Firearm Industry Requests Seat at Mayors' Gun Summit
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:09 am
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 "
"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 "
