New York City’s gun permit system reflects elitism, not equality

“A remarkable, if relatively small, cross-section of New Yorkers legally own handguns,” Jo Craven McGinty reports in The New York Times.

Among the more than 37,000 people licensed to have a handgun in the city are dozens of boldface names and public figures: prominent business leaders, elected officials, celebrities, journalists, judges and lawyers.

Note that’s “have,” not “carry.”  For that, the numbers shrink considerably:

Nearly 4,000 license holders — those who have a “carry business,” “limited carry” or “special carry” license — can legally conceal their weapons.

Aside from the $340 licensing fee which, along with the $100 fingerprinting charge eliminates the less affluent, the actors, judges, business leaders, politicians, media moguls enjoying the “privilege” also enjoy connections  the average New Yorker doesn’t have.  So we see names like Robert De Niro, Howard Stern, Donald Trump…

And unsurprisingly, we see elitist attitudes.  From Alexis Stewart, whose primary eligibility qualification appears to be having been born to a rich and famous felon Democrat mother, we see this bit of critical thinking ability:

“I don’t believe people should be allowed to have guns in America,” Ms. Stewart, daughter of Martha, said in an interview, explaining that she bought a .357 Magnum after 9/11 — but would be happy to give it up if handguns were banned.

Does it get more ditzy?

Perhaps the most self-serving and hypocritical assertion comes from City Council Member Peter Koo:

It’s really very hard to get a legal license. It’s appropriate.  We want to control the handguns.

Yeah, no kidding.  Because Council members are so much more trustworthy than we, the little people…

They always have been.  Which is why the Sullivan Act, that is still in play, was so badly needed.

No?

Not that they can achieve the councilman's Koo-Koo delusion and actually control guns.  The violent criminal class will continue to obtain and carry theirs through channels and in places that bypass the ridiculous and offensive prohibitions that only put the “law-abiding” at a disadvantage. And Mayor Bloomberg will use that as an opportunity to send his sneak squad to other states to try and set up “gotcha” scenarios so they can expand their control freak restrictions over everyone.

The goal is for the entire Republic to reflect the edicts of the Big Apple, where you and I are disarmed by law, that is unless and until we either can join the ruling elites or serve them as their enforcers.

It would seem a lot more appropriate to tell those who would impose that on us that we don’t need their damn permission and they can go to hell—and mean it.

Also see:

• My Bloomberg articles on Examiner.com
• A Noble Effort

------------

Help wanted--inquire within

Regular readers: If you agree that mainstream press coverage of the gun rights issue demands a counter-balance, please help me spread the word by sharing Gun Rights Examiner links with your friends via emails, and in online discussion boards, blogs, etc. (Also note “Share” options, below.) Then get more commentary at The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance.