The Rich, the Famous, the Armed ...

[spin]

The Rich, the Famous, the Armed
By JO CRAVEN McGINTY
Published: February 18, 2011



MEN and women. Democrats and Republicans. Doctors, lawyers, merchants and moguls. A remarkable, if relatively small, cross-section of New Yorkers legally own handguns, according to public records obtained by The New York Times.

***snip***

Some expressed pride in their gun ownership, like the renowned divorce lawyer Raoul Felder, who readily posed with his .38-caliber Smith & Wesson. Others, including David Breitbart, Yetta Kurland and Walter Mack, all well-known lawyers, were irked to learn they would be included in an article based on the public records. And there were a few conflicted souls, like Alexis Stewart, co-host of “Whatever With Alexis and Jennifer” on SiriusXM radio and the Hallmark Channel.

***snip***

The 41,164 handguns registered with the Police Department as of Jan. 14 include those owned by more than 2,400 people who live outside the city but have permission to bring their weapons here — people like Roger E. Ailes, the president of Fox News, whose license lists an address in New Jersey; John J. Mack, the chairman of Morgan Stanley, who lives in Westchester County; and Sean Hannity, the conservative talk-show host, who lives on Long Island.

***snip***

There are no comprehensive statistics available on gun ownership nationally because most states do not require licenses or permits. But an annual survey by the Pew Research Center suggests that about one-third of the nation’s homes have a gun. In comparison, at most, about 1 percent of New York City’s households have a licensed gun.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/nyregion/20guns.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

I have absolutely no problems with the fact that the rich, famous and well connected can own or carry firearms in the Big Apple. I do have a problem with the fact that the average honest citizen of New York City faces obstacles that are expensive and time consuming and a long daunting road to obtain a permit to own or carry a firearm.

But then, gun control has racist roots and has always been implemented to stop "those people" from owning firearms. If I lived in NYC, I would be one of "those people", but since I live in Florida, I can own firearms without a permit and I can carry concealed with a permit.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. Gun control does indeed have racist and classist roots. Current NYC laws are classic in that regard

Yet some liberals continue to support them and argue for expansion.

[armueller2001]

2. OK I have to resurrect this thread

Do any of those anti- rights folks think this is a problem? States like California and New York can deny your right to self defense if you're not rich enough, your life isn't valuable enough, you refuse to donate to the Sheriff's political campaign, or simply your skin doesn't have the preferred amount of pigmentation.

Hardly progressive.

[Euromutt]

3. Did you see the caption on the insert map?

Handgun owners with permits tend to live in parts of the city with low crime rates.

Well, yeah; if you live in a bad neighborhood, you probably can't afford the extortionate fees, and even if you could, the NYPD would probably consider you unworthy.

[Katya Mullethov]

4. Unworthy ?

The latest incarnation of " uppity " is it ?

[spin]

7. Exactly. If you live in a bad neighborhood you are one of "those people" ...

who can't be trusted with a firearm.

If you live in a good neighborhood, you are obviously a much better person.

Gun control has racist roots.

[lawodevolution]

5. The gun laws I have a problem with are those designed to make it more costly or time consuming

To become a gun owner. This includes many laws on the books today and the tactic handgun control Inc and their supporters were pushing based on their 1993 5 year plan was to win the debate by slowly reducing gun ownership thereby reducing the number of people willing to defend gun ownership. This is why most gun laws are designed to make it more difficult or intimidating to go through the process of gun osnership.

5 year plan:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=118&topic_id=372270&mesg_id=372270

The NICS check is a good system but the Brady campaign, VPC and mayors against "illegal" guns are trying to extend it so a government black list that includes people who were not tried in court by their peers and even possibly people who protest or voice opposition to their government's actions are banned from owning guns This is a move toward Mubarak style gun control.

[spin]

6. As George Orwell said in Animal Farm ...

"ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS "

Yes indeed, Mayor Bloomberg is a good oligarch.

[Euromutt]

8. As are the members of the City Council

Of whom two are listed as being licensed. Peter Koo's quoted statement in particular elicited an expression of disgust on my part.