Instead, he’s stolen a page from Mayor Bill de Blasio and instead of taking responsibility, he’s lashing out.
Temper tantrums against the firearm industry weren’t a good look for Mayor de Blasio. It’s an even worse look now than the ludicrous, virtue signaling gun control getup the Mayor wore to the Met Gala.
Same As The Old Boss
New Yorkers deserve more and must demand it from a mayor who was hired to defeat crime, not whine and deflect blame with outright lies. Mayor Adams delivered remarks to the National Press Club and demanded the media hold the gun industry accountable for his own failures to curb crime in New York City.
Nothing he said took responsibility for his own failures to do the job for which he was hired. New York City isn’t just crime plagued. It is a criminal haven.
WANTED ROBBERY: On 8/29/22 @ 8:00 PM front of 235 9 Ave @NYPD10PCT the unknown individuals approached the victim simulated a firearm & removed property from the victim. Any info call us at 800-577-TIPS or anonymously post a tip on our website https://t.co/TRPPY5zHV2 pic.twitter.com/Hl0eSIZoH9
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) September 25, 2022
Mayor Adams is lying to the citizens of his city when he says firearm manufacturers are marketing guns to criminals and children. He’s a gun owner and a former police officer and knows better, but he’s putting politics ahead of the truth.
Mayor Adams knows that no one in America can legally purchase a gun at retail anywhere unless they pass an FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) verification. That means criminals and children are prohibited.
The firearm industry serves those who obey the law. It also works to keep guns out of the hands of those who should never possess them, including criminals and children.
The Industry Leads with Real Solutions
That’s why the firearm industry changed the law in 16 states and in Congress to make sure all disqualifying information is submitted to the FBI so the background check system works as intended. It’s also why the firearm industry partnered with 15,000 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states and five U.S. territories to distribute over 40 million free gun locks to make sure every gun owner can lock up their gun when they’re not in use.
The firearm industry partners with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to prevent illegal straw purchases of firearms and improve security at firearm retailers to deter and prevent criminals from stealing guns.
Those are efforts paid for by the firearm industry. Gun manufacturers are investing in keeping guns out of criminals’ hands. Mayor Adams can’t honestly say the same thing.
Blame Game Rerun
His rant against the gun manufacturers and haranguing the media to “name and shame” companies and CEOs is a deflection of his failures to live up to the promises he made to New Yorkers.
Mayor Adams should demand that the media name prosecutors who turn criminals back onto the street without accountability. He should demand the media name the politicians who write and sign laws to eliminate bail and push soft-on-crime policies that protect criminals and not victims. He should demand news outlets name the donors who fund the elections of district attorneys and attorneys general who won’t do their jobs.
Mayor Adams wants to blame an industry for his failures and the failures of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. He refuses to speak the name of George Soros who funded DA Bragg’s election, along with other failing district attorneys including DA George Gascon and recalled DA Chesa Boudin.
More Broken Promises
Mayor Adams broke his promise to New York City. He hasn’t made the city safer. He’s ceded it to the criminals. He’s allowed overall crime in New York City to soar 30 percent from one year ago.
The NYPD is doing their part, making nearly 3,000 arrests of criminals committing crimes with illegally-obtained firearms this year alone. They didn’t get those firearms through legal sales. The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that about 90 percent of prisoners incarcerated for firearms-related crimes admit to obtaining them illegally – through theft, friends and family, or the black market.
The firearm industry that equips NYPD to protect the streets wants the work of the police to benefit the city. Instead, these criminals are being turned back out on the streets. They aren’t being held accountable.
Mayor Adams’ only answer is – “blame them.” That plays well to the special-interest gun control political class, but it fails the citizens of New York City.
Hizzoner has broken his promise. He said he would be better than Bill de Blasio. He’s not. Mayor Adams must take responsibility and end the scapegoating and deflecting for his own failures.
Larry Keane is SVP for Government and Public Affairs, Assistant Secretary and General Counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.