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.
Gun Control is against the principls of the COnstitution and out right as private citizens to bear arms. The problem is not the guns; it is the people using them. Most states have mandatory sentencing but the courts never enforce it - If law enforcement and the courts cracked down on crimes with weapons, we would see progress.
Cant do anything about Gun Control now, it is too late. There are so many guns in the streets that if this gunman would have not been able to get one lawfully he would have just bought one the same way he got a hold of A CANISTER OF TEAR GAS???!!!. Has anyone seen these at their local walmart? If he could get this he could get a gun on the streets. The only thing gun control will accomplish at this point is disarming law abiding citizens who will then become sitting ducks when these idiots decide to rape, kidnap and murder our families. What i am supposed to do then, throw rocks? Look up all of the success stories of legal gun ownership. Youtube has a 911 call of a lady shooting a rapist during the entire six minutes wait for police to arrive. There is another video of a lady that calls 911 and they dont believe her, she is getting raped when the police arrive five minutes later. What if it was your family. Arm law abiding citizens and give criminals life in prison for carrying a weapon and watch things change. A theather full of armed citizens could have saved some lives. GOD bless the families of the victims. GOD bless the USA.
Romney, "I'll do and say whatever the NRA tells me to do.................."
I understand Chicago has the toughest gun control laws in the nation and is the murder capitol of the nation. Where "concealed carry" is the law, crime rates have dropped sharply..
Suddenly we find politicians crawling out of their NRA Support Holes demanding gun control. What a crock of horse apples? At the end of the day, nothing will be done. Attention CNN: If you want to research something, research campaign contributions from the NRA to every member of the House, Senate, and the White House, over the past twelve years. Colorado permits these types of weapons. Suddenly politicians are going to demand that people buying guns have psychological work-ups (which will never happen). Gun control will never happen. By the way, where are most of these multi-shot, semi and/or auto fire weapons produced? Which country produces and supplies more weapons to the world than the next ten countries combined?
And then there's the senior citizen in Florida the other day that saved a cafe full of people from two gun-weilding thugs by pulling out his weapon and firing. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
Blomberg is an opportunist trying to get free press becasue he still thinks he can run for national office some day -- Bloomy should continue his crusade against supersized fries and soda; he is out of his league and know not what he speaks on this topic....
This is the funniest thread I have ever read. You want gun control, look at what a weapons ban in Mexico has done to that country. You want gun control look at DC. Gun control never works. Education and following the current laws is a great start. If more is need after that and it will prevent criminals from getting guns rather than hindering the law abiding, I as a gun own am for it. No matter what people are always going to find a way to get and own guns. Gun control is for the law abiding, it means nothing to criminals.
If there were no guns, there are still knives, there are still archery style weapons, there are still rocks, sticks, cars, rope, pens, walls streets. Pick your poison. They all kill. Should i mention broken bottles and broken windows as weapons?
Some people on both sides of the issue need to wake up and get real. Plus its a shame that this sad tragedy has to be made political.
If you really think expanding gun owner ship cures the problem your wrong. People who are insane and participate in these events don't think "Oh citizens carry guns in this town let me go over to a different town". They are not sane and that's why they commit the crime to begin with. Instead we should be slightly more strict we should have a written exam, background check, practice shooting at a range, and psychological test. On top of that at least once every two years you should have to re take the exam and the guns should be checked for proper storage techniques in your house.
How are the toughest gun control laws in a city working out in Chicago? Law breakers find ways to get guns while law abiding citizens face limits and restrictions. don
How typical is this of a well known gun control advocate?! Guns are not and have never been the issue. It has always been the crazy behind the trigger at the moment of the shooting. Who knows if this guy snapped after some major life changing event? Not an excuse, but good people go bad all the time. Of course, he could have fallen through the cracks because the laws that are on the books are rarely enforced at the proper times. More laws are not the answer, better enforecment of the current laws and better self defense training is.
Gun laws only hamper law bidding citizens from protecting themselves.
Yeah, like actually prosecuting those who violate the uncountable number of gun laws on the books already. Nah, won't happen – too many of the Democratic Party's constituents (or their children) would go to the slammer for a long time. Bad, for votes. BTW – if this had happened in Florida, the gunman would have probably gotten far fewer rounds off and he'd be dead at the hands of a theater patron.
@amf140 – The bad guys will always have guns – regardless of what the laws say. That's why they are Bad Guys – DUH.
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So in true American ideological fashion (instead of fixing the root cause of the problem which is banning handguns and assault weapons) – since the bad guys will always have them, lets just make sure our guns are bigger and badder. That way the bad guys will go get bigger badder guns, so we'll have to get bigger, badder guns to counter theirs, and so the cycle proliferates.
There's a reason the US has the highest murder rate on the planet.. and it's not because of gun control !! DUH !!
Attention Jim: Obama is a gun rights guy, at least until last night. Romney will do nothing because the gun-lobby would destroy him at the polls. Welcome to the real world. At the end of the day, nothing will happen, other than a few sound bites that sound like the same sound bites after the Gifford Shooting in Tucson.
I agree completely with "Internet Child"
Killing people is already illegal. Drugs are illegal. Making things illegal doesn't make a difference to criminals.
Guns don't kill, People kill as such with this incident. The 2nd Amendment provides we citizens the right to "bear arms". If we don't retain that "Right" then only the "Bad" guys will be armed. So Bloomberg, sit down and shut up and stick with your sugar, salt, and soda police job.
Not stricter gun control laws, but stricter enforcement of sentences for those who commit crimes with firearms.
Yeah, like actually prosecuting those who violate the uncountable number of gun laws on the books already. But, that doesn't happen – too many of the Democratic Party's constituents (or their children) would go to the slammer for a long time. Bad, for votes. If this had happened in Florida, the gunman would have probably gotten far fewer rounds off and he'd be dead at the hands of a theater patron.
I'll begin by stating that I do not and have never owned a gun. However, it doesn't take a genius to realize that, regardless of gun control laws, the people who intend to do harm will always be able to arm themselves. Although I could be convinced otherwise, my current thinking is that, if a person is 18 or older, s/he should be able to get a permit to learn how to handle and shoot a gun at an authorized facility by a certified instructor. Once s/he "successfully" completes instruction, s/he may get a "permit to carry." Very sadly, it seems we've returned to the "old west." Therefore, the bad guys shouldn't be the only ones with guns.
How can a 24 year old get this CRAZY in just 24 years. Why should anyone need an asault weapon? These weapons do what they are designed to do.
Why aren't the pro-life nuts and gun rights nuts speaking out about this 24 year old nut (James holmes).
Maybe the shooter just "don't understand how America Works", or his ideas are just" Foreign" as Romney has said over and over.
Maybe John Sununu could taech him how to be and "American".
Michelle Bachman and her Nutty Buddies should investigate this guy for trying to overthrow the government!
Mitch McConnell's "number one priority" sould be for this guy to never see the light of day. Holmes can keep his rights to bear arms but should lose his rights to "Breath Air".
The state of Arizona should check this guy's papers. Donald Trump and the Neo-Cons should demand a birth certificate from this shooter!
Sorry Bloomberg but the NRA won't let anyone discuss this issue. Besides, aren't you too busy protecting NY from Soda to be worrying about guns?
Chicago is a perfect example of how well strict gun control laws work! As many get killed, and wounded every weekend, as did in this shooting. That's EVERY weekend! Strictest gun control laws in the country! Result: Keeping guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens will result in your city being in contention for the title of "Murder Capital U.S.A.!!
Why isnt Bloomberg running for president ?!?!
Successful businessman, experience running a major city, willing to make decisions without bending whichever way the wind happens to be blowing ...