For your viewing pleasure

www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=158859&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=&newsdate=8/8/2003

Authorities target gun violence
Albany-- Push is on to refer more cases to federal court, where the penalties are more severe  

First published: Friday, August 8, 2003

A new toll-free hot line for reporting gun crimes is part of a renewed effort to crack down on illegal weapons in the Capital Region.
A group of local, state and federal officials convened in Albany on Thursday to promote the hot line and to promise to send more people accused of having illegal weapons into the federal court system, where they can draw more severe penalties.

"The idea is to send the message that the communities of Albany, Schenectady and Troy are fed up with gun violence," said Glenn Suddaby, U.S. attorney for New York's Northern District.

Some gun crimes that draw between 3- and 7-year sentences in state court can carry 10- or 15-year sentences when prosecuted in federal court, officials said.

Albany County usually handles more than 100 gun cases a year, referring between 10 and 20 to federal authorities, Albany County District Attorney Paul Clyne said. This coming year, Clyne said he expects federal referrals to increase to between 20 and 40.

The new hot line -- (800) ATF-GUNS -- provides a place for residents to report illegal gun owners to federal agents. It will be publicized with a new advertising campaign including billboards throughout the Capital Region.

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First off, how does your neighbor know the difference between an 'illegal gun' and your 'postban' AR????

Will we expect to see the ATFies politely come knocking on our doors or calling anyone 'accused' or will we see more no-knocks at 3AM?

They were trying to implement this in Syracuse awhile ago. It got a bunch of stories and then it just kinda died.