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Bloomberg Lobbies For Stricter Gun Control Laws

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Martin Luther King III, right, speaks at a news conference about gun control at City Hall in New York as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg looks on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011.  (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Martin Luther King III, right, speaks at a news conference about gun control at City Hall in New York as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg looks on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

lamb_feature

Reporting Rich Lamb

NEW YORK (CBS 2/ WCBS 880) – City Hall was the setting on Monday for emotional testimony from more than 30 victims of gun violence. They joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg in calling for stricter gun control laws.

“On November 16, 2009, I was coming home from school and I was shot on the left side of my head,” Vada Vasquez said.

It was a dramatic way for Mayor Bloomberg to make his point. Every day, 34 Americans are murdered with guns – most of which are purchased illegally – so the mayor produced 34 gun violence victims to demand that Congress require background checks before anyone can buy a gun, reports CBS 2′s Marcia Kramer.


WCBS 880′s Rich Lamb reports

“These are the shoes he was wearing on April 20, 1999,” Tom Mauser, who lost his son in the Columbine high school massacre, said.

 Bloomberg Lobbies For Stricter Gun Control Laws

Vada Vasquez (Photo/MySpace)

Others lost loved ones during the Virginia Tech massacre, the Long Island Rail Road massacre, and other random gun attacks.

“Every gun sale should go through a background check,” Bloomberg said.

The mayor said background checks would have prevented Tucson shooter Jared Loughner from obtaining a gun.

“I think that it’s really important to have this law, because it will make it easier for people to stay alive, instead of innocent people getting killed,” Vasquez said.

Vasquez (pictured-left) was one of the lucky ones. She survived a gunshot to the head in a random Bronx shooting, and she had some advice for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, now recovering from the Tucson tragedy.

“You can’t just give up,” she said. “You have to keep on, because it’s going to take a while to get better.”

Gun advocates say the mayor’s measure only makes it difficult for the good guys to get guns.

“Mayor Bloomberg’s measure should be described as a measure of friendship for criminals,” Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, said.

“Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal does nothing to stop the black market in guns,” National Rifle Association spokeswoman Rachel Parsons said. “If somebody wants to commit a crime, that’s where they are going to get their weapons.”

The mayor was asked if he would lead a march on Washington to push for his gun agenda, but he rejected that idea. He said he believes that the faces of the people who have lost loved ones provide a far more effective lobbying tool.

After the press conference, the mayor announced support for his plan from a number of Arizona politicians, including Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva.

View Comments
  • al

    Read the Constitution, then abolish parole.

  • peter

    [sarcasm]JUST what we need, MORE gun control laws that the criminals will follow, and will help curb crime. [/sarcasm]

  • DanTe

    I love this. Not one reader agrees with the fascist ideals in this story. So C_the_BS employee(s) have to comment here to make believe that the rest of the world is as dumb as they are.

    Libturds: Bill of Rights? Constitution? What is that? The little people shouldn’t be reading things like that. They’ll get the wrong ideas. We’ll just gradually take away their rights, for their own good. Than we can dictate… er… parent them to do the “right” thing.

  • Rodin

    OK, anyone who can spell “li-C-ense” can own a gun.

    Now THAT’s gun control!!!

    • mike

      well Mr RODIN, if the govt can do that HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THAT SMART ASS?

      • Rodin

        Those without rational arguments must resort to insults.

        Can YOU spell? There should be a comma after “well,” after “if the govt can do that” and before “SMART ASS,” a direct address; an apostrophe in “gov’t.”

        You fail. YOU MAY NOT PLAY WITH GUNS, dumb ass!

      • DanTe

        So far, Rodin, you’re the one resorting to insults and spell checks. Absolutely no rational thoughts presented.

        But that’s ok, we know logic is kinda hard for you folks.

      • Rodin

        Ho-hum, over and out, nightie-night, Having jellied pigs feet for supper.

      • DanTe

        Awww… the little maggot’s running for the hills. You’re suppose to entertain us boy. Come on, dance. Do a jig or something. It’s really fun watching you pretend to be an “intAllecDual”.

    • DanTe

      Thanks for the confirmation “Rodin”. If twits like you like it, than it must be the dumbest thing possible. Here’s a hint, twit: think of ONE correct decision that you have made in your entire stinking little life. I said “correct”, because I know you libturds are very good at deluding your own selves into forgetting all your 100% arse backwards decisions that you constantly make all your life.

      Oh, and there’s a mispelling in here. Does that help you?

      • Rodin

        Late again! Miss you, DawnTed. Why are yo always so late of late? You don’t want answers to your always fascinating postulations? I won’t bother. It’s classic Rock, wine and reading time. Nothing beats that. Then bed.

      • DanTe

        hmmm… foaming at the mouth already. Trying to think of a logical response finally? You libturds shouldn’t do that. It’ll burn what little brains you have.

      • DanTe

        Ahh.. finally got your rambling comment on “late”.

        It’s called WORK little boy. Some people actually WORK for a living. Unlike you welfared little sh//ts earning minimum wage in a make believe “job”.

