Mayors stand up to
American gun lobby
By Hugh Cassidy, Crime Correspondent

20 December 2012: “The time has come for mayors from America’s towns and cities to make a stand against the nation's gun lobby and tell their members that the lives of children and their teachers must not be put in danger by allowing owners of assault weapons to pursue their hobbies,” so wrote a mayor to City Mayors. Separately, hundreds of US mayors have written to President Barack Obama urging him to use all his powers and the moral authority of his office to reign in the spread and use of guns.

"Again and again and again, Americans are stunned by senseless acts of violence involving guns. Friday’s tragedy targeting young children in Newtown is incomprehensible. Too many times this year, mayors have expressed shock at a mass shooting. Even more frequently, many of us must cope with the gun violence that occurs on the streets of our cities,” mayors like Michael Bloomberg (NYC), Antonio Villaraigosa (Los Angeles) and Rahm Emanuel (Chicago) wrote.

Their demands to Congress include:
• Enacting legislation to ban assault weapons and other high-capacity magazines.
• Strengthen the national background check system and eliminate loopholes in it.
• Strengthen the penalties for straw purchases [purchases made through a third party] of guns.

In addition, more than 770 mayors signed an open letter to President Obama, composed by Mayors against illegal Guns, reminding him that he shares with them the task to keep American communities safe. "As mayors, we are charged with keeping our communities safe. But too many of us have sat with mothers and fathers of children killed with guns. Twenty-four children enrolled in public schools in your hometown of Chicago were shot to death just last year. At the memorial service in Newtown, you said if there was even one step we can take to save another child or another parent or another town from the grief that has visited Tucson and Aurora and Oak Creek and Newtown and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that – then surely we have an obligation to try.”

The full text of the mayors’ letter to President Obama:
Dear President Obama,
On Friday, December 14th the entire nation watched as parents stood outside the Sandy Hook Elementary School and waited, desperately hoping to be reunited with their children. That moment will never end for the families of the 20 children and six adults who were murdered that day at the school. 
As mayors, we are charged with keeping our communities safe. But too many of us have sat with mothers and fathers of children killed with guns. Twenty-four children enrolled in public schools in your hometown of Chicago were shot to death just last year.

At the moving memorial service on Sunday evening, you said: “If there is even one step we can take to save another child or another parent or another town from the grief that has visited Tucson and Aurora and Oak Creek and Newtown and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that – then surely we have an obligation to try.”

Our bipartisan coalition of more than 750 mayors has joined forces with over 700,000 Americans and more than 100 survivors of deadly shootings, including the mass shootings you mentioned in your remarks. Together, we urge you to put forward an agenda that is rooted in common sense and that will make it harder for dangerous people to possess guns, and easier for police and prosecutors to crack down on them.

That agenda should:
• Require every gun buyer to pass a criminal background check: Background checks are the only systematic way to stop felons, domestic abusers and other dangerous people from buying firearms. These checks are instantaneous and highly effective. Since its inception, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has blocked firearms purchases at licensed dealerships by millions of individuals who are barred by federal law from owning them. But criminals and other prohibited purchasers avoid these checks by buying firearms, including online and at gun shows, from unlicensed “private sellers” who are not required by federal law to conduct the checks. Millions of gun sales — estimated at more than 40 percent of the U.S. annual total — are conducted through private sellers. The Fix Gun Checks Act (H.R.1781 / S.436) would close this enormous gap in our laws by requiring a criminal background check for every gun sale. 

• Get high capacity rifles and ammunition magazines off our streets: Military-style weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines have no appropriate civilian or sporting function. They are designed to kill large numbers of people quickly. They are also disproportionately used to kill law enforcement officers; approximately one out of five law enforcement officers slain in the line of duty is killed with assault weapons. The time has come to review the federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 and draft a new law that is clear and enforceable and will take these weapons out of our communities.

• Make gun trafficking a federal crime: Today, there is no clear and effective statute making gun trafficking a crime. Prosecutors are instead forced to rely on a weak law prohibiting engaging in the business of selling guns without a federal license, which carries the same punishment as trafficking chicken or livestock. As a result, according to the Justice Department’s Inspector General, U.S. Attorneys decline to prosecute 25 percent of those cases while declining only 9 percent of drug conspiracy cases. Mayors Against Illegal Guns supports proposals to empower law enforcement to investigate and prosecute straw purchasers, gun traffickers, and their entire criminal networks.
Those ideas require action by Congress, but there steps you and your Administration could and should take immediately to curb gun violence:

 • Appoint an ATF director: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the federal agency responsible for enforcing our gun laws, has gone without a confirmed director for more than six years. During that time, criminals and those with serious mental illness have been able to take advantage of insufficient enforcement of existing federal gun laws, and an estimated 72,000 Americans have been murdered with guns. In 2011, for the first time in over a decade, more police officers were shot to death in the line of duty than were killed in automobile accidents. The need for leadership at the ATF has never been more urgent. The time has come for you to make a recess appointment to fill the vacancy at the top of the ATF.
•
 Prosecute prohibited purchasers who attempt to buy firearms, ammunition or high-capacity magazines: The Justice Department should vigorously prosecute felons and other prohibited purchasers who fail gun background checks. In 2009, the Federal Bureau of Investigation referred more than 71,000 such cases to ATF, but U.S. Attorneys ultimately prosecuted only 77 of them. Prosecuting these offenders is a goal broadly supported by our coalition and the National Rifle Association. The Department should also develop a mechanism for sharing NICS denial information with local and state law enforcement officials by sending them active alerts; or, at a minimum, posting the information at the National Criminal Information Center so state and local law enforcement officials can access it during investigations.

