Democratic Mayors to Grade Gun Manufacturers

The ratings will help them decide where to buy firearms for police departments

Gun manufacturers that oppose gun safety regulations could start losing some pretty big customers: police departments run by Democratic mayors.

The National Conference of Democratic Mayors has launched a new initiative to grade gun manufacturers based on how supportive they are of "public safety goals." Then they will use those ratings to inform their choice of where to buy guns and ammunition for local police departments, Politico reports.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, who heads the Democratic mayors group, said they came up with the idea after realizing that cities are major customers of companies that are working against their agendas. Gun control has been a major topic at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting this week in Washington.

"We're going to do everything we can as mayors to use the collective buying power of many millions of dollars in guns and ammunition, to support those who will support common-sense laws and oppose those who are fighting us in Congress," Rybak told Politico. "I am not going to have the people, the taxpayers of Minneapolis, pay for people to stop the Congress from passing laws that keep our people safe." Via Politico

Does this sound like a good plan?

[thejimbo]

This goes both ways, any gun or ammo manufacturer that supports these tyrants or their gun grabbing schemes won't see one cent from me or the millions of civilians who buy their products.

[OhWiseOne]

I second that.

[thejimbo]

@OhWiseOne I'm glad that we finally agree on something.

[OhWiseOne]

@thejimbo Me too.

[dances-weebles]

tyrants? gun grabbing schemes? where the hell is that happening? there's nobody in the world who is trying to take away your toys.

grow up.

[thejimbo]

@dances-weebles You first!

[Denizen_Kate]

Sounds like a good way to end up with crappy, undependable weapons in the hands of police officers. The police department of any city should be evaluating weapons based on overall performance, quality, and value and choosing accordingly. This is childish and will lead to yet more corruption on the part of politicians eager to pad their bankrolls with "gifts" from gun manufacturers. smh ...

[marine1]

You have to remember that politician are childish untrustworthy crybabies and will always try to take their toys somewhere else if they can't have their selfish little ways.

[Denizen_Kate]

@marine1 - Some are crybabies, some are always on the lookout for new avenues of graft.

[Thunderchicken]

Amen!

[MongoAPillager]

very well put,maybe i should fetch your slippers 8 }

[Denizen_Kate]

@MongoAPillager - Can you bake cookies?

[Raptor]

Here we go again. A program that is a waste of taxpayers money!

[BelinKS]

Of course gun and ammo producers are going to be against anything that threatens their livelyhood. The democratic mayors don't seem to have a grasp of this type of common knowledge.

[Rocker]

I believe we played this gig before before and corrected the boo-boos by replacing the open flash suppressors, polishing the bolt, using smokeless powder, and adding a forward assist to a now famous rifle.

[BelinKS]

@Rocker
I own and am trained to use my gun, but I have no idea what you are talking about. Yes, when I don't know something, I admit it. I don't pretend to know something I don't.

[BelinKS]

Fallicy: Congress opposes banning military weapons
At a campaign event, President Obama stated that
steps to reduce violence have been met with opposition in Congress … particularly when it touches on the issues of guns.…[A] lot of gun owners would agree that AK-47s belong in the hands of soldiers, not in the hands of criminals—that they belong on the battlefield of war, not on the streets of our cities.
On the contrary, the AK-47s used on the “battlefield of war” are already banned. As detailed in the book Military Technology, the AK-47s used by the military are fully automatic weapons—otherwise known as machine guns—which can continuously fire bullets as long as the trigger is pulled. Federal law has strictly regulated such guns since 1934, and as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives explains, a 1968 law expanded the definition of what constitutes a machine gun, and a 1986 law outright banned the transfer or possession of machine guns except for those grandfathered under previous law.
The AK-47s that Obama wants to ban are semi-automatic guns that look like military weapons, but their inner workings are essentially the same as common guns owned by law-abiding citizens. Regardless of their appearance, semi-automatic guns fire one bullet each time the trigger is pulled, not a stream of bullets like a machine gun. External features (such as a protruding pistol grip, bayonet mount, and folding stock) were devised for functional reasons in machine guns, but these features generally don’t add to the deadliness of their semi-automatic look-alikes.
On the other hand, Obama’s statement is applicable to the fact that there is opposition in Congress to banning large capacity ammunition magazines, which can make semi-automatic guns more deadly because the shooter can consecutively fire more bullets without having to swap out a magazine, which takes about two to four seconds. Magazines that hold more than ten bullets were banned by a federal law from 1994-2004 with an exception for devices “lawfully possessed” before the law This is not to accuse most researchers of doing this, but to point out that this has happened on countless occasions, and it thus makes sense to examine raw data before it is subjected to statistical operations that open the doors to bias. For reams of such raw data, visit www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp .
Please look up this website to get the whole of this article. The word limit forced me to erase most of the article from the beginning.

