Hopes congressman will change stance on legislation

By DAN MINER

Observer-Dispatch
Posted Apr 15, 2009

UTICA —
Mayor David Roefaro wants a politician from Kansas to come see the city.

And, maybe, Republican Rep. Todd Tiahrt will change his stance on controversial gun legislation, too, Roefaro said.

“I would like to try and make him understand we need to do away with the law he instituted and see how the community’s affected by this,” said Roefaro, who addressed a letter to Tiahrt on Wednesday inviting him to the area.

Roefaro told Tiahrt in the letter that he would even pay for his plane ticket if he came to the city.

The legislation Roefaro was referring to is known as the Tiahrt Amendment. Critics say restrictions in the law make it harder for law enforcement to trace illegal guns.

Proponents say it protects the lives of law enforcement officers and the integrity of their investigations…

The legislation has sparked broad and national debate. The issue has been taken up by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, an organization with more than 340 mayors from 40 states, according to the group’s Web site.

If Tiahrt visited, Roefaro said the two men would tour upstate’s prison system to show Tiahrt the issues with illegal guns and need for strong enforcement.

“We need to track these guns before a crime is committed,” he said.