Rogue gun dealers targeted/ Clinton announces crackdown on
“The tragic shooting last year in Columbine High School showed us what happens when guns fall into the wrong hands,” Clinton said at the White House.
The report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which Clinton described as the federal government’s “most comprehensive look at the firearms industry,” revealed that only about 1.2 percent of gun dealers account for 57 percent of all guns traced to crime.
“I’m pleased to announce today that we’re beginning the most aggressive effort ever undertaken to ensure responsible behavior by gun dealers,” Clinton said.
Among the executive actions announced by the president:
c ATF agents will conduct focused inspections on the 1,000 gun dealers who had 10 or more guns involved in crimes traced to them in 1999.
c ATF agents will increase scrutiny significantly on about 50 dealers regarded as uncooperative because they keep inadequate records or fail to respond promptly to requests for crime-gun traces.
On MP3.com: Listen to Mary J. Blige’s new album
* CNET Networks Business:
* BNET |
* TechRepublic |
* ZDNet
BNET: You make it work
* All Bnet
* Articles
* Library
* Stocks
* Dictionary
Search
Advanced Search in Search
* Login
* Newsletters
* Today
* Management
* Strategy
* Work Life
* Insight
* Business Library
* Video
* My BNET
Find Articles in:
all
Business
Reference
Technology
News
Sports
Health
Autos
Arts
Home & Garden
Content from our trusted partner BNET
Get your own CNET Networks Widget. » GET IT NOW
Content provided in partnership with
ProQuest
* print
* share
* link
Rogue gun dealers targeted/ Clinton announces crackdown on
Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Feb 5, 2000 by Scripps Howard News Service
WASHINGTON - President Clinton launched a national crackdown Friday on rogue gun dealers, outlining a series of tough regulatory actions against dealers linked to a disproportionate number of crime guns.
The president, who has pushed to expand federal gun control efforts since last April’s massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado, promised tougher scrutiny and enhanced enforcement at the same time he released a report on America’s burgeoning firearms industry.
“The tragic shooting last year in Columbine High School showed us what happens when guns fall into the wrong hands,” Clinton said at the White House.
Related Results
* Record term for gun…
* Derailed gun dealer…
* Gun dealer sentenced…
* Customs defeats gun…
* Local gun dealer’s…
Most Popular Articles
in News
* The Ten Best Laptop bags
* Tata plans …
* GLOBALIZATION AND THE …
* Corn is good for you; …
* THE 50 BEST STYLISH …
More »
The report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which Clinton described as the federal government’s “most comprehensive look at the firearms industry,” revealed that only about 1.2 percent of gun dealers account for 57 percent of all guns traced to crime.
“I’m pleased to announce today that we’re beginning the most aggressive effort ever undertaken to ensure responsible behavior by gun dealers,” Clinton said.
Among the executive actions announced by the president:
c ATF agents will conduct focused inspections on the 1,000 gun dealers who had 10 or more guns involved in crimes traced to them in 1999.
c ATF agents will increase scrutiny significantly on about 50 dealers regarded as uncooperative because they keep inadequate records or fail to respond promptly to requests for crime-gun traces.
c A proposed rule requiring all licensed firearms dealers to conduct regular inventories and report discrepancies to focus on stolen firearms.
The National Rifle Association’s chief lobbyist, James Baker, denounced the initiative, calling it “the latest installment in the Clinton/Gore plan to drive lawful and licensed gun dealers out of business repackaged into a news event for an election year.
“I guess that begs the question that if authorities suspect some gun dealers of wrongdoing, why haven’t they already been investigated?” Baker asked.
Clinton also wants Congress to give the ATF authority to conduct three unannounced inspections of gun dealers each year instead of the current one.
The president described as “astonishing” the fraction of licensed dealers whose guns wind up involved in crimes. He acknowledged, however, that the statistics mirror those first reported about eight months ago by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
Clinton continues to blame Congress - and the Republican majority - for blocking a series of “common-sense” gun restrictions, including three-day waiting periods for background checks at gun shows - an expansion on the Brady gun law five-day waiting period for handgun purchases from standard gun retailers that was enacted in 1993, Clinton’s first year in office.
The gun-show initiative is the most recent in a string of gun proposals by Clinton, who also want to hire 500 more ATF agents.
“When 12 children are dying every day in America because of gun violence,” Clinton said, “we can’t wait for congressional action.”
Guns in the Springs
Rich Marianos, the agent in charge of the ATF office in Colorado Springs, said he’s not sure President Clinton’s comments about unlawful gun sales will change how the agency works.
Marianos said his office has received no new policy directives, and trying to stop the spread of illegal firearms has always been a priority.
In fact, Marianos said his agency and the Colorado Springs Police Department created what they call a gun interdiction unit in April to track and stop the illegal transfer of guns.
He said the ownership of every recovered firearm that was used in a crime in Colorado Springs is traced within 24 hours. Within two weeks officers get a complete history of the weapon, from the very first seller to the last. That, he said, often reveals how a firearm got into the hands of a criminal.