• Require federal agencies to report records to NICS: The NICS Improvement Act of 2007 requires federal agencies to submit mental health, substance abuse and other records that prohibit a person from owning a gun to NICS. However, few agencies comply. In October 2011, the FBI provided data to MAIG on reporting by 60 federal agencies. Of those 60 agencies, 52 had given zero mental health records to NICS. Although total federal agency reporting of mental health records increased by ten percent between March and October 2011, to 143,579, the vast majority of those records had been submitted by one agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs. Even fewer federal agencies are reporting drug abusers. Only three agencies — the FBI, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Court Services and Offenders Supervision Agency (CSOSA), the probation and parole services agency for the District of Columbia — have submitted any substance abuse records, and the vast majority of federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, have not submitted a single substance abuse record. The president should issue an executive order requiring all federal agency heads to certify twice annually, in writing, to the U.S. Attorney General that their agency has submitted all relevant records to NICS.

• Repeal remaining Tiahrt restrictions: While Mayors Against Illegal Guns and our law enforcement allies have made progress in relaxing the “Tiahrt restrictions,” which are riders to the federal budget that restrict access to federal gun data, some still remain. These remaining restrictions keep the public, particularly researchers and elected officials, in the dark about gun traffickers – specifically, who they are and how they operate. It also requires the FBI to destroy records of approved NICS background checks within 24 hours. That makes it harder to detect law-breaking dealers who fake their records, or to identify straw buyers who undergo the checks on behalf of someone who couldn’t pass. The Tiahrt Amendments also say ATF can’t require dealers to inspect their inventory, which could reduce the tens of thousands of guns that go missing or are stolen each year. Finally, the police and other law enforcement agencies that get trace data can’t use it in license revocation proceedings or in civil litigation. The administration should repeal these restrictions in its next budget.

In the past few days, the American people came together in a national outpouring of grief and sympathy for the families of victims slain in the mass shooting in Newtown. We share in that grief. But our constituents are also outraged and looking for leadership from the White House. We look forward to working with you to find a solution to gun violence in our country.

Signed by the following mayors:
• From Alabama
Samuel L. Jones, Mobile, Alabama
Omar Neal, Tuskegee, Alabama

• From Arizona
Satish I. Hiremath, Oro Valley, Arizona
Greg Stanton, Phoenix, Arizona
Jennifer Eckstrom, South Tucson, Arizona
Jonathan Rothschild, Tucson, Arizona

• From Arkansas
Larry S. Bryant, Forrest City, Arkansas
Arnell Willis, Helena, Arkansas
Lawrence Owens, Hughes, Arkansas
Patrick Hays, North Little Rock, Arkansas
Carl A. Redus, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
McKinzie Riley, Wrightsville, Arkansas

• From California
Marie L. Gilmore, Alameda, California
Tom Bates, Berkeley, California
Cheryl Cox, Chula Vista, California
Eugene Montanez, Corona, California
Jennifer West, Emeryville, California
Gus Morrison, Fremont, California
Maria Orozco, Gonzales, California
James T. Butts, Jr., Inglewood, California
Sukhee Kang, Irvine, California
Bob Foster, Long Beach, California
Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles, California
Lou La Monte, Malibu, California
Rob Schroder, Martinez, California
Paul Eaton, Montclair, California
R Michael Kasperzak Jr., Moutain View, California
Jean Quan, Oakland, California
Stephen P. Pougnet, Palm Springs, California
Bill Bogaard, Pasadena, California
Luis I. Molina, Patterson, California
David Glass, Petaluma, California
L. Dennis Michael, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Gayle McLaughlin, Richmond, California
Kevin Johnson, Sacramento, California
Patrick J. Morris, San Bernardino, California
Edwin M. Lee, San Francisco, California
Andrew F. Kotyuk, San Jacinto, California
Chuck Reed, San Jose, California
Stephen H. Cassidy, San Leandro, California
Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana, California
Helene Schneider, Santa Barbara, California
Don Lane, Santa Cruz, California
Larry Forester, Signal Hill, California
Ann Johnston, Stockton, California
Jeffrey Prang, West Hollywood, California
Christopher Cabaldon, West Sacramento, California

• From Colorado
Matthew Appelbaum, Boulder, Colorado
Michael B. Hancock, Denver, Colorado
Randy P. Penn, Englewood, Colorado
Marjorie Sloan, Golden, Colorado
Carolyn Cutler, Lafayette, Colorado
Bob Murphy, Lakewood, Colorado
Robert Muckle, Louisville, Colorado
Marc A. Snyder, Manitou Springs, Colorado
Joe Gierlach, Nederland, Colorado
Joyce Downing, Northglenn, Colorado
Don Stephens, Salida, Colorado
Andrew Muckle, Superior, Colorado
Stuart Fraser, Telluride, Colorado

• From Connecticut
Adam Salina, Berlin, Connecticut
Bill Finch, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Scott D. Jackson, Hamden, Connecticut
Pedro E. Segarra, Hartford, Connecticut
Daniel Drew, Middletown, Connecticut
John DeStefano, New Haven, Connecticut
Daryl Justin Finizio, New London, Connecticut
Richard A. Moccia, Norwalk, Connecticut
Ryan Bingham, Torrington, Connecticut
Neil M. O'Leary, Waterbury, Connecticut
Scott Slifka, West Hartford, Connecticut
John M. Picard, West Haven, Connecticut

• From District of Columbia
Vincent C. Gray, Washington, DC

• From Delaware
Michael J. Smith, Blades, Delaware
John P. Buchheit III, Delaware City, Delaware
Diane C. Hanson, Dewey Beach, Delaware
James L. Ford III, Lewes, Delaware
Kenneth Branner, Middletown, Delaware

