Friday, December 05, 2008

Mumbles Menino: We Need More Bullet Control!

Pols pull the trigger on gun, bullet restrictions

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and his potential challenger City Councilor Michael F. Flaherty found themselves in rare agreement yesterday about two landmark measures closing a gun loophole and banning armor-piercing bullets.


The "loophole" they're referring to here is the way the current firearm possession laws apply to individuals carrying illegally on their person, versus those illegally possessing guns in their homes.

Here's the punchline:

It would impose the same mandatory minimum 18 months that gun-toting thugs get when they’re busted on the street.


Of course, that depends heavily on one's definition of the word "get".

As for the ubiquitous (previously blogged on here, here, and here) armor-piercing, "cop-killer" bullet ban, I'll just leave you with the comment I left on the Boston Herald website.

I'll assume Menino is talking about the FN Five-seveN handgun, that fires the 5.7x28mm cartridge, the MILITARY VERSION of which (the SS190) was designed to penetrate body armor. This round is ALREADY RESTRICTED from the civilian market.

The civilian version of this cartridge has the same ability to penetrate light duty police vests as several higher caliber pistol rounds that are rather commonplace. Not to mention, that any centerfire rifle will blow holes through Level I and II body armor like it's not even there.

Hey, I just had a great idea. Let's pass a law that says it's illegal to shoot cops. If someone's willing to ignore that law, what chance does Menino's bullet ban have of being heeded by that person?


Brief side note: One commenter there remarked...

...Bob Consalvo should be the next Mayor!


That would be City Councilor Rob Consalvo, Super Genius. Though, come to think of it, he might just be the perfect candidate to fill Menino's clown shoes.