The Birth of New York City Gun Laws

[VMI77]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/op ... z1jd8tiXWP

Problem was the gangs worked for Tammany. The Democratic machine used them as shtarkers (sluggers), enforcing discipline at the polls and intimidating the opposition. Gang leaders like Monk Eastman were even employed as informal “sheriffs,” keeping their turf under Tammany control.

The Tammany Tiger needed to rein in the gangs without completely crippling them. Enter Big Tim with the perfect solution: Ostensibly disarm the gangs — and ordinary citizens, too — while still keeping them on the streets.

Sullivan knew the gangs would flout the law, but appearances were more important than results.

Ordinary citizens, on the other hand, were disarmed, which solved another problem: Gangsters had been bitterly complaining to Tammany that their victims sometimes shot back at them.

[Oldgringo]

The Sullivan Law is 100 years old and apparently still works for the NYC voters. Otherwise, the enlightened voting populace of "The Big Apple" would have repealed it, eh?

Let me tell you about our next trip to NYC.

[puma guy]

I did a paper for an English class in the 60's (not well received) on firearms control. One of the results of the Sullivan Act was an increased fatality rate from gunshot wounds. Since handguns were outlawed lom guns were the weapon of choice with, obviuosly, more devastating results.