West Virginia Says No to Bloomberg
The New York Daily News reported this week that finally someone in a sovereign state other than New York is standing up to New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. The paper notes:
“A legislator there wants to ban the type of undercover stings that Bloomberg has used to showcase illegal gun sales in other states – and throw the mayor’s investigators in jail if necessary.
“‘It’s for us to handle within our own borders,’ said state Sen. Jeffrey Kessler, who is running for governor in 2012. ‘We jealously guard our gun rights, and we’re vocal advocates for the Second Amendment.’”
Kudos to Jeffrey Kessler. It is about time someone stood up to Mikey.
Tiny Gun Causes Child Big Trouble
While toy guns have evolved – devolved even – over the years, we sort of understand if these look realistic. Considering that police have enough to worry about we agree that realistic guns can be a problem. But is this about keeping guns safe, or really about teaching guns that all guns are bad. That’s a question we ask because of a story making the rounds this week on how a child in New York City was in trouble for a toy gun for an action figure. MSNBC notes this fact:
“Department of Education policy states that there can be no imitation guns on school property, and a representative said that the principal has ultimate discretion, and this one felt there was reason for ‘concern.’”
So why is a toy gun for an action figure a problem? Is this even an imitation gun? Imitations in our opinion at least would be replicas – as in full-size or approximate size to the real deal. A toy gun for an action figure or toy is just that – a toy. It isn’t an imitation. No one calls a Matchbox car an imitation toy. It is a scale replica, with scale being the key word.
But this is no surprise in New York City, where it is a crime to sell toy guns. Soon we might expect toy stores to ban action figures, or anything “violent,” regardless of whether it is historical. We assume this would mean no knights sold at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has a fine gallery of arms and armor. And soon we might expect that the military planes need to be removed from the U.S.S. Intrepid, the World War II era aircraft carrier turned floating museum. But that’s New York City for you!
One Sided Local News Story in Daily News Passed Off as News
Where does news end and editorial begin, especially when the piece is about local news? The New York Daily News certainly blurred the lines in a story about a young anti-firearm zealot from Brooklyn. The story pulls no punches, and comes out swinging with this intro:
”At 18, Kristine Arroyo already knows how to stand up to the powerful National Rifle Association – and tomorrow night, she’ll stand up and be honored at Borough President Marty Markowitz’s State of the Borough address.” Read more
WPIX Says Gun Buyback a Win-Win, We Say it is a Lose-Lose
In New York City WPIX reported that four Bronx churches held the second annual gun buyback program to “get illegal handguns and other weapons off the streets.” But is this really a win-win? People were paid about $200 for each “eligible weapon” – whatever that might be – but were limited to three guns or $600.
And do we really think any criminals, drug dealers, gang members or thugs handed in anything? So were any guns actually taken off the streets? And how many potential value and historically important firearms will be turned over to the police? We say this was a lose-lose-lose. A loss for anyone thinking the streets in the Bronx are safer, a loss for anyone who sold a firearm for a mere $200, and a loss of history.
Gun Buyback in the Bronx
Yet another attempt to “get guns off the streets,” this time in New York City’s The Bronx, an area that unfortunately has no shortage of guns actually on the streets. The question is whether $200 for each firearm turned in would even be enough to persuade anyone to do so?
Of course, maybe it is enough money, at least if this item from EmpireStateNews.net is to be believed:
“Handguns, rifles and shotguns will be accepted, however guns belonging to either active or retired law enforcement officials are not eligible for the buyback program. Functional BB guns and air pistols may be exchanged for a gift card.”
The problem we see time and time again is that the value assigned to the gift cards seldom has anything to do with actual value. We realize this is an attempt to get people to hand in guns for something, but “functional BB guns” are being compared with rifles and shotguns? Amazing!
