Kirsten Gillibrand 2

Kirsten Gillibrand’s website has a press release regarding proposed legislation to curb “illegal gun trafficking” into New York.  The press release has quotes from a lot of public officials in New York including the mayors of Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Binghamton and Buffalo and Monroe County DA Mike Green.

Take a look at this blog post on the Snowflakes in Hell website which has a nice summary of their proposal with some thoughts on each point.

Yet another proposal that addresses actions that are already illegal and has as much gray area as any law we already have.

There are five main points described in the press release.

1. The Gun Trafficking Prevention Act makes it illegal to traffic or assist in the trafficking of a firearm, making it unlawful to deliver or receive two or more firearms where the individual knows or has reason to believe that the firearms are being, or will be, used in a felony.
2. The legislation establishes stiff penalties that are a much-needed deterrent to gun trafficking.  Under this bill, traffickers could face up to twenty years in prison and be fined a significant sum of money.
3. The Attorney General of the United States and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are empowered to impose heightened restrictions, levy tough financial penalties, and suspend or revoke the license of any corrupt gun dealer.
4. Provides ATF with the resources that it desperately needs to inspect all federally licensed gun dealers and further investigate high-risk gun dealers.
5. The legislation upholds the Constitution and protects the rights of law-abiding gun owners.  Specifically, the bill provides a defense for an individual seller who obtains a background check on the person to whom he or she is selling prior to the sale.

It looks like #5 is a lame attempt to appease legal gun owners while not really accomplishing anything.

You can contact Kirsten Gillibrand through her website here.  You can contact Carolyn McCarthy through her website here.