Attorney General Marc Dann has released the concealed handgun license (CHL) statistics for the first quarter of 2007. Once again, the numbers prove that CHL holders are law-abiding citizens, and demand remains steady.

Click on ‘Read More’ for the entire story.

By Chad D. Baus

The nation's police and law enforcement organizations are flies in anti-gun, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's ointment, and the potential third party presidential hopeful isn't taking it well.

Recently, Bloomberg launched http://www.protectpolice.org/, in hopes of framing his latest gun control scheme in those terms. His efforts have been seriously undermined, however, by the very people he claims to be trying to protect.

Both the President of the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) have issued statements (FOP and BATFE) warning legislators not to buy into Bloomberg's claims about the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits the disclosure of confidential firearm trace data except in the course of a bona fide criminal investigation.

As one could imagine after this kind of smackdown, Mr. Bloomberg isn't happy. According to the NRA-ILA, Bloomberg recently took a swipe at the FOP.

"It is one fringe organization," charged Bloomberg.

"I would say resident within the Fraternal Order of Police is far more expertise with the administration of justice than Mayor Bloomberg’s limited experience in that area," shot back James Pasco, the group’s executive director.

In a recent "Memo to Executive Board, Board of National Trustees, State Lodge Presidents, Secretaries and Officers on Tiahrt Amendment," FOP National President Chuck Canterbury said, "The Fraternal Order of Police has been on the receiving end of numerous politically-oriented attacks by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his 'law enforcement spokesperson' John Feinblatt because of the FOP's support of the BATFE on the issue of disclosure of firearms trace data. Further," Canterbury wrote, "it is important to note that at no time prior to the attacks made on the FOP did Mayor Bloomberg or any member of his administration reach out to the FOP to hear our perspective. Given the Mayor's comments and his general attitude, we can only assume this is because the FOP is a labor organization."

UPDATE: Michael Bloomberg's War on Guns

Click 'Read More' to read the FOP President Canterbury's memo in its entirety.