• From Florida
Susan Gottlieb, Aventura, Florida
Jean Rosenfield, Bal Harbour, Florida
Woodrow L. Hay, Boynton Beach, Florida
Marilyn Gerber, Coconut Creek, Florida
James C. Cason, Coral Gables, Florida
Peggy Noland, Deerfield Beach, Florida
Bruce B. Mount, Eatonville, Florida
Craig Lowe, Gainesville, Florida
Glenn Singer, Golden Beach, Florida
Charles Sanders, Greenwood, Florida
Joy Cooper, Hallandale Beach, Florida
Peter J. M. Bober, Hollywood, Florida
Kenneth M. Shultz, Hypoluxo, Florida
Mary Lou Hildreth, Keystone Heights, Florida
Gow B. Fields, Lakeland, Florida
Patricia Gerard, Largo, Florida
Barrington Russell, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Richard Kaplan, Lauderhill, Florida
Howard A. Schieferdecker, Maitland, Florida
Tomas Regalado, Miami, Florida
Matti H. Bower, Miami Beach, Florida
Lori C. Moseley, Miramar, Florida
Connie Leon Kreps, North Bay Village, Florida
John Brady, North Lauderdale, Florida
Andre Pierre, North Miami, Florida
Buddy Dyer, Orlando, Florida
Myra L. Taylor, Opa-Locka, Florida
Dominic Persampiere, Oviedo, Florida
James P. Sasser, Pahokee, Florida
Greg Brudnicki, Panama City, Florida
Frank C. Ortis, Pembroke Pines, Florida
Joe LaCascia, Polk City, Florida
Thomas A. Masters, Riviera Beach, Florida
Norman S. Edelcup, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Michael J. Ryan, Sunrise, Florida
Daniel Dietch, Surfside, Florida
John Marks III, Tallahassee, Florida
Beth Talabisco, Tamarac, Florida
Jeri Muoio, West Palm Beach, Florida
Gary Resnick, Wilton Manors, Florida

• From Georgia
Kasim Reed, Atlanta, Georgia
Deke Copenhaver, Augusta, Georgia
William F. Floyd, Decatur, Georgia
Donna Pittman, Doraville, Georgia
Earnestine D. Pittman, East Point, Georgia
James Thomas, Jr., Hinesville, Georgia
Robert A. B. Reichert, Macon, Georgia
June D. Bradfield, McRae, Georgia
Kathie deNobriga, PineLake, Georgia
Jere Wood, Roswell, Georgia
Patricia Wheeler, Stone Mountain, Georgia
Ralph Moore, Union City, Georgia

• From Hawaii
William P. Kenoi, Hilo, Hawaii
Peter Carlisle, Honolulu, Hawaii
Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr., Kauai, Hawaii

• From Illinois
Larry Hartwig, Addison, Illinois
Arlene J. Mulder, Arlington Heights, Illinois
Rahm Emanuel, Chicago, Illinois
Elizabeth Tisdahl, Evanston, Illinois
Henderson Yarbrough, Sr., Maywood, Illinois
Christopher Koos, Normal, Illinois
Leon Rockingham, Jr., North Chicago, Illinois
Lawrence J. Morrissey, Rockford, Illinois
Robert Sabonjian, Waukegan, Illinois

• From Indiana
Richard Hickman, Angola, Indiana
Mark Kruzan, Bloomington, Indiana
Tom C. Henry, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Karen Freeman-Wilson, Gary, Indiana
John A. Wilkes, Linton, Indiana
Dennis Tyler, Muncie, Indiana

• From Iowa
William E. Gluba, Davenport, Iowa
T.M. Franklin Cownie, Des Moines, Iowa
Roy D. Buol, Dubuque, Iowa
Robert E. Scott, Sioux City, Iowa
Buck Clark, Waterloo, Iowa

• From Kansas
Carl Brewer, Wichita, Kansas

• From Kentucky
Gene McMurry, Carrollton, Kentucky
Greg Fischer, Louisville, Kentucky

• From Louisiana
Melvin "Kip" Holden, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Mitchell J. Landrieu, New Orleans, Louisiana
Rodney A. Grogan, Patterson, Louisiana
Cedric B. Glover, Shreveport, Louisiana

• From Maine
William R. Stokes, Augusta, Maine
Charlotte M. Warren, Hallowell, Maine
Michael Brennan, Portland, Maine

• From Maryland
Joshua J. Cohen, Annapolis, Maryland
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore, Maryland
Andrew M. Fellows, College Park, Maryland
Brian K. Grim, Cumberland, Maryland
Robert C. Willey, Easton, Maryland
Peter Benjamin, Garrett Park, Maryland
Dennis J. Scheessele, Indian Head, Maryland
Craig A. Moe, Laurel, Maryland
Phyllis Marcuccio, Rockville, Maryland
James Ireton, Jr, Salisbury, Maryland
Jeffrey Slavin, Somerset, Maryland
Bruce R. Williams, Takoma Park, Maryland

• From Massachusetts
Thatcher W. Kezer III, Amesbury, Massachusetts
Kevin J. Dumas, Attleboro, Massachusetts
William F. Scanlon, Jr., Beverly, Massachusetts
Thomas Menino, Boston, Massachusetts
Joseph C. Sullivan, Braintree, Massachusetts
David P. Maher, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Carlo DeMaria Jr., Everett, Massachusetts
Lisa A. Wong, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Alex Morse, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Patrick O. Murphy, Lowell, Massachusetts
Gary Christenson, Malden, Massachusetts
Michael J. McGlynn, Medford, Massachusetts
Robert J. Dolan, Melrose, Massachusetts
Setti D. Warren, Newton, Massachusetts
David J. Narkewicz, Northampton, Massachusetts
Edward A. Bettencourt Jr., Peabody, Massachusetts
Thomas Koch, Quincy, Massachusetts
Daniel Rizzo, Revere, Massachusetts
Kimberley Driscoll, Salem, Massachusetts
Joseph A. Curtatone, Somerville, Massachusetts
Domenic Sarno, Springfield, Massachusetts
Susan M. Kay, Weymouth, Massachusetts
Scott Galvin, Woburn, Massachusetts