[Rocker]

@BelinKS - My apologies. That was directed at vets. When the BurOrd (Bureau of Ordinance) was casting about for a new rifle for the armed services in the early 60's, the competition was between manufacturing companies who met the BurOrd's requirements. And the Colt M16A1 was adopted ( it looked like a toy so it was referred to as made by Mattel, the toy maker). And it wasn't very well liked at first. The initial design had an open pronged flash suppressor that tangled in the jungle vines and vegetation. And it was prone to jam badly through a combination of dirt in the receiver and powder residue. Plus there was no cleaning rods issued that was used to clear the brass from a jam. It was somewhat of a fiasco, basically caused by bureaucrats who didn't consider all the variables of a combat soldier. And that was what I was referring to - bureaucratic b.s. designing and contracting weapons by people who had no business in doing so. Plus they let one model slip by that I really liked called the 'Stoner', one sweet buzzsaw of an automatic weapon for combat.

[Jack-Black]

They are looking for a bribe.

[Dan_Tien]

The most popular service weapon with police officers that I have met is manufactured by Glock, which is based in Austria. I don't know how American Mayors can rate a foreign gun manufacturer's stance on American laws, and I think that the cops whose lives depend on their weapons should be the ones who choose which ones to invest in, not politicians.

[martydotcom]

Sentence taken from Politico: "He continued:“It’s especially galling, paying money from our police departments to produce loopholes that allow illegal handguns into my communities that could be used against police officers.”

Isn't this doublespeak? If there is a loop hole that permits legal purchase then how is it an "illegal" handgun?

[artjeb]

I have asked the same question for a long time. How does a gun become illegal that has been made legally ? Most every gun has numbers & recorded From maker to dealer to purchaser

[jessejaymes]

I'm not surprised at the vote percentage here. The majority do not favor cities asking for gun safety from manufacturers but many of the same people do support a guy firing people that he THINKS may have supported obama. I'm not a hypocrite. These cities spent tons of money on weapons. They have a right. EVERY right.

[Thunderchicken]

Yes they do have every right. But they also have a responsibility to both their constituents and their employees to provide the best equipment that is the best value. IMO making purchasing decisions based on politics is a breech of the public trust.

[jessejaymes]

@Thunderchicken Really? But being able to fire someone for their politics is OK?

[Thunderchicken]

@jessejaymes

I was referring to the gun purchases. Are we looking at the same thread? I've noticed some other posts that appear misplaced. I'm seeing this on "Democratic Mayors to Start Grading Gun Manufacturers"

[jessejaymes]

@Thunderchicken As I recall you're a conservative, right? You do believe in states rights, correct? So if a State demands that the gun manufacturers in their state mount a gun safety program within that state in order to be able to sell to that state then you'd no problem with that right? That's a state's right isn't it? And if no American gun manufacturer would do it and the State went to Beratta or a foreign manufacturer which would do it then why shouldn't they?

The bible belts basically is saying they won't honor any gun laws while Obama is President and they will arrest any Federal officer who enforces those laws in their state. Is that OK with you? Seems more logical to me that states who do value gun safety not only have the right but the Obligation to use their buying power to help with gun problems. I have ZERO problems with California's gun laws. Just because the bible belt who has more crime per capita than California wants to be Wyatt Earp one and all doesn't mean that I want to be a part of that.

[jessejaymes]

@Thunderchicken You're ducking the question. You said you don't want cities to base gun purchases on their politics. Yet in related news all you right wingers are backing the guy in utah for firing two workers for "possibly being Obama backers". How does that work in the right wing world? States should have no rights if you're opposed but can do any damn thing they please as long as you agree?

[marine1]

When has anyone ever known a progressive liberal to use comon sense when they have an agenda in play?

[artjeb]

BINGO

[OhWiseOne]

The Democratic Party is un-American to the core. They hate the Founding Fathers, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights (except for snivel rights), guns, white people, babies, etc.. Next thing you know they will declare war on mothers and apple pie.

[marine1]

@OhWiseOne An even bigger problem is that it is getting harder to tell the two apart. Rino & Dino, god help us all.

[Fishbone345]

@OhWiseOne What party pushed forward the Patriot Act and NDAA 12 again? Hmm... according to the Senate and House pages it was the Republican Party.
It was introduced by Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon [R-CA25] and took the majority of Republican votes in both the Senate and the House.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-201...
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-201...
Patriot Act was introduced by Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr.[R-WI9]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Act
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-200...
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-200...

I've seen your posts and you are very quick to point out the Democrat's additions to bills that seem to be against the Constitution's guaranteed rights, but you tend to ignore it when the GOP does the same damn thing. Why is that? Anyone that is truly an Independent voter, as you claim to be, would not only be able, but willing to point out the faults of both parties. I'm thinking its because you are not what you claim to be.

[rkinsawjoe]

@OhWiseOne I find both parties repulsive but the un-American speech and hatred towards this nation and her people has been coming from the right far more than the left. Oddly enough that increase in vitriol and inability to "take any more" can be traced right back to '08 and the election of Barack O'bama as president. And while I'm no democrat, I am planning a sneak attack on an apple pie I saw loitering in the kitchen earlier. I have full confidence in the success of this plan and if apple pie's ally vanilla ice cream is found near the battlefield, contingencies have been made for a full scale attack on it as well.

