Tougher gun laws to get a look - Philly AG politicians long reach

[WhiteFeather]

Philly AG gave them the idea, of passing city gun RULES, then just go to court and bypass the whole legislation process.

How come they can make the downtown safe only during a convention and not the rest of the year?

Read some of the statements, plenty of room for comments.



http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_9678073

Tougher gun laws to get a look

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper will consider tougher gun laws and adjusted nightclub operating hours after a child was shot in the Curtis Park neighborhood and a gunfight erupted in Lower Downtown over the weekend.

The shootings have alarmed community members who fear a "summer of violence," he said.

"Let me be clear: This community will not accept violence — not a day of it, not a week of it, not a month of it — and certainly not a summer of it," the mayor said Monday.

Hickenlooper will look at Denver's gun laws to ensure they are as effective as they can be in keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals and young people.

"There are a number of other cities addressing gun laws," he said. "We want to look at the matrix of our existing laws and see if some of these other laws are able to help."
He offered no specifics but pointed to Philadelphia, where authorities have tried to restrict gun owners to one purchase per month and allow judges to order guns taken from people deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.

The National Rifle Association has gone to court there to overturn the changes.

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, who appeared with Hickenlooper and Police Chief Gerry Whitman, said state laws could supersede any changes to city gun rules.

Less than 36 hours after third-grader Sierra Moore was shot Friday, as bars closed and revelers poured into LoDo's streets early Sunday, a shootout broke out in a pay parking lot at 18th and Market streets.

Police made an arrest in Sierra's shooting but are still seeking a man who fled the LoDo parking lot after firing as many as nine bullets in the parking-lot gunfight. The two events appear to be unrelated.

Another man, who had a shotgun, was firing at the man who fled when two gang-unit officers, who were patrolling nearby, arrived. He turned the shotgun on the officers and they returned fire, shooting him dead.

Police identified the dead man as Mark Tabullo-Zuniga, 23.

"He went down and handed the gun to his partner, who was also shot" by police, Whitman said. The second man, identified Monday as Andres Castillo, 27, was in serious condition at Denver Health Medical Center.

Sgt. Vince Lombardi and Officer Jason Simmons, who shot the men, are on paid administrative leave while the shootings are investigated.

More than 20 rounds were fired in the lot, which was crowded with people getting their cars, Whitman said.

Four bystanders were hit with shotgun pellets, though none of their injuries is serious. Another pellet tore through Simmons' shirt.

Neither the shooting in Curtis Park nor the LoDo battle was gang related, Whitman said. But he wouldn't say whether any of those involved were gang members.

The violence erupted as Denver is about to host the Democratic National Convention in August.

Many of those visiting the city are expected to spend time in LoDo. City Council President Michael Hancock said those coming to Denver for the convention shouldn't be worried.

"Downtown will probably be the safest place to be when the convention is in town," Hancock said.

About one year ago, Hickenlooper said, the city brought bar owners together to discuss changing the 2 a.m. bar closing time, but no changes were made. He hopes to bring the owners together once more to talk about changing closing hour.

Whitman said there has been discussion of staggering closing times. But if bars are left open longer, even if no alcohol is served for the last hour or more, it will require more police to patrol them, he added.

Bars throughout the city contribute to the rowdiness that accompanies closing time when they fail to cut off those who have had too much to drink, he said.

But alcohol wasn't the primary factor in two men opening fire in a crowded lot, he said. "These two guys are just criminals."

Denver City Council members were taking a wait-and-see approach before advocating any significant changes in how the city handles LoDo bars or neighborhood patrols.

Councilwoman Judy Montero, who represents LoDo, said she will ask Whitman to review the Police Department's safety plan for the area to determine whether changes are needed.

"It's a volume issue because so many are coming out at the same time and converging in the same area," Montero said.

Hit the pole of this one (left hand side)

Post Poll - Violent Crimes

Do you think making tougher gun laws or adjusting nightclub operating hours will lower the number of violent crimes in Denver, or elsewhere?

Total Votes = 2249

Yes 16.40 %

No 80.96 %

I'm not sure 2.623 %

[crlovel]

No doubt the city's Democrat population is just getting a little boisterous and excited as their welfare Masters prepare to come to town.

[Pector55]

NO is up to 81.29% after my vote
YES is at 16.10%
DUUUUH is at 2.597%

[shooter357]

Yes
15.97 %
No
81.44 %
I'm not sure
2.577 %

[knighthawk06699]

yes-15.94%
no-81.48%
undecided-2.57%

[Agent Smith]

Yes
15.82 %
No
81.58 %
I'm not sure
2.588 %

Total Votes = 2357

[MRMATT]

How come the results of these polls never get much media coverage?

[mojo]

Originally Posted by MRMATT

How come the results of these polls never get much media coverage?

Because it's not what they want to hear. If the results were switched ...
82% Yes
15 % No
3% Not sure
Than it would get cover .... Denver city residents outraged over shooting, We need better/more gun control

They don't want to report ... Most people think gun control doesn't work