...My bad...I forgot...

[longtooth]

Never StevieD, never.

[stevie_d_64]

I think its a bit funny they (Firearms Industry) actually would expect to get a seat at such an event...

Even if they asked nicely...

Its almost a stretch if the auto industry and the big oil companies getting together to talk about the high price of oil...

Oh yeah, that would be productive...

[TxFire]

"Menino said he met recently with a sixth-grade class in Boston in which nine out of 10 pupils said they knew where they could find a gun."

My two year old knows where he can find a gun also, but he can't gain access to it.

[Paladin]

More articles:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/25/nyreg ... ref=slogin

"The National Shooting Sports Foundation, an industry group that represents gun manufacturers and retailers, said Mr. Bloomberg's office had denied its request for a chance to make its case to the mayors.

In addition to Mr. Bloomberg and Mr. Menino, the other mayors at the gathering are Philip A. Amicone of Yonkers; Tom Barrett of Milwaukee; Byron W. Brown of Buffalo; David N. Cicilline of Providence, R.I.; Jerramiah T. Healy of Jersey City; Laura Miller of Dallas; Frank Melton of Jackson, Miss.; Gregory J. Nickels of Seattle; Douglas H. Palmer of Trenton; Eddie A. Perez of Hartford; John F. Street of Philadelphia; Kathy Taylor of Tulsa, Okla.; and Anthony A. Williams of Washington."

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/67502.htm

"The trade association representing the firearms industry yesterday asked to be included in the "gun summit" being held today at Gracie Mansion for more than a dozen mayors from around the nation.
"Our industry has developed programs that are working to reduce criminal misuse of firearms," Lawrence Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, wrote the mayor.

"We would welcome the opportunity to educate mayors about these programs."

He didn't get very far.

"Are they mayors?" asked Stu Loeser, Bloomberg's press secretary, dismissing the request out of hand. "

-------------------------------------------------

Loeser isn't ashamed to make it clear this 'summit' was for elitists only.