Firearms

Nov. 8, 2007 -- PHILADELPHIA – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today joined Pennsylvania House Speaker Dennis O’Brien in announcing their joint support for legislation that would create a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence for anyone who discharges a firearm with the intent to injure, maim or kill a law enforcement officer.

The legislation expands upon House Bill 2467, which passed the House in 2006 establishing a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence for injury to a police officer.    » read more »

The New Program Will Use Civil Enforcement To Take Legal Action Against Landlords of Crime-Plagued Properties in Communities Across the State

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 8, 2007) – New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo today unveiled “Nowhere to Hide” – a new program under his statewide Guns, Gangs and Drugs Initiative designed to take legal actions against landlords who permit the properties to be persistently used for criminal activities.    » read more »

New York City Bus Driver Accused of Acting as Cocaine Supplier While Driving Route in Queens

NIAGARA FALLS, NY (Oct. 30, 2007) – New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced today the indictment of 22 New Yorkers accused of taking part in a highly coordinated narcotics distribution operation. The indictments and subsequent arrests came through a joint operation between the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and the Niagara Falls Police Department and were part of Cuomo’s ongoing Upstate Guns, Gangs and Drugs Initiative.    » read more »

Countries take steps to eliminate dangerous surplus, obsolete weapons

01 October 2007 -- Washington -- Left unattended, even small stockpiles of surplus and obsolete AK-47 assault rifles, grenade launchers and shoulder-fired missiles could be stolen and used to fuel regional conflicts.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have been launching shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles against Western aircraft.    » read more »

September 21, 2007 -- In a speech to the Economic Club of Detroit in May 1999, Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., committed to speak often on the issue of gun crimes. To date, he has made 266 Senate speeches on gun crimes since 1999; his remarks follow:

Mr. President, in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech massacre, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine commissioned a panel of experts to conduct an independent review of the tragedy and make recommendations regarding improvements to Virginia’s laws, policies and procedures. Late last month, the Virginia Tech Review Panel released its report.    » read more »

SB 940 ensures mental health history is added to background checks, purchase information is shared with federal authorities

August 31, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD– In response to recent nationwide efforts to toughen gun laws following the Virginia Tech tragedy last April, Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation designed to prevent the sale of guns to individuals who pose a serious threat to public safety. Senate Bill 940, sponsored by State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Mt.    » read more »

Duration Of Shutdown Cut To 2 Full Working Days

Aug. 28, 2007 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today said that after carefully considering all of the factors and weighing input from interested groups, the state police’s decades-old computerized background check system that is used by several state and federal agencies will be temporarily offline for upgrades starting Sunday evening.

The duration of the shutdown has been cut to two full working days and is to be completed by 6 p.m. Wednesday rather than by noon on Thursday, as had been announced.    » read more »

Over 6,000 firearm safety kits to be distributed statewide

August 29, 2007 -- Kansas Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson and representatives from state and local law enforcement were in Topeka today to promote Project ChildSafe, a nationwide firearms safety education program.

“Gun locks are a simple way to prevent gun accidents from occurring, especially accidents involving children. It’s quick, easy way to reduce the risk of an accident and I encourage all Kansans to take advantage of these free safety kits,” said Parkinson.    » read more »

Unveils Major Legislative Package to Fight Crime, Get Illegal Guns off the Streets

August 21, 2007 -- MILWAUKEE – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced new efforts to keep Milwaukee safe. The Milwaukee anti-crime legislative package will fight crime and get illegal guns off the street by closing loopholes, improving information sharing with law enforcement, and using advanced technology to improve crime tracking.    » read more »

In Letter, Sens. Say New Jersey Needs "Every Possible Instrument...to Combat Violent Crime"

August 16, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) sent a letter to Michael Sullivan, acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, calling on him to clarify his agreement with New Jersey state officials in sharing crime gun trace information.    » read more »

August 15, 2007 -- “Today’s ruling in Brooklyn federal court by the Hon. Jack Weinstein is a significant victory in the City’s campaign against illegal guns.

Today’s decision affirms that New York’s Courts do indeed have jurisdiction to hear a lawsuit against out of state gun dealers whose guns most often end up in the hands of criminals. And it shows that cities can hold those who cause harm to innocent people and the police who protect us accountable.    » read more »

August 15, 2007 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine, along with Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia division of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Mark Potter, Attorney General Anne Milgram and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Rick Fuentes today announced a historic agreement between New Jersey and the ATF that will allow the state to more effectively trace the sources of illegal firearms through real-time electronic access to the ATF's e-Trace system.    » read more »

August 13, 2007 -- NEOSHO - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today traveled to Neosho to meet with local and state law enforcement officials following yesterday’s fatal shooting at the First Congregational Church.    » read more »

August 7, 2007 -- In a ceremony at the East Haven Police Department today, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell signed a bill to require gun owners to report their lost or stolen guns within 72 hours of discovering them missing.    » read more »

Campaign Highlights New Penalties Part of Toughest Illegal Gun Possession Law in Country

July 17, 2007 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Citizens Crime Commission of New York City (CCC) President Richard Aborn today unveiled a new Commission-sponsored public service campaign to highlight the new penalties for illegal gun possession in New York.    » read more »