Unknownassailant
05-23-2006, 11:39 AM
Mayor, Councilman Oppose Bill That Bans 'Crime Gun Trace Data'
POSTED: 4:07 pm PDT May 22, 2006
UPDATED: 4:25 pm PDT May 22, 2006
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LOS ANGELES -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Jack Weiss announced their opposition Monday to a federal bill they said would weaken the ability of law enforcement agencies to trace guns back to their owners.
Villaraigosa and Weiss joined members of Women Against Gun Violence in opposing HR 5005, which includes provisions to permanently ban the use of "crime gun trace data" collected by the National Tracing Center -- a branch of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives -- for any purpose other than criminal prosecutions and ATF administrative hearings.
Villaraigosa said such restrictions would deny access for law enforcement officials investigating corrupt gun dealers, traffickers or so-called straw purchasers, who buy guns for those unable to pass a background check.
"How many times have you heard about a crime on the evening news or read about a senseless shooting and asked the simple question, 'Where did the gun come from?"' Villaraigosa said during a City Hall news conference.
"The answer is a critical element in solving crime and found through the National Tracing Center," he said.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino have already voiced their opposition to the so-called Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act, which was introduced March 16 by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas.
Smith's office could not be reached for immediate comment.
In response to Smith's bill, Weiss said he will introduce a motion Tuesday that would require stiff penalties for gun owners who fail to report lost or stolen weapons.
"When you lose your gun or have your gun stolen from you, you know it, you take it seriously," Weiss said. "And now we're going to say you're a public safety hazard and a criminal if you don't report it to the cops."
Villaraigosa and Weiss also announced their support of a pair of proposed state measures that would require better oversight of gun dealers, and another bill that calls for microstamping semiautomatic handguns to better trace the owners.
Copyright 2006 by NBC4.tv. City News Service contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
POSTED: 4:07 pm PDT May 22, 2006
UPDATED: 4:25 pm PDT May 22, 2006
Email This Story | Print This Story
LOS ANGELES -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Jack Weiss announced their opposition Monday to a federal bill they said would weaken the ability of law enforcement agencies to trace guns back to their owners.
Villaraigosa and Weiss joined members of Women Against Gun Violence in opposing HR 5005, which includes provisions to permanently ban the use of "crime gun trace data" collected by the National Tracing Center -- a branch of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives -- for any purpose other than criminal prosecutions and ATF administrative hearings.
Villaraigosa said such restrictions would deny access for law enforcement officials investigating corrupt gun dealers, traffickers or so-called straw purchasers, who buy guns for those unable to pass a background check.
"How many times have you heard about a crime on the evening news or read about a senseless shooting and asked the simple question, 'Where did the gun come from?"' Villaraigosa said during a City Hall news conference.
"The answer is a critical element in solving crime and found through the National Tracing Center," he said.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino have already voiced their opposition to the so-called Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act, which was introduced March 16 by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas.
Smith's office could not be reached for immediate comment.
In response to Smith's bill, Weiss said he will introduce a motion Tuesday that would require stiff penalties for gun owners who fail to report lost or stolen weapons.
"When you lose your gun or have your gun stolen from you, you know it, you take it seriously," Weiss said. "And now we're going to say you're a public safety hazard and a criminal if you don't report it to the cops."
Villaraigosa and Weiss also announced their support of a pair of proposed state measures that would require better oversight of gun dealers, and another bill that calls for microstamping semiautomatic handguns to better trace the owners.
Copyright 2006 by NBC4.tv. City News Service contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed