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Bloomberg Fires Back at Critics Over Gun Control
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 28, 2011
Modified Jan 28, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 28, 2011
Modified Jan 28, 2011
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Mayor Bloomberg was among the critics who faulted President Obama from cutting a passage about gun control from his State of the Union Address. The Obama administration says there will be a separate speech about guns at a later date, and yesterday Bloomberg appeared on "The Last Word" to talk about the issue. Bloomberg says Obama missed an opportunity, adding, "Presidents don't have a problem fighting wars overseas, Congress doesn't have a problem funding wars overseas. But we have a war on the streets of our cities, big and small... There are 400,000 Americans who have been killed by guns... that is roughly the number of Americans killed in WWII." Bloomberg also had some words for his NRA critics.
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NRA Political Director Chuck Cunningham had recently referred to Bloomberg as “Mayor Blame" for pointing to a lack of gun control laws as the cause of "violent crime in New York City," just as he blamed "Mother Nature for his recent problems with snow removal." In response, Bloomberg said, "The truth of the matter is [the NRA critics] don't pay any attention. The Constitution says you have a right to bear arms, the Constitution talks about a well-regulated militia. A well-regulated militia isn't a bunch of people that have clips that hold 38 bullets for their Glock handgun in their home."
But at least one commenter on the MSNBC post thinks Bloomberg is a hypocrite for maintaining his own personal militia:
I met Bloomberg a few times, at ribbon cutting ceremonies for low income housing we built. His advance team shows up 3 hours before the event to secure the area. Roof-top NYPD snipers, close roads, plainclothes cops go into the crowd. Then 6 brand new, highly polished policecars, 3 in front and 3 behind his limo pull up. When Bloomberg exits the vehicle (he is about 4'10" tall) he is immediately surrounded by his bodyguard detail. Suits, sunglasses, earpieces, talking into their Dick Tracy wristwatches and heavily armed I'm sure.
Why is it that these sanctimonious jerks find it OK to protect themselves yet the public gets to be at the mercy of the criminal. Prior to being Mayor, he's had bodyguards all his adult life. Billionaires like Mike don't need to carry a gun for self-defence. They hire teams of armed men to carry for them.
Tagged
gun control
guns
mayor bloomberg
NRA
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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