Eric Schniederman sent out a glowing presser yesterday touting the “new” procedures gun show operators will follow in the state:
“… “Gun violence is everyone’s concern, and I’m proud that we’ve worked with gun show operators to create simple procedures to ensure that deadly weapons don’t make it into the hands of felons, terrorists, the dangerously mentally ill, or anyone else who could not pass a background check,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “These procedures are unique to New York State and represent the first time law enforcement and gun show operators are working together to eliminate illegal gun sales. Since most people who operate and attend gun shows are law abiding citizens, my office has had nothing but positive responses to these new safety standards.” …”
Sounds serious doesn’t it? Serious, unless one bothers to actually find out what these new procedures mean. Schneiderman, of course, was counting on the media not to do that, which they didn’t, except for one inquisitive reporter for the NY Times who asked my opinion:
“… Jacob J. Rieper, the vice president of legislative and political affairs for the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, suggested the new changes were largely cosmetic. “The only new procedure in place at the last gun show I went to consisted of a single white piece of paper taped onto each dealer table that said a NICS check was required for sales,” Mr. Rieper said, referring to the background check. “That’s it. No doubt countless lives will be saved because of it.” …”
This isn’t Schniderman’s only recent PR stunt. He’s also written to the NFL commissioner to express his concern for gay football players.