• From Michigan
John Hieftje, Ann Arbor, Michigan
John B. O'Reilly, Jr., Dearborn, Michigan
Dave Bing, Detroit, Michigan
Dayne Walling, Flint, Michigan
George Hartwell, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Karen Majewski, Hamtramck, Michigan
Virg Bernero, Lansing, Michigan
Gretchen Driskell, Saline, Michigan
Brenda L. Lawrence, Southfield, Michigan
Paul T. Schreiber, Ypsilanti, Michigan

• From Minnesota
Don Ness, Duluth, Minnesota
R.T. Rybak, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Chris Coleman, Saint Paul, Minnesota

• From Mississippi
Johnny DuPree, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Harvey Johnson, Jackson, Mississippi

• From Missouri
Sylvester "Sly" James, Kansas City, Missouri
Randall L. Rhoads, Lee's Summit, Missouri
Francis Slay, St. Louis, Missouri
Shelley Welsch, University City, Missouri

• From Nebraska
Chris Beutler, Lincoln, Nebraska
Jim Suttle, Omaha, Nebraska
Donald A. Groesser, Ralston, Nebraska

• From New Hampshire
Dean Trefethen, Dover, New Hampshire

• From New Jersey
Ed Johnson, Asbury Park, New Jersey
Lorenzo T. Langford, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Mark Smith, Bayonne, New Jersey
Patrick H. McHale, Bogota, New Jersey
Albert B. Kelly, Bridgeton, New Jersey
Dana L. Redd, Camden, New Jersey
Chuck Cahn, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Sophie Heymann, Closter, New Jersey
M. James Maley, Jr., Collingswood, New Jersey
Carol Foster, Corbin City, New Jersey
Joseph R. Smith, East Newark, New Jersey
Robert L. Bowser, East Orange, New Jersey
Antonia Ricigliano, Edison, New Jersey
J. Christian Bollwage, Elizabeth, New Jersey
Carlos Colina, Emerson, New Jersey
Colleen Mahr, Fanwood, New Jersey
Gerald R. Drasheff, Guttenberg, New Jersey
Maria DiGiovanni, Hackettstown, New Jersey
Domenick Stampone, Haledon, New Jersey
Raymond J. McDonough, Harrison, New Jersey
Richard S. Goldberg, Hawthorne, New Jersey
David L. Tinker, Hazlet, New Jersey
Dawn Zimmer, Hoboken, New Jersey
Timothy McDonough, Hope, New Jersey
Paul Anzano, Hopewell, New Jersey
Robert M. Giordano, Independence, New Jersey
Wayne Smith, Irvington, New Jersey
Jerramiah Healy, Jersey City, New Jersey
David M. DelVecchio, Lambertville, New Jersey
Richard J. Gerbounka, Linden, New Jersey
Mauro D. Raguseo, Little Ferry, New Jersey
Stephen Santola, Livingston, New Jersey
Frank W. Minor, Logan Township, New Jersey
Nicholas Russo, Longport, New Jersey
Michael E. Beck, Lower Township, New Jersey
William Laforet, Mahwah, New Jersey
Michael Fressola, Manchester Twnshp, New Jersey
Victor DeLuca, Maplewood, New Jersey
Frank M. North, Merchantville, New Jersey
Patrick O'Hagan, Midland Park, New Jersey
James A. Gallos, Milford, New Jersey
Dennis Vaccaro, Moonachie, New Jersey
J. Randy Bishop, Neptune, New Jersey
Cory Booker, Newark, New Jersey
Peter C. Massa, North Arlington, New Jersey
Francis M. Womack III, N. Brunswick, New Jersey
Randy George, North Haledon, New Jersey
Owen Henry, Old Bridge, New Jersey
James R. Barberio, Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey
Alex D. Blanco, Passaic, New Jersey
Jeffrey Jones, Paterson, New Jersey
Wilda Diaz, Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Harry L. Wyant, Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Sharon M. Robinson-Briggs, Plainfield, New Jersey
Jesse L. Tweedle Sr., Pleasantville, New Jersey
Gary Giberson, Port Republic, New Jersey
Pasquale Menna, Red Bank, New Jersey
Sandy Moscaritolo, River Edge, New Jersey
Jamel C. Holley, Roselle, New Jersey
Robert L. Davis, Salem, New Jersey
Brian P. Stack, Union City, New Jersey
Betty Simmons, Victory Gardens, New Jersey
Robert Romano, Vineland, New Jersey
Robert D. Parisi, West Orange, New Jersey
Shing-Fu Hsueh, West Windsor, New Jersey
John E. McCormac, Woodbridge, New Jersey
Keith Kazmark, Woodland Park, New Jersey

• From New Mexico
Joe Murrietta, Grants, New Mexico
Kenneth D. Miyagishima, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Ray Alborn, Ruidoso, New Mexico
David Coss, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Albert Campos Jr., Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Gloria J. Chavez, Tijeras, New Mexico

