Kathy Taylor Supports Bloomberg's Agenda
Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor joined mayors from around the country in Washington to urge an end to federal restrictions on information supporters claim could help local police track illegal guns. Gun rights groups disagree, saying the proposal opens the door to gun control.
In Washington for a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Taylor joined other members of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's coalition known as Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which has targeted a bill it believes keeps the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other agencies from sharing trace data they claim could help local police combat illegal guns. Taylor's membership in the coalition has sparked considerable discussion among pro-2nd Amendment bloggers; see www.okshooters.com. One of the most outspoken members of the coalition is Boston Mayor Thomas Menino (pictured), a proponent of total gun control.
Taylor, the only Oklahoma mayor who has joined the group, cited Tulsa's escalating murder rate and acknowledges she might be facing off with the powerful gun lobby.
Most of the members of Bloomberg's coalition are gun control advocates who support efforts by the Brady Center and others to ban handguns in the United States.
"I believe in the Second Amendment, but I don't believe terrorists should have guns," Taylor said. "I don't believe people who are felons should have guns. I don't believe kids who have been convicted of violent crimes should be able to have guns, but they are getting them." She did not explain how any of the Bloomberg's group proposals would solve any of those concerns, nor did she address the existence of laws that now exist to prevent terrorists and those convicted of crimes from carrying illegal, stolen firearms.
Bloomberg's coalition members believe the only way to remove "illegal" guns is to remove all guns from the United States.
Taylor cited Tulsa's escalating murder rate for her concern. Tulsa has had five murders in the past several days. Two of them were drive-by shootings, a third was a domestic murder-suicide. "Three-quarters of homicides are with guns, and most of them are obtained illegally," she said. "It is a public safety issue." Prosecution of people caught committing violent crimes must remain a priority, Taylor said. "But when you are mayor, that is after the fact," she said.
Sharing stories she heard from mayors of other cities, Taylor noted that 30,000 Americans die each year from gunshots. She did not cite the number of cases in which law-abiding citizens use legally-owned firearms to prevent crime.
During Taylor's trip to Washington, the mayor also met with a top official of the National Rifle Association, and she agreed that they are right to be concerned that the rights of responsible gun owners not be abridged. Restrictions exist that make certain data harder to obtain, Taylor said, adding that she would discuss the NRA's concerns with the Tulsa Police Department.
In Washington for a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Taylor joined other members of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's coalition known as Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which has targeted a bill it believes keeps the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other agencies from sharing trace data they claim could help local police combat illegal guns. Taylor's membership in the coalition has sparked considerable discussion among pro-2nd Amendment bloggers; see www.okshooters.com. One of the most outspoken members of the coalition is Boston Mayor Thomas Menino (pictured), a proponent of total gun control.
Taylor, the only Oklahoma mayor who has joined the group, cited Tulsa's escalating murder rate and acknowledges she might be facing off with the powerful gun lobby.
Most of the members of Bloomberg's coalition are gun control advocates who support efforts by the Brady Center and others to ban handguns in the United States.
"I believe in the Second Amendment, but I don't believe terrorists should have guns," Taylor said. "I don't believe people who are felons should have guns. I don't believe kids who have been convicted of violent crimes should be able to have guns, but they are getting them." She did not explain how any of the Bloomberg's group proposals would solve any of those concerns, nor did she address the existence of laws that now exist to prevent terrorists and those convicted of crimes from carrying illegal, stolen firearms.
Bloomberg's coalition members believe the only way to remove "illegal" guns is to remove all guns from the United States.
Taylor cited Tulsa's escalating murder rate for her concern. Tulsa has had five murders in the past several days. Two of them were drive-by shootings, a third was a domestic murder-suicide. "Three-quarters of homicides are with guns, and most of them are obtained illegally," she said. "It is a public safety issue." Prosecution of people caught committing violent crimes must remain a priority, Taylor said. "But when you are mayor, that is after the fact," she said.
Sharing stories she heard from mayors of other cities, Taylor noted that 30,000 Americans die each year from gunshots. She did not cite the number of cases in which law-abiding citizens use legally-owned firearms to prevent crime.
During Taylor's trip to Washington, the mayor also met with a top official of the National Rifle Association, and she agreed that they are right to be concerned that the rights of responsible gun owners not be abridged. Restrictions exist that make certain data harder to obtain, Taylor said, adding that she would discuss the NRA's concerns with the Tulsa Police Department.
Labels: 2nd Amendment, Gun Control, Gun Rights, Kathy Taylor, Michael Bloomberg
posted by Mike McCarville @ 7:07 AM
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