Bloomberg Attacks the Fraternal Order of Police

Bloomberg Calls Fraternal Order Of Police A "Fringe Organization" Blogmaster Note: While I will not endorse any candidate in a U.S. Election, it is important to know which politicians are working diligently to erode our civil rights.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Anti-gun New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) is at it again. A recent New York Post article detailed how, at a breakfast sponsored by Ladies Home Journal, he took a swipe at the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) for its support of the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits the disclosure of confidential firearm trace data except in the course of a bona fide criminal investigation. "It is one fringe organization," charged Bloomberg. "I would say resident within the Fraternal Order of Police is far more expertise with the administration of justice than Mayor Bloomberg’s limited experience in that area," shot back James Pasco, the group’s executive director. In a recent "Memo to Executive Board, Board of National Trustees, State Lodge Presidents, Secretaries and Officers on Tiahrt Amendment," FOP National President Chuck Canterbury said, "The Fraternal Order of Police has been on the receiving end of numerous politically-oriented attacks by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his 'law enforcement spokesperson' John Feinblatt because of the FOP's support of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on the issue of disclosure of firearms trace data. Further," Canterbury wrote, "it is important to note that at no time prior to the attacks made on the FOP did Mayor Bloomberg or any member of his administration reach out to the FOP to hear our perspective. Given the Mayor's comments and his general attitude, we can only assume this is because the FOP is a labor organization." Just last week, we reported on the one-sided hearing that took place in the House Oversight & Government Reform Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, which was used by anti-gunners as a platform for pushing anti-gun restrictions. In that hearing, Feinblatt, "Criminal Justice Coordinator" for Bloomberg, seized the occasion to blast the Tiahrt Amendment - the critically important provision in the Justice Department appropriations bills that protects the privacy rights of law-abiding gun owners, the safety of law enforcement officers, and the integrity of criminal investigations by preventing inappropriate release of federal firearms trace data. Both the FOP and the ATF have recently written in support of the law.