• From New York
Gerald Jennings, Albany, New York
James Gaughan, Altamont, New York
Ann Thane, Amsterdam, New York
Peter R. Porcino, Ardsley, New York
Andrea Smallwood, Athens, New York
Randy Casale, Beacon, New York
Matthew T. Ryan, Binghamton, New York
Eugene Christopher, Broadalbin, New York
Byron Brown, Buffalo, New York
G. Wayne McIlroy, Carthage, New York
Jerome Kobre, Chestnut Ridge, New York
John A. Lane, Clinton, New York
John McDonald, Cohoes, New York
Mark Evans, Coxsackie, New York
Robert J. Foster, Deferiet, New York
Steven P. Hoffman, Depew, New York
Sally E. Burns, Delanson, New York
Randy Sterling, Dryden, New York
Allan A. Kasprzak, East Aurora, New York
Paul Rickenbach, East Hampton, New York
Henry Doerr, Elbridge, New York
Jeffrey Kaplan, Ellenville, New York
James Matthews, Ellisburg, New York
Stephen G. Sommers, Fabius, New York
Mark Olson, Fayetteville, New York
James J. Miccio, Fishkill, New York
Andrew Hardwick, Freeport, New York
Donald T. Brudie, Garden City, New York
John Diamond, Glens Falls, New York
Dayton J. King, Gloversville, New York
Jean A. Celender, Great Neck Plaza, New York
Ralph J. Kreitzman, Great Neck Village, New York
Barbara Moore, Greenwood Lake, New York
Martin Natoli, Hagaman, New York
Emery Cummings Jr., Hammondsport, New York
Peter Swiderski, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Michael Kohut, Haverstraw, New York
Natale J. Tartamella, Head of the Harbor, New York
Wayne J. Hall Sr., Hempstead, New York
Richard Beirman Sr., Herrings, New York
Bernard Jackson, Hillburn, New York
Joseph M. Lee, Hilton, New York
Richard B. Milne, Honeoye Falls, New York
Shawn Hogan, Hornell, New York
Brian C. Smith, Irvington, New York
Svante L. Myrick, Ithaca, New York
Samuel Teresi, Jamestown, New York
Susan Lopatkin, Kensington, New York
Shayne R. Gallo, Kingston, New York
Robert Blais, Lake George, New York
Ronald S. Cooper, Lake Success, New York
Anne H. McAndrews, Larchmont, New York
Martin Oliner, Lawrence, New York
Carl Luft, Lima, New York
Norman L. Marsh, Little Valley, New York
Corrine Kleisle, Lyons, New York
Barbara Clark, Madison, New York
Patricia McDonald, Malverne, New York
Mark-Paul Serafin, Manlius, New York
James F. Hidy, Massena, New York
Dennis Leahy, Maybrook, New York
Anthony Sylvester, Mechanicville, New York
Terry Grimshaw, Mexico, New York
Richard Donovan, Minoa, New York
James C. Purcell, Monroe, New York
Jeffrey Oppenheim, Montebello, New York
Gordon Jenkins, Monticello, New York
Ernest D. Davis, Mount Vernon, New York
Peter M. Blandino, Newark, New York
Judith L. Kennedy, Newburgh, New York
Donald J. Ryan, New Hartford, New York
Noam Bramson, New Rochelle, New York
Michael Bloomberg, New York, New York
Paul A. Dyster, Niagara Falls, New York
Laura Nolan, North Haven, New York
Marvin Natiss, North Hills, New York
Robert G. Ortt, North Tonawanda, New York
Joseph Maiurano, Norwich, New York
Linda L. Witte, Olean, New York
Richard P. Miller Jr., Oneonta, New York
William R. Hanauer, Ossining, New York
Brian Wona, Otisville, New York
Paul Pontieri, Patchogue, New York
Mary Foster, Peekskill, New York
Anthony Fratto, Phoenix, New York
Christopher Sanders, Piermont, New York
Donald M. Kasprzak, Plattsburgh, New York
Robert Weitzner, Port Washington, New York
John Tkazyik, Poughkeepsie, New York
John Bruno, Ravena, New York
Daniel J. Dwyer, Rensselaer, New York
Kevin Neary, Richmondville, New York
John Durkin, Roslyn, New York
Matthew Bloomfield, Russell Gardens, New York
Jeffrey L. Pond, Salamanca, New York
Grant Rohrmoser, Sandy Creek, New York
Clyde Rabideau, Saranac Lake, New York
Gregge Harrian, Savona, New York
Gary R. McCarthy, Schenectady, New York
Paul F. Gee, Scottsville, New York
Omer Cousineau, Sharon Springs, New York
John Patterson, Sherman, New York
Leonard Szymanski, Sloan, New York
Karen Strickland, South Dayton, New York
Geoffrey N. Prime, South Floral Park, New York
Patricia DuBow, South Nyack, New York
Mark Epley, Southampton, New York
Letty J. Rudes, Spectulator, New York
Joyce Lobene, Spencerport, New York
Noramie F. Jasmin, Spring Valley, New York
Dagan LaCorte, Suffern, New York
Edward Stewart III, Sylvan Beach, New York
Stephanie A. Miner, Syracuse, New York
Ronald Pilozzi, Tonawanda, New York
Louis A. Rosamilia, Troy, New York
A. Martin Petrovic, Trumansburg, New York
Beth Greenwood, Tully, New York
Michael Esmay, Upper Nyack, New York
Theodore H. Young, Waterloo, New York
Michael P. Manning, Watervliet, New York
Brian D. McCoy, Wayland, New York
David Carr, Westfield, New York
John Ramundo Jr., West Haverstraw, New York
David Goldsmith, Wesley Hills, New York
Scott M. Burto, West Carthage, New York
Thomas M. Roach, White Plains, New York
Anthony C. Leone, Jr., Yorkville, New York

• From North Carolina
Mark Chilton, Carrboro, North Carolina
Mark Kleinschmidt, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Bill Bell, Durham, North Carolina
Jackie Holcombe, Morrisville, North Carolina
Miles Atkins, Mooresville, North Carolina
Nancy McFarlane, Raleigh, North Carolina
Victor Varela, Ronda, North Carolina

