Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Gun Dealers Still Gunning After Bloomberg
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 9, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 9, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Mayor Bloomberg has made ridding the city of illegal guns one of his administration's major issues (it's also a big part of his potential national platform). Last year, he, on behalf of NYC, filed two federal lawsuits against out-of-state gun dealers, after sting operations revealed that the dealers were apparently selling guns illegally. While some dealers have settled, others are fighting back, countersuing the city.
The Bloomberg administration's sting operations involved two undercovers going to a dealer; one would ask all the questions, while the other "completely uninvolved in the sale process" would fill out the information for the gun purchase. Also known as a "straw purchase," the city says "federal law prohibits licensed dealers from selling firearms to individuals when they have a reasonable belief that the firearm being sold is not for the person who purports to be the purchaser."
Shortly after the Mayor's announcement of the stings, gun dealer Jay Wallace of Smyrna, Georgia, sued Mayor Bloomberg for defamatory comments. In a NY Times article, Wallace said of the Mayor's and others' comments (which included saying the dealers were "rogue," "the worst of the worst," and "bad apples"), "When someone comes along and says things that are pretty much totally opposite of the way that you are, and they really haven’t spoken to you, I really find offense with that.'
Wallace is represented by former Georgia congressman Bob Barr, and Georgia courts have said that Wallace's suit can proceed (Bloomberg's lawyers have appealed). Earlier this year, the Department of Justice said the gun dealers would not face criminal prosecution because the investigators in the stings may have acted illegally - one of the points in Wallace's suit. Some of Wallace's customers wonder why NYC didn't involve the feds, like the ATF, in the stings, and called the mayor's action a "witch hunt" and a ploy for political advancement. Barr's law partner told the Times that the lawsuit was against Bloomberg personally, because his actions were like "[sending] somebody down here to rob a bank...[he committed an] an extraterritorial act: like the British, he invaded us."
Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino started Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Tagged
bloomberg
boston
comments
Congressman
gun
guns
illegalguns
law
lawsuit
lawsuits
mayor
mayor bloomberg
mayorbloomberg
mayors against illegal guns
news
ny times
nyc
sting
The Bloomberg
the city
thomas menino
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .