Ellington

The New York Times is reporting on the meeting of 15 mayors, including Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, in New York to figure out how to curb the flow of guns in cities:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York and Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston, who organized the meeting, said the mayors needed to use every tool, including tougher laws and litigation against firearms dealers, to combat gun trafficking because the federal government had abdicated its responsibility.

"It is time for national leadership in the war on gun violence, and if the leadership won't come from Congress or come from the White House, then it has to come from us," said Mr. Bloomberg, a Republican who has made gun violence a signature issue of his second term. "When Congress does not take the lead on a major problem that affects the whole nation — whether it's global warming, welfare, immigration — it's up to the cities and states to do it. And we have. So now we'll do the same with illegal guns."
...

But the mayors have little formal influence over national firearms policy, and the political climate in Washington is largely hostile to new gun restrictions. Mr. Bloomberg acknowledged those hurdles in his opening remarks to the mayors gathered in the mansion's ballroom, whose walls are covered in Wedgwood-blue Venetian plaster.

"We know we'll face enormous difficulties and challenges," Mr. Bloomberg said. "The opposition is very well organized."

Douglas A. Muzzio, a professor of public affairs at Baruch College, said Mr. Bloomberg's power may be largely limited to moral suasion.

"The mayor has two things working against him: one is the overwhelming power of the N.R.A. and two is the lack of a perception of a gun crisis," he said, referring to the National Rifle Association. "If gun violence were out of control in the cities as it was in the cowboy days of the late 80's and early 90's, he might have a better chance. That said, it might be good politics for the mayor to hold such a high-level meeting. It could crystallize the opinions of urban constituents who disproportionately suffer from gun violence."

Representatives of the gun industry accused the mayor of political grandstanding and asserted this morning that he should focus on enforcement, prosecutions and penalties rather than on gun makers and dealers.

"The policies of the Bloomberg administration on guns reek of elitism," Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, said in a telephone interview.

Previous Comments

ID

121832

Comment

Gee I wonder if FM was "packing" during his trip? Would be major illegal in those parts.

Author

JLYerg

Date

2006-04-26T01:11:17-06:00

ID

121833

Comment

Representatives of the gun industry accused the mayor of political grandstanding and asserted this morning that he should focus on enforcement, prosecutions and penalties rather than on gun makers and dealers. "The policies of the Bloomberg administration on guns reek of elitism," Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, said in a telephone interview. Gee, that sounds familiar...:-)

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-04-26T12:29:13-06:00

ID

121834

Comment

I will be buying one this weekend. Because tazing someone is more expensive and with the recent rash it feels inevitable.

Author

*SuperStar*

Date

2006-04-26T12:47:03-06:00

ID

121835

Comment

I'm trying t figure out what exactly will FM add to the conference in NY on curbing guns in communities?? From Donna's Melton reports, FM's house had plenty of guns around. Underaged children live with him which makes you wonder about his comfort level with this type of gun exposure. FM reported to Donna about a kid blowing his brains out in his living room at another home he owned in Madison. Whose gun did the youngster use to commit this ultimate act of self -hate? Was it one of the guns just laying around the house?? I also wonder if FM will share this story with other Mayors. He will certainly become the the poster adult for idiots.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-04-26T14:59:29-06:00

ID

121836

Comment

I hope that they don't let Frank speak while he is in New York. Remember the old saying............it's better that to be thought of as an idiot that to open you mouth and remove all doubt.

Author

lance

Date

2006-04-26T16:12:14-06:00

ID

121837

Comment

To all of the Mayors I wish them luck. And being that that Melton is Mayor slap in the middle of good ole boy country, he’ll certainly be needing that luck. The issue is above all of their pay grades and heads.

Author

K RHODES

Date

2006-04-27T15:32:03-06:00

ID

121838

Comment

justjess, good question. I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that one: Where did the kid get the gun to blow his brains out in Mr. Melton's home? He told me recently that he locks up the weapons, but I also know for a fact that people were constantly walking in and out his big bedroom with a semiautomatic weapons casually lying on the dresser.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-04-27T19:48:13-06:00

ID

121839

Comment

Also remember what we reported during the campaign: Mr. Melton didn't want stronger gun laws. Now, he seems to be reversing himself, which I could respect -- if he were showing a respect for weapons laws already on the books. He is simply not above the law. And if the attorney general, or some higher authority, doesn't let him know that, someone is going to get killed. Mark my words. And $1.2 billion of investment is not going to make that fact any easier to deal with.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-04-27T19:49:27-06:00