• From North Dakota
Dennis Walaker, Fargo, North Dakota

• From Ohio
Dan Pillow, Addyston, Ohio
Donald Plusquellic, Akron, Ohio
Bernard Baranowsko, Andover, Ohio
Ronald A. Bischof, Barnesville, Ohio
Merle S. Gorden, Beachwood, Ohio
Daniel Pocek, Bedford, Ohio
Fletcher Berger, Bedford Heights, Ohio
John Licastro, Bratenahl, Ohio
Samuel J. Alai, Broadview Heights, Ohio
David Seagraves, Brookville, Ohio
Lowell E. Anderson, Caldwell, Ohio
William J. Healy II, Canton, Ohio
Tammy D. Drobina, Carroll, Ohio
Diana Stockmaster, Centerburg, Ohio
Mark Mallory, Cincinnati, Ohio
Frank Jackson, Cleveland, Ohio
Edward Kelley, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Danny Stacy, Cleves, Ohio
Michael Coleman, Columbus, Ohio
William Armentrout, Creston, Ohio
Gary D. Leitzell, Dayton, Ohio
Gary L. Comer, DeGraff, Ohio
Terry L. Lindeman, Doylestown, Ohio
Gary Norton, East Cleveland, Ohio
Ted Andrzejewski, East Lake, Ohio
James P. Swoger, East Liverpool, Ohio
Patricia Burnside, Englewood, Ohio
Bill Cervenik, Euclid, Ohio
Thomas H. Nagel, Fairborn, Ohio
Charles H. Johnson, Forest Park, Ohio
Gary Middlemus, Frazeysburg, Ohio
Kirk Emmert, Gambier, Ohio
Dave Nelson, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio
Mark Williams, Genoa, Ohio
Alan Zaffiro, Golf Manor, Ohio
Ray E. DeGraw, Grandview Heights, Ohio
Gary Lee Young, Greenville, Ohio
Lance Westcamp, Groveport, Ohio
Richard L. Verga, Harveysburg, Ohio
Clifford Mason, Hebron, Ohio
Lou Bertrand, Hiram, Ohio
Susan J. Pelkowski, Holloway, Ohio
William A. Currin, Hudson, Ohio
Rich Blankenship, Ironton, Ohio
Jerry Fiala, Kent, Ohio
Deborah Neale, Lakeline, Ohio
David J. Berger, Lima, Ohio
Jo Ann Toczek, Linndale, Ohio
Patricia A. Fallot, Louisville, Ohio
Joseph M. Cicero Jr., Lyndhurst, Ohio
Donald Kuchta, Macedonia, Ohio
Steve Adams, Malvern, Ohio
Jeffrey A. Lansky, Maple Heights, Ohio
Joe A. Matthews, Marietta, Ohio
Bruce G. Rinker, Mayfield Village, Ohio
Robert Schwab, McComb, Ohio
Glenn W. Holmes, McDonald, Ohio
Richard Cain, Mineral City, Ohio
James B. Waller, Minerva, Ohio
Steven L. Yagelski, Montpelier, Ohio
Susan Renda, Moreland Hills, Ohio
Charles Neff, Mount Sterling, Ohio
Mike Porter, Mt. Gilead, Ohio
Jeffrey C. Wherley, Nellie, Ohio
James A. Friel, Newcomerstown, Ohio
Daniel R. Brooks, North College Hill, Ohio
Terrance J. McConnell, North Kingsville, Ohio
Ed Klco, North Perry, Ohio
Kathy Mulcahy, Orange Village, Ohio
David T. Handwerk, Orrville, Ohio
Richard M. Bain, Pepper Pike, Ohio
Billy R. Spencer, Piketon, Ohio
Timothy Redden, Plymouth, Ohio
Timothy Sicafuse, Poland, Ohio
David A. Malone, Portsmouth, Ohio
Daniel J. Ursu, Richmond Heights, Ohio
William Nibert, Richwood, Ohio
William R. Flaute, Riverside, Ohio
John Berlin, Salem, Ohio
Earl M. Leiken, Shaker Heights, Ohio
Patrick C. Monahan, Shawnee Hills, Ohio
John Smith, Silverton, Ohio
Georgine Welo, South Euclid, Ohio
Matthew Brett, South Russell, Ohio
Warren Copeland, Springfield, Ohio
William C. Burkhardt, St. Bernard, Ohio
Domenick Mucci, Jr., Steubenville, Ohio
Clayton Weller, Sugarcreek, Ohio
Michael P. Bell, Toledo, Ohio
Mary Myers, Verona, Ohio
Daniel V. Wilczynski, Walbridge, Ohio
Doug Franklin, Warren, Ohio
Doug Shaw, Wauseon, Ohio
Allen Patchin, West Farmington, Ohio
Ann Schreiner, West Millgrove, Ohio
Kim Maggard, Whitehall, Ohio
William A. Margalis, Wickliffe, Ohio
Richard J. Bonde, Willowick, Ohio
Chuck Sammarone, Youngstown, Ohio
Jeff Tilton, Zanesville, Ohio

