More Cities Join Gun Safety Group
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that officials from 411 governments around the nation have now joined the Communities for Safer Guns Coalition.
''The Million Mom March showed us that ordinary Americans across this country want swift and sure government action to protect our families from gun violence,'' Cuomo said, referring to a rally that drew tens of thousands to the nation's capital on Mothers Day.
Smith & Wesson -- the nation's largest handgun maker -- became the first and thus far only company to adopt new gun safety standards in a landmark agreement with the Clinton Administration and state and local officials on March 17.
The standards require major changes in the design, distribution and marketing of guns to make them safer and to help keep them out of
the hands of children and criminals.
In return, Smith & Wesson will be the preferred choice for law enforcement officials in the 411 communities that have joined the Communities for Safer Guns Coalition.
The preference applies to comparable weapons available at a comparable price that meet law enforcement agency needs, HUD officials said.
Seven gun makers and an industry group sued the Department of Housing and Urban Development and 16 cities Wednesday over the
plan to give preferential treatment to Smith & Wesson.
The lawsuit filed in an Atlanta federal court alleges an illegal conspiracy in restraint of trade.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that officials from 411 governments around the nation have now joined the Communities for Safer Guns Coalition.
''The Million Mom March showed us that ordinary Americans across this country want swift and sure government action to protect our families from gun violence,'' Cuomo said, referring to a rally that drew tens of thousands to the nation's capital on Mothers Day.
Smith & Wesson -- the nation's largest handgun maker -- became the first and thus far only company to adopt new gun safety standards in a landmark agreement with the Clinton Administration and state and local officials on March 17.
The standards require major changes in the design, distribution and marketing of guns to make them safer and to help keep them out of
the hands of children and criminals.
In return, Smith & Wesson will be the preferred choice for law enforcement officials in the 411 communities that have joined the Communities for Safer Guns Coalition.
The preference applies to comparable weapons available at a comparable price that meet law enforcement agency needs, HUD officials said.
Seven gun makers and an industry group sued the Department of Housing and Urban Development and 16 cities Wednesday over the
plan to give preferential treatment to Smith & Wesson.
The lawsuit filed in an Atlanta federal court alleges an illegal conspiracy in restraint of trade.