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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Aww come on Bloomberg we all know nothing can be done on this Guns will never die in American just American from guns.
There's a billionaire I would vote for President, hope you change your mind Mr. Bloomberg in four years.
Oh NO, here comes all the loony politicians out of the woodwork to further break things and destroy our freedoms...
Everyone can just start pointing fingers directly at the crazy people. The people can keep their guns.
Convicted felons already can't get guns, how is restricting access to everyone else gonna stop violence? How about we allow concealed carriers to arm themselves in more places? What kind of places do you think criminals plan to attack? Places where they know regular, law-abiding citizens aren't allowed to carry... like movie theaters... and schools... seeing a pattern?
Hmmm, Rush runs his mouth a few days ago about the evil Batman movie. Everyone laughs except one of his extremeist followers who takes action. Rush screams "fire" in crowded theaters in the same manner as extremist clerics around the globe. No one holds him accountable. Sad Sad day.
Right wingnuts are lying about the president's record. Bush lost 8 million jobs in his last three years, Obama has had over 4 million jobs created in under 3 years. The market under Bush went to under 7000, and under Obama is over 12,000. Bush went to war in Iraq unnecessarily, Obama brought the Iraq war to an end. Bush added $4.6 trillion to our national debt with tax cuts and unfunded wars and his last budget included a $1.6 trillion deficit. Obama has a budget $600 billion less than W's. Bush was asleep at the wheel on 9-11, and Obama has brought the leadership of al Qaida to justice. Everything our president has accomplished is without a single republican vote.
Bloomberg is right, but nobody is going to do anything about it-at least not for now.Romney isn't going to do anything at all because he , and the GOP as a party have kissed the ring of the National Rifle Association.The NRA even scared some Democrats into voting to hold Eric Holder in contempt several weeks ago on some crazy right-wing conspiracy theory they're pushing that Fast and Furious was a ploy by the president and Holder to take away gun rights.
The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'
Ronald Reagan
OK. So we all get this straight. In Bloomberg and Progressive speak, GUN CONTROL means NO GUNS. Now let's start the conversation. He needs to look at the histories of violent crime rates in Chicago and DC since the have CONTROLLED THE GUNS. BOTTOM LINE: The bad guys will always have guns – regardless of what the laws say. That's why they are Bad Guys – DUH.
Imagine that a loophole in the illegal insider trading act. The Tea Party has evolved into the Amercan Taliban Party with their motto, "I got mine, screw the Nation and everyone else". The American Taliban leadership is Romney, Rove, Limbaugh, Kantor, and Boehner. They all have special devine knowledge that places them along with Cheney well above all laws of mortal men. Ah they just can't wait to return to the "good old days" when white men ruled the world and women and other minorities knew their place and rode at the back of the bus. Had enough yet?
Mr Bloomberg guns do not kill people people do, people like the NRA, Ted Nugent, Republicans are all responsible for these deaths. If you need an asault weapon to go hunting then you really have a bad aim,and there is absolutely no reason unless you are in the military that those kinds of weapons should be available to the public period.
Romney will never support meaningful gun control because he is beholdened to the NRA and Tea Party.
Like everyone else, my prayers are for the victims, their families and the entire City of Aurora.
I also agree with Mayor Bloomberg. It seems to me it is time for the "powerful" of Washington, DC to quit
cowaring at the feet of the NRA (and others) and take a stand for the safety of Americans. No one
wants to "take away your guns", but even those of us who own guns, know that there are many
who should never have this deadly weapon, and certainly none should have the kinds of weapons
only needed in warfare. There should be a line drawn. A compromise that allows people to protect
themselves, families and property is warranted, but it is time to stop the madness.
Banning Guns will not stop people like the 24yr old in Denver. A parallel would be to say that, if human trafficking is at an all time high, we should outlaw automobiles. If 35000 people died from Alcohol related accidents last year (that's 98.9 a Day) We should ban that again too. Oh, Wait... Last Ban of alcohol lead to one of the biggest rises in organized crime in the history of the US. It is a terrible event that happened in Denver. To all of the families involved, I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say, our hearts and prayers go out to you. Lets not continue debate on gun control on this Sound off, but lets use this thread, to show our support for all the families who have been through such heart ache. We are all here for you!
Bloomberg wants guns taken away just like the big gulp. What the heck is he talking about? Should we let all the bad guys have their way and honest citizens have to give up their rights? That's the DEM way, I guess. We are sorry for what happened, but if his family knew something and did nothing, shame on them too. Mr. Bloomberg, you don't make good sense. The media needs to quit reporting all this crap and it would slow the nuts down some. The media just gives people more ideas and how to do it.
“Some are gonna rob you with a six-gun; some will do it with a fountain pen” woodie guthrie
Aurora is not a small suburb of Denver – it is much larger than Denver and home to a diverse population. Please don't make this about gun control – this is about a deeply disturbed man – not guns –
You know what else is killing people every day? Propaganda... Leave gun rights alone its an American way. What happened in Coloradowas horrible but to restrict gun rights will not fix the problem. Criminals will always find ways of getting guns, look at Mexico. If gun rights are restricted then that leaves the average American vulnerable and unable to properly protect there families if needed be. Also wildlife will be less balanced if people don't have the guns to hunt. How much more damage to people and property will there be if the deer population loses its biggest predator, humans
Give me a break, political grandstanding. While I agree, he knows damn well the congress will never approve gun restrictions. Unfortunately in this country, we seem to be in love with guns until they kill someone WE know. The problem is not the President on this issue, its the congress and the senate which will never pass gun legislation.
You're approaching this completely the wrong way Mr. Bloomberg. Instead you should ask your Republican friends in congress to write a bill that calls for stricter gun control and send it up to Obama for his signature. I guarantee you it will pass the democratic vote and that Obama will sign it.
President Obama should speak on this now and forget about the gun-shooting – rootin-tootin – gun-slinging gun owners who already think they know that is his plan. The second amendment gives the right to bear arms but why so many arms????? Look at the laws in AZ – a person is allowed to by hundreds of guns – Why would a person need that many guns??? And look at the "type" of guns that are out their for gun-owners; the guns has more caliber than what our police officers have!!
I agree with Bloomberg – could you imagine if there were NO GUNS AT ALL in this world?? There will be no wars and everyone would have to go back to the good old fist fighting!!!
Obama 2012 – The Only Trusted Way Forward!!
This is not about banning guns, but they need more laws.........if you are a NRA fans don't agree shame one you ! We all know that guns do not kill people , people do. But any one can get a gun..............NEED MORE LAWS. This madness must stop.
Easy, Romney will allow us to have them to defend ourselves against the criminals that have them. Obama won't.
Why doesn't Bloomberg say what he would do about it? Much safer to insist that someone else take the heat for taking a stance that will alienate a large bloc of voters, regardless of the position taken.