In regard to Bloomberg's "sting" operation.  If he and these so-called private detectives did as they say they did, they also violated federal and state law.  How did they get the authority to do this?  Why is no one asking about this?  A city mayor has no standing as a law enforcement officer, and neither do private investigators.  And these stings were conducted in other states.  I want to see someone asking these questions.

Do they have legal authority to commit what would be an illegal act for any other person?

If so, why and how?

The answers are all pretty thin, but I believe the complaint about illegal taping would have to come from the dealers taped without their prior knowledge. It is illegal, but done quite often by investigative reporters, private investigators and others with relative impunity - as long as they're not attempted to be introduced into evidence. The whole process was less than honest. I've lived in NYC and the mayor has some pretty impressive powers - including, I believe, standing as a member of LE. He was, absolutely, however, fishing outside his jurisdiction.

The whole thing was grandstanding - and the NRA's all over it. I'll check on how the NRA-iLA is pursuing the vagaries of the legal questions.

Thanks for asking, Alan. We need more questioning of these sorts of shenanigans.