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NRA Mocks Bloomberg Over Gun Rhetoric
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 26, 2011
Modified Jan 26, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 26, 2011
Modified Jan 26, 2011
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Mayor Bloomberg has long been a passionate advocate for stricter gun-control laws, targeting illegal guns and fighting for bullet "microstamping." But since the tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona, he has become even more vocal in his criticism of gun laws, and recently started a new crusade to reform the background checks on gun purchases. So it was only a matter of time before the NRA decided to turn the tables on his rhetoric: "He likes to blame everyone else for violent crime in New York City. He's also blamed Mother Nature for his recent problems with snow removal," said NRA political director Chuck Cunningham.
Cunningham was speaking to gun enthusiasts and sportsmen at the second annual “Sportsmen and Outdoor Recreation Legislative Awareness Day” at the Legislative Office Building in Albany yesterday. He blasted Bloomberg, who he kept referring to as "Mayor Blame," during his keynote speech. He did a bit of his own blaming too, telling the crowd: "The Second Amendment is under perpetual attack in New York State and 2011 will be no different...[Bloomberg's] not after illegal guns. He's after your guns. And that's a real snow job." (You can see a video from the event here)
Mayor Bloomberg was less focused on the NRA criticisms and jabs, and more critical of President Obama's SOTU speech last night; the Mayor said the President "missed an opportunity" by failing to push for renewed gun-control laws. Bloomberg spokesman Jason Post said, "New York City has done its part. The NYPD has driven crime down to record lows and New York passed the toughest law in the country for possession of an illegal gun. The problem is not in New York. Ninety percent of the guns recovered from crime scenes in New York come from out of state."
Tagged
gun laws
guns
mayor bloomberg
NRA
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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