Bloomberg Calls Guns “A National Threat” And Vows To Launch National Campa

[billbuckhead]

As He Begins Second Term, Bloomberg Looks Beyond 9-11

Embracing an electoral mandate during a second inaugural address that was filled with optimism, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today promised to pursue the most ambitious housing program in city history, to begin a national campaign against illegal guns and to "lock in and extend" his program to improve city schools.
-----------------snip-------------------------------------
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/>

Is this a stalking horse for Guiliani to run for President? New York city's huge improvement in crime rate due to it's successful gun policies is a cornerstone of a campaign that would beat the Dems in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, the west coast and with suburban security moms from coast to coast. Shame on pink tutu Dems for their sucking up to the NRA fascists.

[Mend]

1. Let's see what the NRA does now with him...or do they only stalk

Democrats. My guess is that they will say he is really a Democrat and rant against Democrats. It is okay to ban guns only if you are a republican.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. So they have left him alone so far?

Seems like they have had plenty of ammunition if they had wanted to attack him already. (Sorry, I know - bad pun)

[Aviation Pro]

2. So much for his presidential aspirations.

eom

[saigon68]

3. They will say he is another SCHUMER "GIRLY MAN"

[billbuckhead]

4. It's karma that the Dems are going to be attacked from the left

on gun policy issues by northeast Republican's. There is no political safety in "let's not talk about gun policy", a large majority of American people are for stronger gun regulations but Dems have been frightened into not talking about it because the NRA are such bullies.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. There are some gun bullies

right here on DU as well. :scared:

[Toots]

7. Hmm Gun Control is now a Republican issue

Isn't is amazing how the evidence provided by New York will be discounted because a Republican accomplished it?
"New York city's huge improvement in crime rate due to it's successful gun policies is a cornerstone of a campaign that would beat the Dems in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, the west coast and with suburban security moms from coast to coast."
Let us hear the Democrats refute this now...

[billbuckhead]

9. I t's indicative of the Dem's weakness on gun policy

that the Republicans can hit them from the left and the right on this issue. Many Dems on this board think that if we just roll over and do what the freepers want, we'll "take this issue off the table". Well the 30,000 deaths, over 100,000 shootings, 120billion plus in damages and an endless drumbeat of news stories won't let this issue go away.

[aikoaiko]

10. Dem gun owners just want their leaders to speak for them too.

Not that I speak for all gun owners, but I'd like gun control that doesn't interfere with access to guns for law abiding residents.

Framing it as caving into the freeps does good dems a diservice. It sends the message that if you want to have reasonableaccess to guns t defend yourself or your family then you can't be a democrat. I reject that implication and more and more democrats are as well.

But if we insist on pushing the issue, then some moderate dems who are on the fence will vote to keep access to their guns.

[billbuckhead]

12. And moderate Republicans will steal more suburban women

in battleground states than the few Dems who care about unlimited gun rights in states we have no chance of winning because of fundies or corrupt voting practices. It's time for Dems to stand up for sensible gun regulations and strong enforcement or let the Republicans beat them over the head with it from both sides.
I think the NRA crowd must have threatened Bloomberg when they wanted to put a radio station in NYC. It's intriguing that just after his triumphant election that he would go after the NRA thugs. Maybe this is a signal that a lot of Republican's are also sick of them and all the blodshed. One thing they'll find it's harder to bully a politically connected billionaire than Rosie O'Donnell's children.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Where's the "Twlight Zone" music when you need it?

[WLKjr]

8. Don't forget, It's the Democrats who want to take ur guns away, LOL!

That was horse shit from day one.

[aikoaiko]

11. Lately thats been true. ie AWB and its various reincarnations.

Of course there are republicans who want to take away guns too.

The sunset clause in the 1994 AWB was its best feature

[billbuckhead]

13. The public wants an assault weapons ban

Even Bush said he would sign one. Poll after poll says they want an assault weapons ban by large majorities. Most cities and urban counties want to ban handguns. Everybody wishes the Congress would appropriate more money for enforcement. It's sad that a Republican is going to take the lead on this and this will be a great issue for Guiliani to differentiate himsalf in the primaries against more reichwing competitors.

