Bloomberg demands gun action from Obama and Romney
(CNN) – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an outspoken advocate of stricter gun-control laws, said in a radio interview Friday the two candidates for president needed to take a firmer line in addressing gun violence.
Bloomberg's comments came as police and the FBI were investigating a deadly shooting in Colorado that left at least 12 people dead.
"Soothing words are nice, but maybe it's time that the two people who want to be president of the United States stand up and tell us what they are going to do about it, because this is obviously a problem across the country," Bloomberg said on WOR Radio's "The John Gambling Show."
Bloomberg continued, saying Friday's tragedy should spark greater focus on how guns reach killers.
"I mean, there are so many murders with guns every day, it's just got to stop," Bloomberg said. "And instead of the two people – President Obama and Governor Romney – talking in broad things about they want to make the world a better place, okay, tell us how."
"In the end, it is really the leadership at a national level, which is whoever is going to be president of the United States starting next January 1st – what are they going to do about guns?" Bloomberg asked.
Presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney met with Bloomberg in May, but an aide to the mayor said Bloomberg remained undecided about making an endorsement in the presidential race. Bloomberg won his last election as a political independent, but was previously a Democrat, then a Republican.
In his interview Friday, Bloomberg said guns getting into hands of criminals wasn't solely a problem in cities like New York.
"This is killing people every day, and it's growing and it's not just an inner-city, east coast, west coast, big city phenomenon. Aurora is not a big city," Bloomberg said, referring to the suburb of Denver where Friday's shooting took place.
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Enter NRA, stage right, waving guns, the flag and bibles....
I can just here them now..."this is the price we pay to live in a free society..."....
I'm all for gun ownership and the 2AM, but hand guns have no other purpose than to kill.
Bloomberg is saying we in government want total control over our citizens with no threat of retaliation when we oppress them.
No Way, the NRA owns both parties!
Maybe we should start by not distributing guns in Fast and Furious! Remember, those guns killed 1 border agent and perhaps up to 300 Mexicans. Ironically, the Mexican government was not notified and only 2 guns has tracking devices! Of course, we'll never know the truth since Obama is covering this up with executive privilege.
Just because minorities and the troubled people that government won't address can't be responsible is no reason for me not to be able to defend myself.
Loser. Guns are not the problem, they are the solution. RNC convention will be a shinning example of this. Probobly the safest place on earth, because everybody will be packin. I am even taking my backup security peice just in case............TEAMERICA
Yes something does need to be done but we don't need a guy spearheading the discussion that wants to ban large softdrinks.
Once again, plain talk from The Mayor – and he is right! Let's have a straight answer from Obama and Romney. Let us see and judge their mettle from it. The Mayor has already spoken up, we are free to criticize him – but he is a brave man. Too bad he's more of a Republican, Obama could use a Bloomberg on his team.
So how did this kook in Colorado get an fully automatic AK-47? This is rediculous
Romney: I'd like to give a tax break to people who own guns, but the NRA doesn't want me to register gun owners.
Obama: I's like to ban guns, but I need an extra judge on the Supreme Court to get a common sense interpretation of the second amendment.
The second Amendment is a joke. Sorry, but it is. The greatest fairytale ever told is a lone person with a gun saving the day for everyone.
Guns do kill people. If anybody ever saw what a gunshot to the head looks like or a child shot, they would also hate guns. I know, have seen to many in my 27 years in law enforcement.
I'll do something for the American People!!!!!!!!!! If you elect me, I will make sure EVERYONE will carry a gun at ALL times to protect themselves!!!!!!!!!!
In one year, GUNS murdered 35 in Australia, 39 in England and Wales, 194 in Germany, 200 in Canada, and 9,484 in the United States.
If this disturbed guy didnt shooooot a weapon, he would/could have used the same device used in a bus against Israel this week. Legislation cant ban everything.
Bad people do bad things. There will always be a weapon.
Funny Bloomberg doesnt acknowledge how a packing 70 yr old stopped two armed bank robbers?
I think it would be overwhelmingly foolish for Obama to get involved in the gun control debate, he has managed to maintain a fighting chance at winning a second term despite telling the world he believes gay people should be able to get married, and spearheading a largely successful campaign to reform health care, two things that usually galvanize conservatives into action.
If you could take all the guns in the world and melt them down I would be on board... but that will never happen so I want mine
And this is why Bloomberg will never get the VP slot for Romney as some GOPers are hoping. He's not pro-NRA....
People kill people. Guns are just a tool used in the unfortunate incidents. Guns do not kill people". That is just like saying fists and arms kill people when they snap a neck. ... NO.. the person does the killing.
Gun control will do nothing but limit firearms in the hands of those who wish to protect themselves against the criminals. Criminals do not care about gun laws!!!!.. I repeat, Criminals DO NOT care about gun laws. You could have a 100% ban on guns and Criminals will still find a way to get them and use them!!! Period! Look at NY and NJ now... you cannot carry concealed but that does not stop criminals from doing it. The incident in Aurora is very very unfortunate and sad. It is a breakdown of that sick individual who may have had some serious issues going on in his life. I do not have the answer to stuff like this but it isn't more gun control to limit those who wish to protect themselves from criminals!
Gun control laws are not the answer. I'm not familiar with Colorado law, but I am pretty sure it is already illegal to shoot and kill someone in a movie theater. Making it illegal to have the gun in the first place wouldn't have detered this idiot. Too bad there wasn't a law abiding citizen with a permit to carry in the theater that could've stopped this before so many people were hurt.
Mitt Romney has NO COREband is an untrustworthy, pandering politician.
He`ll have to check with Rush Limbaugh, Grover Norquist, the NRA & the TeaParty rightwing nutjobs BEFORE he says ANYTHING OF SUBSTANCE.
Romney shouldn`t even be commenting at all. We only have ONE PRESIDENT AT A TIME. Like "Ms. Don`t Retreat Reload" , I can`t wait for him to be off the national scence.
He lacks the humanity we expect in a leader and starting his statement with "Ann & I" is simply an attempt to mask that. Sorry, Ann Romney isn`t the 1 running for President.
For starters, how about an assault weapons ban again........the Cops on the street can't use them and are out-gunned.....help our Cops, ban assault weapons!!!!!
This is not going to make the NRA's cartoon skunk, Pepe LaPeirre very happy.
thanks to Wayne Lapierre the US gives every American the means and the right to commit this mayhem.