Since the Subject of Gun & Ammo Restrictions Has Surfaced Again...

[MountainDon]

Many folks have never heard of MAIG (Mayors Against Illegal Guns) or if they have they may be lulled by the word "Illegal" in the acronym. Who's not against illegal things? Well, I guess that depends on who is making the laws.

MAIG claims to be opposed only to illegal guns, but the NRA claims MAIG has been targeting responsible gun owners. The impetus behind the group was to prevent smuggling of "crime guns" and "straw purchases"; a straw purchase occurs when someone legally able to purchase a firearm, purchases a gun on behalf of someone not authorized to own a firearm. While this may sound innocuous in theory, in practice, the NRA claims the group has focused its legislative lobbying efforts on rolling back legitimate gun rights around the country. Two examples they point to are MAIGs efforts to repel the Tiahrt Amendment and to regulate gun shows out of existence.

The Tiahrt Amendment keeps law enforcement data private and prevents gun trace data from being used in civil lawsuits. MAIG claims the Tiahrt Amendment ties the hands of law enforcement officers investigating gun crimes. However, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President Chuck Canterbury has strongly refuted these claims, lending credence to the NRA's contention the issue is a smokescreen for limiting the rights of gun owners.

MAIG has come out in support of using the secretive "terror watch list" to prevent individuals from purchasing firearms.  MAIG has also taken a position in opposition to what the NRA calls "self defense for travelers", a series of proposals aimed at seeking reciprocity among states for permit holders traveling through their territory. The NRA further claims MAIG is working to defeat NRA supported efforts to reform the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the reforms would ensure greater protections for the rights of federally licensed firearms dealers. Meanwhile, public pressure from the NRA and gun owners nationwide has caused a number of Mayors to leave MAIG claiming they were misled as to the group's real intentions. This is a confrontation which is just beginning to heat up; I expect to hear more from both the NRA and MAIG in the next few months.

Here's a link to where you can see what mayors are MAIG members...
http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?id=254&issue=011

Other info...
http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?ID=255

MAIG website...
http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/home/home.shtml