  • DTroyT

    Hey Bloomie, where’s the “Gun Control” in shooting a profile suspect 40 and 50 Times?

  • Johnny

    Give us a break already. The only people that get “permits” in this city are the rich and elite and allows you to get away with trampling all over the second amendment by having such a selective process. If you wanna lead by example, why don’t you and the rest of your entourage turn in and destroy all your firearms.
    I’m sorry, but please don’t bring up the “it’s for the children” argument because nobody should have to be subjected to garbage laws due to your loss. Nothing is worse than tyrannical laws that flow like diareahl all in the name of the children. Give it a rest.

  • Rodin

    There are 9 firearms per every 10 people in Amerikkka. Only YEMEN can boast a higher ratio.

    BRING ‘EM ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (26th among industrialized nations in education.)

    SECOND TO NONE!

  • mike

    WELL me being retired from the military and with NYPD I say it’s the right’s of the people to OWN gun not the govt right to take OR tell it’s people to lisence there GUNS,, but in NYC they do and the crime rate is going UP! so it look like the police and the criminal’s will be the only people to have GUNS

  • dion reed

    Bloomberg is an idiot!!!!!!! the colombine killers also had pipe bombs.are we gonna lobby for tougher pipe bomb laws as well.duh. We need more guns not less.if your a wimpy john lennon listening hippy just hide under your bed and we won’t bother you.but don’t try to prevent us from arming ourselves.BLOOMBERG IS GAY!!!!!!

  • John Rinaldi

    Let’s take all guns out of the public’s hands so we can have a total police state.
    The Gov’t is salavating over the thought

    • Rodin

      Paranoia will destroya!

      Learn to spell, SAL-I-VATING, and THINK before you post your rant. Or at least use spellcheck!

      • Nick

        But if people don’t mispel, how r yu than able to respond? Why, yu migth need to us logic! HA! That’ll be da day.

        There’s now inough mispel and grammar for you to nitpick on. Pathetic.

  • SickofBloomberg

    Before we have gun control, let’s have Bloomberg Control Laws that stop greedy egomaniacal midgets from using their ill gotten gains to buy political positions so they can try and control other people’s lives. This Little Hitler needs to go away.

  • Hot Blooded

    I think mayor bloomberg should set an example and remove all guns from his security detail, and let it be known to all, the same as it is known to all that law abiding citizens of NYC are unarmed

  • Cos

    Simply put, stricter gun laws will only affect the law abiding… Criminals will always ‘find a way’. As someone already mentioned, if someone wants to hurt/kill another they will find a way to do it. Maybe a baseball bat, a crow-bar, a box cutter or even a shank – which, according to inmates is very easy to make with a tooth-brush.

    • KPMc

      None of those weapons compares to the deadly immediacy and relative “un-intimacy” of a firearm.

      All of those weapons require a person to be “up close and personal”.. to their victims. You can’t box cut someone from 50 feet away.

      A gun takes all the personal aspect out of harming someone. You can do it from a distance, without thinking. And the devastating effects are instant and horrific.

      No one ever got drive-by crow-barred.

      No one ever created a national hysteria by baseball batting up their school or post office.

      But none of that logic matters to people that parrot pundits and politicians because they can’t think on their own.

      • steve M.

        What drugs have you been taking?

        Oh wait, you’re me….

  • Joe Sr

    Gun laws, no gun laws, tighten them up, do nothing, replace them, leave them as they are, on and on. The reality is that if person A wants to harm person B in a meaningful way anything can be used, even a bow and arrow. The problem is not the tool. This debate (arguement) will go on and on ad nauseum! I do not now nor have I ever owned a gun -but- I am not concerned if you do. I do not know how to fix this problem or if it is a problem or if it needs fixing. Others seem to have ideas and I suppose that’s good.

    • mike

      I’m a NY police officer it’s your right to own guns but in NYC you have to lisence your gun and PAY money to maintain that gun in NYC but it’s your RIGHT? well say you cant pay for it then the police comes and take your gun well I guess it’s not your right to have a gun ,, if you dont like guns that OK but remember this it your right say if the govt were to say you have to have a lisence to write or say these word, that you just said. How does that make you feel ?,think about it. It your right! ,well that what people feel about there 2 AMED right, I’m also retired fron USARMY and I have been all over this world and beleve me people around the world have no right to talk, no guns and a few other thingsand I would not want to live there. It’s the right’s of the people not the govt! please think this over!

  • RBurch

    Ya want em,…come GET em.

  • doug

    Is Bloombergs term almost up. God I hope so.

  • nyc

    Why not find out where all of these Illegal weapons are coming from Mr.Mayor ?I believe in your right to have a Legal weapon ! The problem is tens of thousands of Illegal weapons on the streets ! When NY had the cash for guns program – six thousand weapons were turned in – can you imagine ?

    • Bill

      Gun buyback programs only fuel theft of firearms. Only an idiot would support such a program. Stealing my $500 pistol to turn it in for $50 sounds like a crackheads dream come true. We should ban anti-gunners. Send them to Mexico where there are no privately owned firearms. Safest country on the planet.