• From Oregon
Kitty Piercy, Eugene, Oregon
Sam Adams, Portland, Oregon

• From Pennsylvania
James Hopely, Aldan, Pennsylvania
Ed Pawlowski, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Charles T. Wahl, Ambler, Pennsylvania
Gretchen Dosch, Applewold, Pennsylvania
Bernard Killian, Aspinwall, Pennsylvania
Alexander Bennett, Jr, Baldwin, Pennsylvania
Phillip Ferrizzi, Bally, Pennsylvania
Donald L. Wunderler, Bath, Pennsylvania
Cloyd W. Wagner, Beavertown, Pennsylvania
Stanley Goldman, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Robin J. Gochenauer, Bendersville, Pennsylvania
Gail Stoudt, Bernville, Pennsylvania
John B. Callahan, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Robert M. Myers, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania
Everett W. Saxton, Bolivar, Pennsylvania
Vincent H. Liebel, Boswell, Pennsylvania
Marianne Deery, Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Kenneth Lockhart, Brentwood, Pennsylvania
Verncel L. Creveling, Briar Creek, Pennsylvania
David Wonderling, Brookville, Pennsylvania
Lester J. Ward, Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Anna Marie Quader, Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
Loyce Harpster, Burnham, Pennsylvania
Margaret Stock, Butler, Pennsylvania
David H. Rhome, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Justin M. Taylor, Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Donald Baumgarten, Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania
Barbara A. Schlegel, Catasauqua, Pennsylvania
James S. Perry, Chalfant, Pennsylvania
Marilyn J. Becker, Chalfont, Pennsylvania
Peter Lagiovane, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Ronald W. Lockwood, Cherry Valley, Pennsylvania
John A. Linder, Chester, Pennsylvania
Paul H. McKenna, Churchill, Pennsylvania
Richard L. Lattanzi, Clairton, Pennsylvania
Andrea J. Estadt, Clarion, Pennsylvania
Harry Kelly, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
James P. Schell, Clearfield, Pennsylvania
John Hartman, Cleona, Pennsylvania
Frank C. Kelly, Collingdale, Pennsylvania
Daniel Rutland, Colwyn, Pennsylvania
Allen Gyorko, Confluence, Pennsylvania
Joseph Carrelli, Conyngham, Pennsylvania
Anthony G. Celeste, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Mark J. Thomas, Cornwall, Pennsylvania
Timothy J. Carroll, Dallas, Pennsylvania
Helen Thomas, Darby, Pennsylvania
Thomas R. Lloyd, Dormont, Pennsylvania
John Lignelli, Donora, Pennsylvania
Josh Maxwell, Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Libby White, Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Philip Krivacek, Duquesne, Pennsylvania
Betty M. Hays, Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania
Salvatore J. Panto, Jr., Easton, Pennsylvania
Louis J. Payne, East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mark A. Pacilla, East Washington, Pennsylvania
J. Edward Cook, Edgewood, Pennsylvania
Wayne T. Murphy, Edgeworth, Pennsylvania
Ray Plummer, Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania
Joseph J. Cisco, Ellport, Pennsylvania
Anthony J. Court, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania
Winfield Iobst, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Dorothy H. Quinn, Emsworth, Pennsylvania
Joseph Sinnott, Erie, Pennsylvania
Gary Foster, Evans City, Pennsylvania
D. Gary Evans, Factoryville, Pennsylvania
Charles Moore, Falls Creek, Pennsylvania
Olive McKeithan, Farrell, Pennsylvania
Gary McBrien, Felton, Pennsylvania
Robert P. Frey, Folcroft, Pennsylvania
Kim Phillips, Frackville, Pennsylvania
Fred C. Moyer, Jr., Freeburg, Pennsylvania
Gerald C. Yob, Freemansburg, Pennsylvania
Edward F. Burns, Girardville, Pennsylvania
Arnie Bowser, Greensboro, Pennsylvania
Roy Del Rosario, Hamburg, Pennsylvania
Linda Thompson, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Norm Hawkes, Hatboro, Pennsylvania
Ronald Cyphert, Hawthorn, Pennsylvania
John Hoerner, Highspire, Pennsylvania
Joseph R. Dodson, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Betty Esper, Homestead, Pennsylvania
Tim McGuire, Homewood Borough, Pennsylvania
Dee Dee Brown, Huntingdon Borough, Pennsylvania
George E. Hood, Indiana, Pennsylvania
Nicholas Yanosich, Industry, Pennsylvania
Gerald C. Croushore, Ingram, Pennsylvania
Charles Ritter, Ivyland, Pennsylvania
James C. Sanders, Jefferson, Pennsylvania
Ed Foley, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Wm. Dennis Buttoroff, Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania
Donald Bosh, Knoxville, Pennsylvania
Sandra Green, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Joseph Legnasky, Lake City, Pennsylvania
Rick Gray, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Christopher Blaydon, Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Jayne C. Young, Lansdowne, Pennsylvania
Fred Feltenberger, Laureldale, Pennsylvania
Pete Poninsky, Leetsdale, Pennsylvania
Donald L. Rehrig, Lehighton, Pennsylvania 
Deborah A. Bargo, Lewiston, Pennsylvania
Nick Vay, Lincoln, Pennsylvania
John L. Mark, Liverpool, Pennsylvania
William D. Hart, Lykens, Pennsylvania
Randy Schlegel, Lyons, Pennsylvania
Thomas A. Bell, Mahaffey, Pennsylvania
Gerard J. McGlone, Jr., Malvern, Pennsylvania
Eric B. Phillips, Manheim, Pennsylvania
David Sturgess, Manor, Pennsylvania
Jeremy A. Berardinelli, Marianna, Pennsylvania
Alexander J. Chelik, Mayfield, Pennsylvania
Terry S. Bennett, McDonald, Pennsylvania
Weslee A. Clapper-Krepps, McKean, Pennsylvania
John Christopher Soff, Meadville, Pennsylvania
Bob McMahon, Media, Pennsylvania
Ethel I. Kellerman, Milesburg, Pennsylvania
Thomas S. Kramer, Millbourne, Pennsylvania
John P. Antoline, Monaca, Pennsylvania
Mary Jo Smith, Monessen, Pennsylvania
John Dorin, Montoursville, Pennsylvania
Maureen A. Piselli, Morton, Pennsylvania
Timothy M. Allison, Mount Union, Pennsylvania
Raymond Bodnar, Munhall, Pennsylvania
Thomas Lush, Myerstown, Pennsylvania
Stephen Szymusiak, Nanty-Glo, Pennsylvania
Joseph Taylor, New Milford, Pennsylvania
Frances Tkach, New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mary M. Hetrick, Newport, Pennsylvania
Grace Angotti, New Salem, Pennsylvania
Nicholas W. DeSantis, New Stanton, Pennsylvania
 Lee I. Hall, North Charleroi, Pennsylvania
George F. McCloskey, Norwood, Pennsylvania
Thomas Reenock, Northampton, Pennsylvania
Michele Petrini Avvisato, Old Forge, Pennsylvania
Austin Scandiber, Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania
Lewis Paul Cowher, Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania
Geoffrey L. Henry, Oxford, Pennsylvania
Fred Carpenter, Palmyra, Pennsylvania
William McCall, Parker, Pennsylvania
Ardele R. Gordon, Parkside, Pennsylvania
Robert Winkler, Penndel, Pennsylvania
Michael Nutter, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Bonnie Heath, Pottstown, Pennsylvania
John D.W. Reiley, Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Vaughn D. Spencer, Reading, Pennsylvania
Guillermo Udarbe, Ridgway, Pennsylvania
Desiree D. DeNicola, Roseto, Pennsylvania
Edwin W. Rosenberry, Saxton, Pennsylvania
Thomas C. Hufnagle, Sellersville, Pennsylvania
Anthony Hajjar, Seward, Pennsylvania
Joseph McGranghan, Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania
Robert O'Neil, Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania
Richard Panza, Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania
Bruce Hockersmith, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Boyd Paul, Snow Shoe, Pennsylvania
William Meyer, Somerset, Pennsylvania
John Reynolds, Souderton, Pennsylvania
James C. Kennedy, South Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Clyde R. Wadsworth, South Fork, Pennsylvania
Elizabeth A. Goreham, State College, Pennsylvania
Thomas F. Acri, Steelton, Pennsylvania
Sherman Metzgar, Stockertown, Pennsylvania
William A. Boyd, Stoystown, Pennsylvania
Charles Baughman, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Paul R. McArdle, Summit Hill, Pennsylvania
David L. Persing, Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Richard H. Lowe, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Luke Duignam, Tatamy, Pennsylvania
Jay R. Stover, Telford, Pennsylvania
Charles Harper, Three Springs, Pennsylvania
Kenneth Danser, Timblin, Pennsylvania
Francis B. Zalewski, Trainer, Pennsylvania
William Allar, Tremont, Pennsylvania
J. David Cutchineal, Tullytown, Pennsylvania
LeAnn Hritz, Tunnelhill, Pennsylvania
Adam R. Forgie, Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania
Thomas Micozzie, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
Jeffrey Steffler, Wampum, Pennsylvania
Ester Cotner, Washingtonville, Pennsylvania
Richard A. Starliper, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
Carolyn T. Comitta, West Chester, Pennsylvania
Gerald W. Gross, West Easton, Pennsylvania
Ralph Harrington, West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania
Dick Vargeson, Westfield, Pennsylvania
Frank Schmidt, West Hazleton, Pennsylvania
John W. Dindak, West Homestead, Pennsylvania
Mary E. Popovich, West Newton, Pennsylvania
John Henry, West View, Pennsylvania
James F. Nowalk, Whitehall Borough, Pennsylvania
Edward D. Hozza, Jr., Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania
Thomas M. Leighton, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
John A. Thompson, Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
David Perruso, Wilson, Pennsylvania
Larry Markel, Windsor, Pennsylvania
Dolores Jones-Butler, Yeadon, Pennsylvania
John Sanford, Yoe, Pennsylvania
C. Kim Bracey, York, Pennsylvania
Alford Shull, York Springs, Pennsylvania
Joan Derco, Youngwood, Pennsylvania