[MadAmerican]

Go ahead and arm your police with slingshots and and plastic spoons and see how far that will get you.

[MongoAPillager]

hey i know,lets let a bunch of pansy type politicians decide for the law enforcement what the best weapons and ammo are due to 2nd grade mentality of revenge purchasing liberals...way to get even at others expense

[jessejaymes]

I have a solution for all you gun nuts. How about disbanding all the Police Depts and the rest of us can stand around and watch while the gangstas divert your attention and another one walks up behind you, pins your arms and they take your gun from you. Hell, they won't even have to break into your home to steal your guns anymore. Just find you a right wing tea party, pot bellied old geezer with an attitude and take his gun. And they will do it before you even realize they're on you. Is Anarchy great or what?

[MongoAPillager]

we had some ''gangsta"issues and the cops said there wasn,t anything they could do,the problem was negotiated without the police(actually they watched us more than the Gangsta's)their little methods might work in the city,but there are tooo many armed neighbors with back hoes here

[Fishbone345]

@MongoAPillager Its not fear. There is more money in the cities and that is what attracts Organized Crime elements.

[jessejaymes]

@MongoAPillager If you don't live in a large city I don't think you have any idea of how brutal a street gang can be. A young couple took a wrong exit off the freeway and ended up on a dead end street and tried to turn around and backtrack. 30 gangsters opened up on them for "trespassing". Most gangsters look like body builders because of prison weights, move like cats, are not afraid to die, and will be on you before you realize it much less pull out your gun. There are numerous factions of Black, Latino, White supremacist, Asian and Samoan gangs in every large city. The outnumber the cops easily. By 10 fold in some cities. In Detroit there are housing projects that cops will not go into after dark and will go into during the days with 10 or more cops. Back in Los Angeles a black street gang shot and killed 3 Mexican gangsters over 300.00 worth of Pot. While always racist against other gangs, same race "sets" of thugs will war with guns over who controls one street a few blocks long and who controls the next parallel street over.

But on the bright side this is nothing compared to 10 years from now when the ultra rich has taken everything and no job pays a livable wage and there are no benefits. Welcome to the Jungle.

[MongoAPillager]

@Fishbone345 is was fleshly pleasures that brought them at this particular juncture(No pun intended)and yes it was fear they convinced them to go other places,or call it the good sense of survival

[jessejaymes]

@MongoAPillager OR, like Fish said, not enough money involved to make it worthwhile making a stand.

[captchaos69]

First of all, what he is proposing is illegal. Any government entity, police, fire, etc. Have to go out for bid to spend MY (the taxpayers) money on equipment. They don't have to take the lowest bid, but do have to justify why they purchased an item. I don't think "we bought these guns because the manufacturer agrees with unconstitutional gun control" would be a good answer in court if the people of these cities filed malfeasance of office charges. When I was with the St. Louis Police years ago, we went with Baretta's. They didn't have the best price, but they offered a feature our armorer wanted and that was double action only (as opposed to most automatics that fire the first round double action and each remaining round single action with the hammer cocked). So we got Baretta 92D's.

[DARSB]

Just for the same of efficiency they could start by talking with the manufacturers on the NRA board.

[tomincali]

more threats and intimidation by those who are against rights. the police have used the same guns for decades and now a mayor threatens to go to another maker.

whats next the gov stop buying ?

[Cheenoguy]

Dollars to donuts the people upset by that would be so proud if Republican mayors got together and said they weren't going to buy equipment for the fire department from any company that gave spouse benefits to gay partners of employees. They be yelling at us for being upset screaming "it's the free market and you can't stifle their beliefs."

[Fishbone345]

Dollars to donuts you are absolutely 100% accurate. Government oversteps its bounds when its something you don't believe in, and doesn't do enough when its something you do. That's the mindset that most people have. Sad.

[Clarke12]

I certainly would not feel safe knowing the officers in my town had weapons chosen by hack politicians angry at certain private companies for not supporting them. Talk about not living in reality. The officers could (and would) end up with junk.

[HungryJoe87111]

What a bunch of NIMRODS. What they ought to be considering is BUYING AMERICAN instead of makes like Glock, Beretta, Heckler & Koch, etc. for their police departments.

[Penn1699]

Just one more way to be on the take.

[Quantummist]

Another Stupid idea... The Only thing that should matter is the quality, workmanship, reliability and if the weapons fit the need of the departments... Using such Political Motivation to supply firearms for officers place those officers in danger... There are Crap firearms being manufactured by some companies and if a officer is required to carry a POS gun and it hangs, misfires because some Idiot Politician that has no idea what firearms the officers require then they should be beat in the head with the POS gun... The Only people that should be making the choice of weapon for a department is the Department who bet their lives on them....