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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Can Mike Bloomberg keep Barack Obama honest on new gun laws? -- Obama’s speech in Newtown reveals he has got the message - for now

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Can Mike Bloomberg keep Barack Obama honest on new gun laws? -- Obama’s speech in Newtown reveals he has got the message - for now

Posted on Monday, December 17, 2012 at 07:28 AM

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New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on NBC's "Meet the Press" (Photo:NBC)

Let’s hear it for Mike Bloomberg for putting it up to President Obama in no uncertain fashion on the guns issue in America.

The bodies of the little ones and adults killed in Newtown are hardly cold and already we are hearing the weasel words of the gun lobby about how kindergarten teachers should be armed and people kill people not guns.

This time however we see an enormous revulsion across the country against the insane unregulated market in guns for madmen, psychopaths, and the deranged that exists in the U.S.

Read More: Gun toll; America 9,369 dead, Great Britain 14 -- get the picture? Obama should attend all the funerals in Newtown after massacre

Fortunately we have a powerful champion of gun control in Mike Bloomberg, “It’s time for the president to stand up and lead,” he said on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press.’

“This should be his No. 1 agenda. He’s President of the United States. And if he does nothing during his second term, something like 48,000 Americans will be killed with illegal guns in the next year.”

“The president has to translate those views into action,” he said. “His job is not just to be well-meaning. His job is to perform and to protect the American public.”

Well said, and the American people are with Bloomberg on this.

Obama even seemed to stiffen his resolve during his massively well received Newtown speech with his biographer David Maraniss calling it his “Gettysburg Address.”

“We can’t tolerate this anymore,” he said. “These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change.”

“I’ll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens,” he said, “in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. Because what choice do we have?”

What choice indeed, if we want to see our children safer and our country exposed to ridicule for our utterly lax gun laws?

Read More: Anne Marie Murphy died ‘serving children and serving God’ in Newtown tragedy

As Nicholas Kristoff reported in The New York Times, there are more regulations governing how ladders are used than how guns are bought.

30 people died last year from ladder related falls. 10,000 died from gunshot wounds.

Mike Bloomberg has the money, the mission, and the drive to keep Obama honest on this issue.

Let’s hope he succeeds.

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pilib04 | Dec 17, 2012, 11:45 AM EST

The NRA decides on all gun legislation in the U.S. and my home state of Ohio. If you want changes ask them.

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FastEddy | Dec 17, 2012, 11:42 AM EST

7 out of 10 worst school shooting incidents happened outside of the US. All of those 7 countries have absolute or very, very strict gun ownership laws ... including Ireland, wouldn't you know. ... During all of 2012, FEMA spent more on bullets than on drinking water for the Sandy victims, wouldn't you know. The Second Amendment to Constitution of the United States is intended to protect the Citizenry FROM government ... Pay attention now class: Since FEMA, SSA, CIA, US Parks Service, IRS, EPA (yes, even them), etc., etc., all are heavily armed, who should be restricted and chastised for owning guns? Government? Citizens? Or Teachers?

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FastEddy | Dec 17, 2012, 11:06 AM EST

bcoc1124, thank you for your noteworthy commentary - on point and common sense. Would that Irish Central had a simple intelligence test that posters had to pass before sharing their wisdom, like being able to write a rational, coherent sentence. kelauggie1 would fail as he is a moron.

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bcoc1124 | Dec 17, 2012, 10:33 AM EST

The Constitution gives me the right of free speech, yet, I cannot yell "fire" in a Theater (or even chatter constantly. The constitution gives me the right of free assembly, yet, I must get a parade permit. The constitution gives me the right to practice my religion (or not practice any religion) yet my husband cannot have multiple wives nor could we, even if our religion found it blessed, practice human sacrifice. I have the right (not constitutional) to drive a car, yet, I can't run a red light. Many of my rights have limits and conditions. The second amendment can and SHOULD be limited by mandating background checks, limiting the amount of ammo in clips, and banning assault weapons. Anyone who thinks their "rights" trump the safety of our children is selfish, and ignorant. GROW UP!!!!1

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kelauggie1 | Dec 17, 2012, 09:10 AM EST

Bloomberg is a socialist controller, and Obama is never honest. So regardless of the outcry in the face of this massacre, they have no right to usurp the power of the constitution. That hasn't stopped either of them in the past, but it's time they respect our guiding document.

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