• From Rhode Island
Charles Lombardi, North Providence, Rhode Island
Angel Taveras, Providence, Rhode Island

• From South Carolina
Joseph Riley, Charleston, South Carolina 
Joseph T. McElveen, Jr., Sumter, South Carolina
Darrick Jackson, Timmonsville, South Carolina

• From Tennessee
Ron Littlefield, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Thomas W. Taylor, Maryville, Tennessee
A C Wharton, Memphis, Tennessee
Tom Beehan, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Bill Lusk, Signal Hill, Tennessee

• From Texas
Lee Leffingwell, Austin, Texas
Tony Martinez, Brownsville, Texas
Carl D. Sherman, DeSoto, Texas
Richard Ward, Hurst, Texas

• From Utah
Dana Williams, Park City, Utah

• From Vermont
Bob Kiss, Burlington, Vermont
Christopher C. Louras, Rutland City, Vermont

• From Virginia
William B. Euille, Alexandria, Virginia
Faye Prichard, Ashland, Virginia
Paul D. Fraim, Norfolk, Virginia
Brian A. Moore, Petersburg, Virginia
Dwight C. Jones, Richmond, Virginia
William D. Sessoms Jr, Virginia Beach, Virginia

• From Washington State
H. Clarence Bauman, Chewelah, Washington
Garland D. Walton, Connell, Washington
Robert F. Sheckler, Des Moines, Washington
Will Ibershof, Duvall, Washington
Gary S. Jensen, Ferndale, Washington
Ron (Pete) Poulson, Kalama, Washington
David M. Ferguson, Mesa, Washington
Daniel N. Mork, Millwood, Washington
James F. Gerwig, Morton, Washington
Dennis Palmer, Oakesdale, Washington
Spencer Nichols, Pe Ell, Washington
Paul Warden, Prosser, Washington
Terry Anderson, SeaTac, Washington
Mike McGinn, Seattle, Washington
Dianne W. White, Stanwood, Washington
Marilyn Strickland, Tacoma, Washington
Soo Ing-Moody, Twisp, Washington

• From West Virginia
Harold H. Howell Jr., Madison, West Virginia

• From Wisconsin
William C. Whalen, Ashland, Wisconsin
Larry MacDonald, Bayfield, Wisconsin
Keith G. Bosman, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Paul R. Soglin, Madison, Wisconsin
Justin M. Nickels, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Chris L. Meyer, Marshfield, Wisconsin
Kurt Sonnentag, Middleton, Wisconsin
Tom Barrett, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Steve Scaffidi, Oak Creek, Wisconsin
John Dickert, Racine, Wisconsin
James E. Tipple, Wausau, Wisconsin


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