December 20, 2005

Gun dealers balk at proposal to hold them liable


By Heather Yakin and John Milgrim
Times Herald-Record
[email protected]@aol.com

Albany - Gun dealers could be held liable if they sell weapons that are later used to commit a crime under an Assembly proposal that's under fire by gun-rights proponents.

The proposal, drafted late last week, merges Republican proposals that would stiffen penalties against illegal gun sellers with Democratic proposals to increase restrictions on legitimate dealers. The Assembly bill calls for dealers to carry at least $1 million in liability insurance, affix new and lengthy warning labels to all guns, and cancel a sale if there is a "reasonable suspicion" the gun could be resold to criminals.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, the bill's architect, has been under political and media fire since the recent shooting deaths of two New York City cops.

"They're trying to hold gun dealers liable for criminal misuse of firearms," but that's prohibited by federal law, said Jacob Rieper, legislative director of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association. "They're just doing it as harassment."

Some of the bill's provisions sound like old news to Bob Lounsbury of Lounsbury's Sporting Goods in Middletown, like a mandate to show customers how to use their new guns.

"For 50 years, we've done that," he said. And all dealers are already required by federal law to deny a sale to someone who they suspect is buying the gun for someone else.

"I think that Mr. Silver has lost his perspective," said Glenn Doty of Guns and Collectibles Ltd. in Montgomery, whose son is a New York City police officer. "It (the bill) winds up presuming that the bad guys are going to obey the law the same as you or me."

Silver said the proposal is meant to stop guns from falling into the wrong hands. Many Republicans and gun advocacy groups say Silver stalls legislation that could really deter illegal gun sales.

"What this (proposal) is, is further restrictions on lawful, law-abiding citizens having guns," said Sen. John Bonacic, R-C-Mount Hope. "It is a smokescreen to continue to allow criminals to hurt police officers and other people in the community. It is strictly an attempt to remain soft on crime."

The Assembly bill is expected to die. State leaders were trying yesterday to come up with compromise legislation to curtail gun trafficking before both houses meet tomorrow in a special session.

 





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When the headhunters asked me if I wanted to take a job in New York City or State I said no.  

I'll forward them this article for the reason(s) why.

I love socialist feelgood bullshit, all they want is to close the doors of gunshops and forget the 2a even exists

I'm counting the days till I can get out of this hell hole called NY state.

Three to six months and I'll be gone.

Will be going to either Virginia or back to Utah.  Not sure which yet, but at least both states have sane gun laws.

Too bad, NY is a beautiful state that otherwise and has lots going for it if you can look past the gun laws, high taxes, high cost of living, excessive number of libtards, corrupt politicians......never mnd....I guess it doesn't have that much going for it!

How the fuck can they DIRECTLY overrule the federal law just passed on this??

Polticians are so fuckin' stupid.

Quoted: Quoted: How the fuck can they DIRECTLY overrule the federal law just passed on this?? They can't.  They know it will get struck down EVENTUALLY, but imagine what it would do to existing gun dealers in the meantime. -Troy

Troy is right. They want to bankrupt the gun dealers....