04/25/09 - Tracking the movement
Questions:
Angelo Roefaro, Public Relations
315.792.0100 |
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Mayor Roefaro: "Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida are major sources for crime guns recovered in New York, adversely impacting Utica's residents. Each source state does not require background checks at gun shows, and each source state does not require unlicensed sellers to report anything at all when selling a handgun."
Roefaro urges Utica residents to dial long distance and tell 10 U.S. Senators to close their gun show loop hole and support the Gun Show Background Check Act of 2009 (Sponsored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg's(D-NJ)) awaiting a U.S. Senate vote
April 25, 2009- (Utica, NY) – Utica Mayor David Roefaro is releasing 2007 trace data information (reported by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition) detailing those states that are most frequently the sources of crime guns in the Utica region. The data, collected by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), details some of the illegal guns that entered New York State via source states in 2007. While numerous states can and do contribute to illegal guns in Utica, the five states above provide evidence of specific geographic locations contributing illegal guns to Utica, New York.
ATF collects and maintains data on the total number of traced guns that are purchased from gun dealers in one state but recovered in another, in this case New York. The following five states, which have not closed the gun show loophole, were among the top sources of out of state crime guns recovered in New York State in 2007:
Virginia- This state was the source of at least 482 crime guns recovered in New York State.
North Carolina- This state was the source state of at least 379 crime guns recovered in New York State.
South Carolina- This state was the source state of at least 309 crime guns recovered in New York State.
Georgia- This state was the source state of at least 358 crime guns recovered in New York State.
Florida- This state was the source state of at least 369 crime guns recovered in New York State.
Total crime guns (among only these detailed states) that found their way into New York State because of Gun Show Loop Holes and other illegal factors: At Least 1,897 Crime Guns Reported.
Also, Pennsylvania, which does not require state inspections of gun dealers, or purchase permits for handguns, contributed at least 416 crime guns to New York. Despite those major loopholes, the state does require background checks for handgun sales at gun shows.
Significant outlier states contributing to New York's illegal guns are California and Texas, where 195 total guns can be traced back to those states.
With this data in mind, Mayor Roefaro is hoping Utica residents pick up the phone and ask these U.S. Senators why they're letting their states contribute to other states' gun crimes. He suggests residents tell these Senators to support the Gun Show Background Check of 2009:
Virginia-
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Warner, Mark R. - (D - VA) |
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459A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 |
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(202) 224-2023 |
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Webb, Jim - (D - VA) |
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248 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 |
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(202) 224-4024 |
North Carolina-
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Burr, Richard - (R - NC) |
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217 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 |
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(202) 224-3154 |
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Hagan, Kay R. - (D - NC) |
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521 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 |
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(202) 224-6342 |
South Carolina-
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DeMint, Jim - (R – SC) |
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340 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 |
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(202) 224-6121 |
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Graham, Lindsey - (R - SC) |
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290 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 |
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(202) 224-5972 |
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Georgia-
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Chambliss, Saxby - (R - GA) |
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416 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 |
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(202) 224-3521 |
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Isakson, Johnny - (R - GA) |
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120 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 |
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(202) 224-3643 |
Florida-
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Martinez, Mel - (R - FL) |
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356 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 |
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(202) 224-3041 |
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Nelson, Bill - (D – FL) |
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716 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 |
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(202) 224-5274 |
According to Sen. Lautenberg's webpage, his proposed Gun Show Background Check Act of 2009 would, "close the loophole by requiring background checks on all sales at gun shows."
According to his website, "The bill defines a gun show as any event where 50 or more guns are offered or exhibited for sale. In addition, the bill would require: gun show promoters to register with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), maintain a list of vendors at all gun shows and ensure that all vendors acknowledge receipt of information about their legal obligations; and Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to submit information, including the manufacturer/importer, model and serial number of firearms transferred at gun shows to the ATF's National Tracing Center (NTC). No personal information about either the seller or the purchaser would be given to the ATF. Instead, as under current law, FFLs would maintain personal information in their files. The National Tracing Center would request personal information from an FFL only if a firearm becomes the subject of a law enforcement trace request."
Utica Mayor David Roefaro believes that other states' gun show loop holes can and do influence Utica's illegal gun crimes. "Even if one, just one, illegal gun used in a crime can be traced back to a loop hole in another state -one of these states- that's one too many. I don't understand how elected leaders don't close these loop holes when the tragedies, the evidence, and the statistics are staring them in the face. Perhaps Utica, NY, in its little corner of the world can make a difference. That's why I'm informing residents about these chilling facts, about this very important bill," the mayor said.
* Roefaro used 2007 year end trace data statistics because they are the most current, aggregated data available