    • mike

      it’s your right to own GUNS but in NYC they say you must license your firearm, well how does that mean you have the right to bear arms and then if you must licence it how is it your right? also if it is your right to have firearms how would it be Illegal to have a FIRARM? (GUN)? let say one day you must have a license yo say the words that you just printed and if you dont have a license then you go to jail because its ILLegal I know that will never happen and it is stupit of me to say that well it COULD happen!!

  • DanTe

    Why do libturds like you (Bloomberg and CBS) and Hitler hate for jews and citizens to own guns? You libturds hailed (sig heil) Nazi Germany as the most “civilized” country in the world as they banned all private gun ownership. Gee, I wander why you and Hitler didn’t want jews to have guns, as the SS came knocking on the door.

    Does your current anti-defense rhetoric bring back fond memories of past Third Rheich campaigns? sssssssssssssssss………. brings back tears of joy in your eyes? Got the oven stoked up already?

    • Steve

      DanTe:
      Are you on drugs????

      • Sick of T ARDS

        Typical of you fascists. Can’t provide logic. Just do some character assassination. Do you mean drugs like you and that fellow liberal control nut Tucson shooter does?

  • Rustomo

    Yeah MLK was all about guns not about handling things peacefully and Rambos 1, 2 and 3 were based on Jesus’ life. Sure thing Homer!

  • Rod

    I do not favor the rule of the rich. Bloomberg and other plutocrats who think of themselves superior to the rest of society, are seeking to limit the Constitutional rights of the ordinary citizens. Bloomberg is ringed with security, but what about the rest of us? Do we have a police cordon around us 24/7?

    It’s not legal gun distributors and owners who should have to sacrifice, but the illegal gun distributors and the shadow sellers who should be curtailed. Since the time between calling 911 and getting help is often too long to survive an incident where owning a gun can mean the difference between life and death, where is the logic in reducing the personal safety of citizens?

    • DanTe

      Didn’t you know? The Constitution requires reading and understanding. It’s too complicated for most libturd citizenry. Their Betters will read and interpret it for them. All they need to do is follow the herd.

      Noticed how libturd medias like CtheBS never reprint the Bill of Rights nor the Constitution except where they can misquote it for their Control Purposes?

      • steve M.

        Well, we know one thing for sure ………DanTe should be put on a ‘no gun’ ‘no fly’ ‘flag for future psychotic behavior’ ….list

  • Mike

    Ironic – since anyone who has knowledge of MLK know that he very much was in favor of a person’s right to defend themselves. He was certainly not a proponent of gun control.

  • Lloyd

    No doubt Mayor Bloomberg has an entire detachment of heavily armed body guards. He is such an elitist, dirtbag.

  • Rob

    Anything to keep the power. We should deal with the dna of the idiots that do these horrible acts.

  • Nate

    There’s a distinct connection between the states with the strictest gun control laws and those with the highest crime rates. More regulations = More violent crime

    • Steve

      Actually, Nate – not true. If you look at the statistics on a per-capita basis, those places with lax gun rules have the most gun violence.

      I don’t think that ANYONE is calling for a repeal of the 2nd amendment. However, “elements” on the right have to see the foolishness of terrorists and the mentally ill having super-easy access to firearms in certain quarters (the stuff in Tucson, Virginia Tech, Columbine – WHEN IS THE LAST TIME something like that happened in NYC????)

      • Nate

        One could break down the crime rates on a “per capita” basis to meet the numbers they desire… or break it down to a per-square-foot basis, or a guns per square mile per city… it makes no difference. New York, D.C., California, Michigan all have higher crime rates vs other states with more gun friendly laws.

        New York already has some of the strictest gun laws on the books. Furthering that restriction only harms the 95%+ that have good intentions.

        One can point to the thousands of deaths every year by guns, and I’ll point you to statistics that will show TRIPLE the number of alcohol related deaths as a result of DUI. Does that mean that we should place tighter rules on driving? Tighter rules on alcohol? Higher taxes on cars and trucks?

        And in my opinion, the shootings at Columbine, Virginia Tech etc are a direct result of someone looking for easy targets. After all, these schools are labeled clearly with “Gun-Free zone” signs. What better place to go crazy than in an area where you KNOW that nobody is armed? Since then, some states are changing their rules on carrying your concealed weapon on campus. KUDOS to them.

      • mike

        were do you see that and were are the statistics to THAT?

      • mike

        well that the right of the people NOT you or the GOVT to say,, let say that you MUST have a RIGHT to write these words or say these word’s I bet you would have a problem with that IT your right to own a gun not right to license a gun you are a dreamer and have no IDEA of your right I’m a police officer in NYPD and retired from the ARMY believe me you don’t want the police and the criminals to have the gun’s only! I know your next answer will be I didn’t say that but you did you said LISENCE fire arm I believe you should not licensed your fir arm but you do today well a few years ago you didn’t I know Because I’m that OLD!

      • mike

        right on the mark NAT

      • mike

        nat has it please see it TRY To

  • Chris

    New York, where gun control works…………..Ya, not so much

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