Venator
Anti-Saldana Freedom Fighter
Good article on the history of the Sullivan Act.
http://www.ammoland.com/2011/08/16/criminals-steering-gun-control/
Excerpt:
TIM SULLIVAN, CRIMINAL AND POLITICIAN
A near giant of a man, Big Tim Sullivan, was a notorious Irish gangster, (Mike Hudson www.niagarafallsreporter.com/column357.html). His mob controlled New York City south of 14th Street around the turn of the 20th century. This dangerous street thug and politician became an influential figure in the corrupt Democratic machine there known as Tammany Hall. He made the transition from thug and political ward heeler to New York state senator in 1894. Sullivan represented New York’s Red Hook district, (Patrick Sperry http://tiny.cc/algmb), sometimes referred to as “Hells Kitchen.” Sullivan served a six-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and returned to the New York state legislature in 1909, complaining that he “lacked the juice in Washington that he had grown accustomed to on his home turf.”
In 1911, Sullivan’s constituents, (Irish and Jewish mobsters who put him into office), shared a growing problem with him. Immigrant Italian mafia members were horning in on what had once been their exclusive area of criminal operations. Commercial travelers passing through the district would be relieved of their valuables by armed robbers. Naturally, in order to protect themselves and their property, honest travelers began to arm themselves.
Gunfights in what was to become Little Italy became more frequent. This both raised the criminal’s risk while conducting armed robbery, and reduced the gang’s profit. Sullivan’s criminal constituents then “lobbied” Sullivan to introduce a law prohibiting concealed carry of pistols in order to reduce the risk to his criminal constituents while robbing honest people. That Sullivan was successful in passing a law disarming honest citizens so as to aid and abet other criminals is well documented.
http://www.ammoland.com/2011/08/16/criminals-steering-gun-control/
Excerpt:
TIM SULLIVAN, CRIMINAL AND POLITICIAN
A near giant of a man, Big Tim Sullivan, was a notorious Irish gangster, (Mike Hudson www.niagarafallsreporter.com/column357.html). His mob controlled New York City south of 14th Street around the turn of the 20th century. This dangerous street thug and politician became an influential figure in the corrupt Democratic machine there known as Tammany Hall. He made the transition from thug and political ward heeler to New York state senator in 1894. Sullivan represented New York’s Red Hook district, (Patrick Sperry http://tiny.cc/algmb), sometimes referred to as “Hells Kitchen.” Sullivan served a six-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and returned to the New York state legislature in 1909, complaining that he “lacked the juice in Washington that he had grown accustomed to on his home turf.”
In 1911, Sullivan’s constituents, (Irish and Jewish mobsters who put him into office), shared a growing problem with him. Immigrant Italian mafia members were horning in on what had once been their exclusive area of criminal operations. Commercial travelers passing through the district would be relieved of their valuables by armed robbers. Naturally, in order to protect themselves and their property, honest travelers began to arm themselves.
Gunfights in what was to become Little Italy became more frequent. This both raised the criminal’s risk while conducting armed robbery, and reduced the gang’s profit. Sullivan’s criminal constituents then “lobbied” Sullivan to introduce a law prohibiting concealed carry of pistols in order to reduce the risk to his criminal constituents while robbing honest people. That Sullivan was successful in passing a law disarming honest citizens so as to aid and abet other criminals is well documented.