[aikoaiko]

15. and yet, theres no AWB,

even some of our own are breaking ranks to defeat it.

[aikoaiko]

16. Notice how Bloomberg is not talking about more gun bans.

But focusing on already illegal guns. Getting tougher on illegal gun trafficking and gun violence is something we all can get behind.

From the article:
"On the whole, Mr. Bloomberg's speech was low on specifics, but it laid out what his aides said would be the broad strokes of his agenda, including something of a crusade against illegal guns and a renewed push to change the physique of the city with new housing and a newly vibrant waterfront."


From another article about the type of gun control in NY and NYC.
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stgun224561726dec22,0,4685288.story?coll=ny-statenews-headlines
" The bills will significantly increase the penalties for illegal gun trafficking and make it easier to convict those who sell illegal guns of felony crimes, with sentences of up to 25 years.

The Crimes Against Police Act increases penalties for those who injure or kill police officers. Pataki and fellow Republicans sought to include capital punishment as an option for killers of police but drop ped that provision to win the bill's approval in the Democrat-led Assembly."

[billbuckhead]

17. There's no AWB cause of crooks like DeLay, Ney, Cunningham

The public's will is being thwarted by corrupt Republicans in bed with the neoCONS in the gun lobby. The AWB has the votes to pass and then some but NRA types kept it fromm coming up for a proper stand alone vote.

[aikoaiko]

18. Or maybe the AWB just doesn't have as much support as you wish.

Gun bans are a bad political idea -- but keep going with it Bill. The rest of us will argue for sensible and meaningful gun control.

[billbuckhead]

19. 78% of Americans want an Assaults Weapons Ban

<http://www.csgv.org/news/headlines/chicagotrib7_29_04.cfm>

Many polls show supermajorities for the AWB.

Among the key findings of the CFA Assault Weapons Ban survey are the following:

Support Renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban - All respondents 76%, Gun Owners 57% Support Closing the Loopholes that Allow:

* Modified weapons to evade the ban - All 65%, Gun Owners 51%;
* Pre-1994 weapons to be sold without background checks - All 87%, Gun Owners 79%;
* Conversion parts kits - All 85%; Gun Owners 73%;
* Juveniles from owning assault weapons - All Respondents 85%, Gun Owners 80%.

"In this election year, it is important to note that three-quarters of all respondents want President Bush to make an effort to persuade Congress to renew the ban. Two-thirds of gun owners want him to make the effort. The American public is calling on President Bush to keep these weapons off of America's streets and neighborhoods. We sincerely hope he heeds their concerns." Peschin said.

"The failure of Congress to bring the assault weapons ban up for a vote would not sit well with the American people - 46% say it would make them think worse of Congress, compared to just 11 percent who say it would make then think better of Congress."
<http://www.consumerfed.org/releases2.cfm?filename=022304_assault_weapons_survey_2004_release.txt>

[aikoaiko]

20. Damning numbers to be sure, and yet there is no AWB. lol

Maybe those numbers are inflated from a less than neutral source.

Let's be honest Bill, you would like to ban all guns, wouldn't you?

[billbuckhead]

21. LOL? Proud of the corrupt congress that thwarted the people?

It speaks volumes about what the gun lobby is really for and that isn't democracy. Proud of Dick Cheney, Tom DeLay, Duke Cunningham, Grover Norquist, John Bolton's, Tom Noe, and the rest of the NRA crook's handiwork?

About less, biased polls, I assume you want ones from concservative new outlets? How about Gallup?
Gallup poll shows 53% want gun laws strengthened. Who do want to do the poll, God himself? How about some referendums? I can't find your side ever winning one.

