Bloombergs lawsuit shot down by FEDS!

[762xIan]

More good news!

New York Daily News
Feds shoot down Mike's gun suit
BY MICHAEL SAUL
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
Thursday, February 8th, 2007

The federal government will not file criminal charges against any of
the 15 out-of-state gun dealers accused by Mayor Bloomberg in a
federal lawsuit of selling guns illegally, the Daily News has learned.

In a stern rebuke to the city's high-profile crusade against illegal
guns, the feds warned the Bloomberg administration that it could face
"potential legal liabilities" if it continues to conduct sting
operations that fall within the jurisdiction of federal agents.

Bloomberg announced the filing of a federal lawsuit last May against
15 gun dealers, who he lambasted as the "worst of the worst." The
city later filed a similar lawsuit against another 12 dealers.

In both cases, the city sent private investigators to gun dealers and
secretly videotaped them making what Bloomberg called illegal "straw
purchases."

A "straw purchase" refers to when an individual talks with a store
clerk about purchasing a gun, but then gets another person to fill
out the required federal forms and undergo the mandatory background
check.

According to a letter sent to City Hall, the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and various U.S. attorneys' offices
have determined the city's findings against the 15 dealers "do not
rise to a level that would support a criminal prosecution."

The letter - sent Tuesday by Michael Battle, director of the
executive office for United States Attorneys at the Department of
Justice - also scolded City Hall for engaging in sting operations
involving persons "without proper law enforcement authority," saying
that could put the city in legal jeopardy. Battle added that City
Hall could "unintentionally interrupt or jeopardize" criminal probes.

Asked if the Bloomberg administration plans to stop conducting the
sting operations, Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler said, "Not necessarily."

"The city hasn't violated any laws," Skyler said defiantly, adding
that the city will continue to pursue its civil lawsuits against the
gun dealers.

[ChamberedRound]

Link to above article:

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/sto...p-417714c.html

[LorDiego01]

Nice! Thats definitely good news.

[billamj]

This one definitely works for me!

[Emptymag]

Asked if the Bloomberg administration plans to stop conducting the
sting operations, Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler said, "Not necessarily."

"The city hasn't violated any laws," Skyler said defiantly, adding
that the city will continue to pursue its civil lawsuits against the
gun dealers.

I'm thinking that even if they HAVE broken the law, they do not care.

[ChamberedRound]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

I'm thinking that even if they HAVE broken the law, they do not care.

Correct, and this is exactly why the Feds need to investigate them. They are not going to stop their witch hunt until a court convicts them of a crime, or until a court issues a Cease & Desist on their operation while the Feds investigate.

[GRoPA]

Originally Posted by ChamberedRound

Correct, and this is exactly why the Feds need to investigate them. They are not going to stop their witch hunt until a court convicts them of a crime, or until a court issues a Cease & Desist on their operation while the Feds investigate.

Really I don't think they will care what any Fed or court says. They will not stop until the city looses money in a lawsuit against them by one or all of the dealers they tried to screw.