NEW YORKERS AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE
Working to Reduce Gun-Related Violence Since 1993
For Immediate Release
April 9, 2006
Advocates Praise Councilman Yassky for Taking Steps to Reduce Illegal Guns
New York, New York, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV), New York's leading state gun violence prevention organization, and the New York Chapter of the Million Mom March joined Councilman David Yassky on the steps of City Hall to support his legislation allowing the City to fine any member of the gun industry who violates a code of conduct intended to keep guns out of prohibited hands.
Barbara Hohlt, NYAGV Board Member said, “The gun industry has a financial incentive to look the other way when a few dirty dealers funnel guns to the illegal market. Just 1% of gun dealers are responsible for almost 60% of crime guns, yet gun manufacturers continue to supply these rogue dealers, allowing a steady stream of illegal guns to travel up I-95 (aka the iron-pipeline) and onto our streets. Instead of responding to this deadly problem with actions to protect Americans, Congress has it backwards, they have protected the gun industry by passing a bill giving legal immunity to gun dealers and by using budget bills to restrict law enforcement access to crime gun trace data. It is clearly up to local government to take action and Councilman Yassky has introduced a creative response to this deadly problem”.
While most gun dealers are reputable, a few bad apple dealers are able to flood the streets with illegal guns by allowing straw purchases, (when a person who can legally buy guns purchases weapons for a prohibited person). Rogue gun dealers also contribute to the illegal gun market through sloppy inventory. The Washington DC sniper used a rifle which was one of several hundred that were “lost” from a gun shop in Tacoma Washington. A gun dealer in California was recently found to have “lost” almost 2,000 guns that had been delivered to his shop.
There are federal laws requiring that gun dealers follow responsible business practices, but these laws are rarely enforced due to low staffing levels at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and Congressional restrictions on the type and frequency of inspections. A recent report by the Office of the Inspector General found that “the ATF’s inspection program is not fully effective for ensuring that dealers comply with federal firearms laws because inspections are infrequent and of inconsistent quality, and follow-up inspections and adverse actions have been sporadic”.
A 2004 report by the Americans for Gun Safety found that “Most high crime gun stores remain open and they are rarely inspected by federal agents. 120 gun stores were the source of at least 54,694 guns traced to crimes between 1996 and 2000. Each of these 120 stores had a minimum of 200 crime gun traces, while 6 stores had more than one thousand and two stores had more than two thousand crime gun traces. 96 of these high crime stores remain open and some that have shut down have reopened with virtually the same ownership”.
Edie Smith, Million Mom March Chapter Leader and NYAGV Board Member closed, “It is clear that we can significantly reduce the number of illegal guns by going to the source and holding rogue gun dealers accountable. Councilman Yassky’s legislation does just that”.
Contact: Jackie Kuhls 917-587-4108
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence 3W 29th St. Suite 1007 New York, NY 10001 212-679-2345