Bloomberg Investigation: Slowly Moving Ahead

David Hardy at Of Arms and the Law linked this article on the investigation.

The federal government confirms it is investigating New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's sting operation against gun dealers in five states.

Five months ago, The Second Amendment Foundation called on U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to investigate Bloomberg for obstruction of justice relating to Bloomberg's "rogue" operation.

SAF founder Alan Gottlieb said he has just received a letter from W. Larry Ford of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, confirming that the agency "is investigating the matter in order to determine if violations of federal firearms laws occurred."

Ford, the director of ATF's public and governmental affairs, did not offer details on what he called "an open investigation."

"We're delighted that ATF is taking this matter seriously," Gottlieb said.

Well, at least there is an indication that the ATF is looking at this, though that doesn't mean that anything will be done. I'm betting on nothing being done.

"In the end, we understand that a final decision whether to prosecute Bloomberg and others involved in last year's illicit sting is up to the Justice Department," Gottlieb added.

"But right now, it appears that ATF is doing its job in a slow, deliberate and painstaking manner."

Slow? SLOW!?! Glacial. Tectonic shifts happen at faster rates.

SayUncle also had a link to this.

The federal government will not file criminal charges against any of the 15 out-of-state gun dealers accused by Mayor Bloomberg in a federal lawsuit of selling guns illegally, the Daily News has learned.

In a stern rebuke to the city's high-profile crusade against illegal guns, the feds warned the Bloomberg administration that it could face "potential legal liabilities" if it continues to conduct sting operations that fall within the jurisdiction of federal agents.

Bloomberg announced the filing of a federal lawsuit last May against 15 gun dealers, who he lambasted as the "worst of the worst." The city later filed a similar lawsuit against another 12 dealers.

In both cases, the city sent private investigators to gun dealers and secretly videotaped them making what Bloomberg called illegal "straw purchases."

Scathing words and why would he care? Wonder where the line is drawn that indicates when a politician is allowed to break the law with impunity when the rest of us would be in jail.

Asked if the Bloomberg administration plans to stop conducting the sting operations, Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler said, "Not necessarily."

Surprised? Nope. I'm expecting that he'll be continuing his illegal actions unless the ATF charges him. And I expect to see pigs flying at the same time.