Mike Bloomberg on Gun Control Mayor of New York City (Independent)

Second Amendment has guarantees, but gun restrictions ok

BLOOMBERG: Well, we have created an organization, Everytown for Gun Violence. It has six million members across the country. A subgroup within it is something called Moms Demand Action. And what we have done so far is, we have about 20 states that now have background checks, and also red flag laws. Unfortunately, last time I checked, there were 50 states in the union, and we still have 30 to go. And it would be easier if we could do this at a federal level. The Second Amendment gives you the right to bear arms. But the Supreme Court has said, there are reasonable restrictions that we can put on that privilege without violating the Constitution. The reasonable privileges include things like having background checks, so you don't sell guns to minors, to people with psychiatric problems, or people with criminal records.

Sue gun stores which don't require background checks

The federal law requires you to have a background check before you can buy a gun in this country if you buy it from a gun store. Right now, you can't go into a gun store and buy it, a gun, if you have psychiatric problems, you're a criminal or a minor.

And, in fact, what my organization has done is, we sent undercover people into these stores to see whether or not they would insist on a background check. And when they didn't, we sued them. And you can measure the fact that they have really done something.

Close "boyfriend loophole," pass national red flag law

Mike's plan will close the "boyfriend loophole" which allows domestic abusers to have guns, despite criminal convictions or restraining orders--simply because they are not married to their victims. It will pass a federal red flag law that expands extreme risk orders to 50 states. It will require gun buyers to be at least 21 years old to buy handguns and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns. And it will set a temporary ban on gun possession by assault and other violent misdemeanor offenders.

Ban assault weapons; hold gun industry accountable

Mike's plan will repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) so that gunmakers and gun dealers will no longer have broad immunity from civil lawsuits. It will allow the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to treat guns like other household products so that the federal government will have the power to set safety requirements for gun technology. It will formally declare the gun violence crisis to be a public health emergency to expedite funds and research.

Bloomberg group favors closing background check loopholes

Gun laws effective but no one law will stop everything

80% of NRA members support background checks

[Video] BLOOMBERG: The NRA's power is so vastly overrated. The public want to stop this carnage. And if 20 kids isn't enough to convince them, I don't know what would.[End]

Q: Do you fear that the moment that was created by Newtown has been lost?

BLOOMBERG: It would be a great tragedy if it is lost. I am cautiously optimistic. You have an issue where 90% of the public, 80% of NRA members even, say that they think we should have reasonable checks before people are allowed to buy guns--they all support the 2nd Amendment, as do I. But we have to stop the carnage.

Do you think the assault weapons ban is going to pass?

BLOOMBERG: We've been fighting since 2007 to get a vote. And if we were to [pass] background checks only, it wouldn't be as good as if we got both, but we're going to get the vote for sure on assault weapons.

Background checks do work, and should be highest priority

BLOOMBERG: The truth of the matter is only about 400 people a year get killed with assault weapons or high-capacity magazines. That is 400 too many, but you compare that to handguns, pistols, this year, are going to kill 12,000 Americans. There are 14 states that have background checks required for all sales. 14 states have closed the federal loophole, and in those 14 states the suicide rate is half the national average and the number of women that get killed in domestic violence is 40% less than in other states. So background checks do work.

Q: Why is it so hard to get the Congress to do it?

BLOOMBERG: Because, up until now, it has only been the NRA that has been talking about guns to the public & to Congress. And I'm trying to level the playing field and bring out the facts. The truth of the matter is the NRA itself, a few years ago, was in favor of background checks.

2006: Created Mayors Against Illegal Guns; now 600 mayors

Sued out-of-state gun dealers for selling illegally in NYC

His suits were often settled and drew the fury of the National Rifle Association, whose magazine pictured the mayor as a menacing octopus and held a "Bloomberg Gun Giveaway" to help dealers pay the legal fees defending against Bloomberg's lawsuits. His demonization by the NRA was priceless in liberal NY.

Enact common-sense measures to keep guns away from criminals

But as a new senator, Gillibrand was transformed from a rabid opponent of gun control--with a 100% rating from the National Rifle Association--to a cosponsor of gun control legislation. In 2007, she had sponsored a bill to delete background check information after twenty-four hours; now she suddenly voted to repeal her very own bill.

Put the issue of illegal guns back on the national agenda

2nd Amendment doesn’t prevent keeping guns from criminals

Founder of Mayors Against Illegal Guns

It’s not about gun control, it’s about crime control

Unfortunately, in recent years, combating gun crime hasn’t been a priority of this Justice Department or Congress. Most gun dealers follow the law and run honest businesses. But the statistics show that 1% of dealers sell more than half of all illegal guns. Why isn’t the federal government going after them?

There’s common ground on this issue for anyone who is willing to look at it honestly, not ideologically. This isn’t about gun control. It’s about crime control.

Sued New York City gun dealers to control guns