Running a Yellow Light

The Bloomberg administration is brushing off the warning it received from the federal government in respect of the mayor's tactics against out-of-state gun dealers. The federal government decided that there were no criminal violations by the dealers the mayor went after. The story was first reported in the Daily News, and additional details are in Bradley Hope's story on page 2 of the Sun today. The gist of the warning from Washington is that the city has been treading on thin ice in sending its agents out of state to do undercover work. "…You should be aware," the Justice Department warned the city, "that there are potential legal liabilities that may attach when persons outside of law enforcement undertake actions typically reserved for law enforcement agents. This risk is particularly acute when such persons, however well-intentioned, but without proper law enforcement authority, misrepresent that they are the actual purchasers of the firearms when, in fact, the purchases are being made on behalf of another person or entity (for instance, on behalf of the City). In addition, civilian efforts can unintentionally interrupt or jeopardize ongoing criminal investigations." One would think that such a warning would be met with at least some sense of humility on the part of city officials. But then, why would a city blanch at a letter from a mere Justice Department when it proceeds without regard to the authors of the Second Amendment?