By Ed Somers
September 24, 2007

Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer joined New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on September 17 at the Brooklyn Bridge in support of federal legislation to allow the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to stop the sale of guns to people on federal terrorist watch lists.

The bi-partisan bill (S. 1237 & H.R. 2074) is sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ) and Representative Peter King (NY), and is supported by DOJ.

In press reports Bloomberg said, “Today, suspected terrorists cannot fly — but they can still buy guns.”

According to a 2004 report by the U.S. Governmental Accountability Office, people on terrorist watch lists had tried to buy guns 58 times and succeeded 47 times over a 9-month period.

Palmer said, “Clearly, we need common sense approaches to protect our residents.”

DOJ could determine that anyone should be denied guns if they were “appropriately suspected...to be or have been engaged in conduct...related to terrorism”; and it is reasonably believed that they might use a gun in connection with terrorism.

While the bill gives DOJ some flexibility about whom to designate as a suspect, it is presumed that they would rely on the government’s existing watch lists. DOJ would have discretion to allow particular gun purchases by suspects to proceed so as not to tip-off the suspect, and the DOJ determinations would be subject to judicial review.

Despite support from DOJ, the National Rifle Association opposes the bill, saying they do not want to provide discretion to federal political appointees.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) released a new report on September 19 which calls on Congress and the Administration, as well as state and local governments, to support 39 specific gun violence prevention policies, and to provide law enforcement with the resources necessary to reverse a two-year rise in violent crime.

“It is simply unacceptable that in communities across America more than 80 people a day are dying from gun violence” said Russell Laine, Chief of the Algonquin, Illinois Police Department and IACP 2nd Vice President.

The recommendations in the report, “Taking a Stand: Reducing Gun Violence in Our Communities,” include:

• Restoring the federal Assault Weapon Ban;

• Requiring that all gun sales take place through federally licensed dealers;

• Enhancing the ability of law enforcement to use federal gun trace data to deter illegal trafficking;

• Removing all firearms and ammunition from batterers when law enforcement responds to domestic violence calls; and

• Restoring funding to the COPS program.

The full report can be viewed by going to iacp.org.