Mayors Of Nation's Three Biggest Cities Join Brady Campaign's Call for Attorney General Loretta Lynch to Crack Down on "Bad Apple" Gun Dealers

November 9, 2015

Bill de Blasio (New York), Eric Garcetti (Los Angeles), and Rahm Emanuel (Chicago) are the first national group of executives to urge action from Lynch

Letter calls for immediate action against the 5 percent of gun dealers that sell 90 percent of crime guns

WASHINGTON—The mayors of America’s three largest cities – New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago - have joined the Brady Campaign in calling on Attorney General Loretta Lynch to take action against “bad apple” gun dealers – the small number of gun dealers that sell virtually all crime guns in our nation. Only 5 percent of gun dealers sell almost 90 percent of crime guns and they are doing it through business practices that are often irresponsible, unethical and illegal. The worst offenders continue to operate and contribute to crime on the streets of cities and communities across the nation, despite the fact that the ATF already knows exactly who they are.

“The Justice Department needs to do its job and stop these bad apple gun dealers that are devastating our communities,” said Dan Gross, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “Who better to lead this charge and demand accountability from Attorney General Lynch than the mayors of the cities and towns being devastated by the despicable and often illegal practices of these ‘bad apple’ dealers. The ATF knows exactly who the worst bad apples are, they know the devastation they are causing, yet they allow them to continue to sell the guns that are killing people every day. There really is no excuse.”

This move comes just two weeks after 41 members of the Hispanic, Black, and Asian Pacific Caucuses publically urged similar action from the Attorney General and ATF. The three mayors, with support from the Brady Campaign, will urge more mayors from around the country to sign on in the coming weeks.

The letter calls for the investigation and reform or closure of likely “bad apple” gun dealers, as well as the adoption of an enforceable code of conduct. Brady’s Gun Dealer Code of Conduct defines some simple policies and practices gun dealers should adopt to prevent the diversion of guns into the illegal market.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said, “This is a national problem that hits close to home. Illegal guns flow onto New York’s streets from negligent dealers across the country with disturbing regularity, and to devastating effect. All four NYPD officers gunned down this year and too many friends, neighbors, and loved ones have been killed with illegal guns originating from out-of-state. We’re ready to work with the Brady Campaign and the Attorney General to track the dealers that sell these guns and reform them or shut them down for good, and we are proud to announce the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice is already deeply involved in tracking the supply lines of illegal guns to criminals in New York City.”

“The ease of access to guns on the streets of Los Angeles is alarming and unacceptable,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “The sources of the guns used in crimes are varied, but clearly include firearms acquired by sales by some out-of-state dealers who practice reckless, irresponsible and often illegal business practices. There is no excuse to allow these ‘bad apple’ dealers to fly under the radar. It is well within the scope of the Justice Department’s authority to either enforce the law or shut down dealers who continuously and irresponsibly fail to follow it.  As always, I stand prepared to work with the Brady Campaign along with other organizations, Attorney General Lynch, and the ATF to crack down on identified negligent gun dealers to help ensure Los Angeles continues to remain among the safest large cities in America.”

To learn more about the Stop Bad Apple Gun Dealers campaign, see a list of pending lawsuits against gun dealers, and read the Brady Gun Dealer Code of Conduct for responsible gun sales, visit: BradyCampaign.org/StopBadApples