The power of politics as a seductive force belies the will of the American people. According to a Gallup poll conducted earlier this year, 53 percent want gun laws strengthened. An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll taken at the end of 2003 showed 78 percent wanted to keep the assault weapons ban. Moreover, the renewal of the assault weapons ban is supported by every major national law enforcement organization in the country.
<http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=17390>

[aikoaiko]

22. winning one? we got the AWB to dissappear and more states are shall issue

[billbuckhead]

23. So you're on the side of the corrupt Tom DeLay led congress?

And brag about it? Ever wonder why gun "enthusists" are held in contempt by decent people around the world? The USA is the only advanced nation with these failed gun regulations and either 2 things are going to happen in the future. The fascists you brag about voting your way will take your guns away or America will come to it's senses and switch to the common sense laws the rest of advanced natiopns enjoy. Societal advances always seem to get started in California and New York City, so you're side is clearly on the wrong side of history.

[aikoaiko]

24. I am on the side of the constitution, liberty, and reasonable gun reg.

I am no friend of Tom Delay or most of replublicans. But you are apparently on the side of failed gun regulation such as gun bans.

What is good for NY and CA might not be good for the rest of the country at least not yet. Please don't make democrats pay for your wish for taking away or banning guns in the rest of the country.

I;m done with you on this thread -we'll spar again elsewhere I am sure.

[billbuckhead]

25. mydd: Gun Nut Realignment Thesis Shot Full of Holes By Data

Gun Nut Realignment Thesis Shot Full of Holes By Data
by Paul Rosenberg

A major source of static in the discussion of Chris's brilliant analysis "End Game on Bush's Approval: Realignment" came from a drearily predictable source: gun control opponents. There they were, insisting that embracing guns was the silver bullet to solve all our problems.
It just not true. First, let's peek at what they said, and then let's look at reality.

Diaries :: Paul Rosenberg's diary :: Mon Nov 14th, 2005 at 02:14:31 PM EDT


So eager were the anti-gun controllers that one of them--steveketchup--gave us this self-contradictory gem:

"We don't have to change anything we stand for
All we need to do is get off the gun control bandwagon and we'll stop alienating all those Nascar dads."

Can you imagine anyone saying with a straight face:
"We don't have to change anything we stand for.
All we need to do is get off the abolition bandwagon and we'll stop alienating all those spittoon dads."
-----------------snip----------------------------------
Lot's of Gallup polling data followed by analysis
-----------------snip-----------------------------------
"In short, there are two surprising results here. First of all, there's virtually no difference between how the two candidates were perceived. This utterly undermines the anti-gun control argument. If there's virtually no perceived difference between the candidates, then Kerry's supposed embrace of gun control can't have cost him the election.

Second, however, Kerry was seen as slightly less likely to make gun access more difficult, and slightly more likely to make it easier. In other words, Bush was mildly seen as more the gun control candidate than Kerry was. This is clearly far from the truth, and supports my larger argument--joining with Chris's post-election analysis--that changing positions on the issues is not what Democrats need to do.

Kerry's escapades traipsing around going hunting during the campaign may well have had the effect of producing the figures we see above. But they did not get the larger job done--the job of getting folks to identify with him, rather than George Bush. Because the war the GOP is fighting is not the war of issues, but the war of identity and identification. And that's the war that we must fight as well."

<http://michael-in-chicago.mydd.com/story/2005/11/14/141431/81>

This the big lie the gun lobby tries to spread all over the internet, that guns cost Dems elections. That's why it's so interesting that whenever Republicans like Guiliani, Bloomberg, Swartzeneggar and even McCain try to move to the middle, one of the first things that goes is the promiscuous interpretation of gun law and allegiance to the NRA. This data analysis on mydd.com shows that we hurt more from not pushing a sensible gun regulation agenda. There is much NRAstroturfing of DU to try to give legitimacy to this idea that Dems would win all these elections if we gave in to the freepers and the gun manufacturers. It's not only not true but the reverse is true. If we explain the benefits of gun laws and regulation properly, we can win more voters.