Mayor Bloomberg: Too Many Guns Caused Times Square Shooting
It only takes one gun – that being a gun in a criminal’s hand – to be too many. But clearly that isn’t the point that New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg wanted to make with Time magazine. But did Bloomberg make this statement, or is this Time voicing what the mayor might say? The story does suggest that Bloomberg thinks there are too many guns:
“Mayor Michael Bloomberg was asked about the shooting while appearing at a Manhattan charity event, and he used the question to discuss one of his signature issues — illegal firearms and gun violence in New York and other big cities. ‘We’ve got to stop this,’ Bloomberg said. ‘This is one of the great public health threats. And our police officers are clearly in danger.’
Is this really a threat to public health? Frankly we think Bloomberg thinks any gun that belongs to anyone – law abiding or otherwise – is too many. But clearly he doesn’t think that two terms is enough, even if that was the law.
Bloomberg Responds to Times Square Shooting
While we often criticize the police we offer a BIG thank you to New York Police Department for stopping a very violent man, Raymond Martinez of the Bronx, this week in Times Square. This could have been a very ugly situation and the NYPD responded rightfully and quickly, saving the day and likely saving lives.
Of course we must respond to Mayor Mike Bloomberg for his (expected) response, which was covered by The Associated Press:
“Mayor Michael Bloomberg was asked about the shooting while appearing at a Manhattan charity event, and he used the question to discuss one of his signature issues — illegal firearms and gun violence in New York and other big cities. ‘We’ve got to stop this,’ Bloomberg said. ‘This is one of the great public health threats. And our police officers are clearly in danger.’”
Stopping illegal guns is one thing, and we encourage the mayor to do so. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that New York has an essential prohibition of firearms, and that law-abiding citizens are the ones who are clearly being disarmed, not the thugs like Raymond Martinez.
Firing Back: Should Bankers Have Guns? Why Not, We Ask?
Look for this to become big news… Wall Street big wigs are getting guns. Well, not quite. Media outlets around the New York City area are reporting that some bankers are applying for pistol permits. What isn’t typically mentioned is that any New York resident, at least those who haven’t been convicted of a crime or have a mental illness, can apply. Many media outlets are also failing to report what a difficult and time consumer – not to mention expenses process it is to go through!
At least the New York Posted noted this much:
“At least Goldman bankers, who can make tens of millions a year, will find the permit fees relatively cheap: Registration and fingerprinting charges total $434.25.”
That’s right. For everyone, millionaire or not, the fees are nearly $450 in New York to obtain what the U.S. constitution says you have a right to own. And note that this is fingerprinting, as in the same type of fingerprinting people who are actually arrested go through. But if Mike Bloomberg had his way, he’d probably make it a crime to apply for a gun permit!
WABC News Misleads in Tease for “Community Guns”
The tease this past Tuesday from WABC Channel Eye Witness News suggested that “anyone” including “teens” could get their hands on so-called “community guns” in part of New York City. Further it was said that guns were “borrowed” or even being “rented out,” suggesting that maybe a gun shop or other organization was actually offering firearms for rental.
Not so fast. The story actually clears this up, telling that it was gang members in The Bronx who were doing the loaning and offering the guns for rental. In many cases these criminals were leaving the guns in places where they could be easily recovered. The story noted:
“In March, a round-up of forty-one suspected gang members turned up five guns hidden in a stash house in Washington Heights.” Read more
Raymond W. Kelly Offers Editorial for NY Daily News – We Respond
We respect what men like New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly have done to make our cities safe. There is no doubt that Mr. Kelly is a good man, but we still think some of this tactics go a bit far. While his editorial for The New York Daily News mostly addresses illegal guns, his message puts too much blame on straw purchases and the so-called “gun show loophole,” without putting the real blame on the scum who want the guns in the first place. Maybe if we were tougher on the real criminals, than law abiding citizens wouldn’t have to jump through stupid hoops to buy firearms. While the city worries about loopholes, it makes it so difficult for collectors, hunters and sports shooters. In the end New York City will be a land where only the police and criminals have guns. That’s a city many wouldn’t want to live in.
