Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Political Report: The Bloomberg Treatment

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Well, here we go again.

That's what goes through my mind every time a state lawmaker, governor or regulatory agency comes begging for a fight over restrictive gun control schemes. And we're in the thick of the season right now-perhaps even in your state capital. In the majority of states, legislative sessions convene now and continue for several months over the spring and early summer.

Like spring flowers, the gun control debate blooms each year in a predictable roster of states. It's hard to figure out why the gun-ban lobby picks some of these battles. They'll muster in the most unlikely of states, where enormous concentrations of gun owners and hunters stack the deck against them.

Pennsylvania is a good example. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh do not Pennsylvania make. But even in states that are overwhelmingly rural, politicians from the cities develop an attitude that their district is more important than any given rural district. They often join together to press gun control schemes that have already been rejected by the majority of lawmakers.

The annals of political history are littered with careers cut short by a reflexive, media-driven embrace of gun control.

These big city politicians want the tail to wag the dog. But that's just not how politics works. Lawmakers in any given state are elected to represent their own constituents. If they want to keep their jobs, they vote in line with the district. The annals of political history are littered with careers cut short by a reflexive, media-driven embrace of gun control.

But some politicians don't seem to be listening. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg got a crash course earlier this year, when he thought he had orchestrated the "perfect storm" to repeal privacy protections for firearms trace data. He was stunned when members of Congress politely heard his case, and then voted overwhelmingly against his wishes-but in perfect accordance with the wishes of their constituents.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell shares common elements of the Bloomberg case history. He once served as mayor of Philadelphia, and he was also the genesis of the baseless lawsuits filed by cities against the firearm industry. Philadelphia's lawsuit was not the first, but the cases' legal theories came directly from research performed for Rendell by a law professor from Temple University in Philadelphia.

Rendell cooled his gun control jets when he ran for statewide office, but it didn't take long to re-light them. The spark came from Philadelphia, which has experienced a surge of violence this year. The city's inability to reduce crime is easily explained by the city's failures in enforcement and prosecution. But Philly's politicians needed somewhere to point their fingers, and they found their target in the Second Amendment rights of all Pennsylvanians. They demanded a platform for consideration of their pet gun control proposals, and Rendell was happy to lend his bully pulpit. Rendell even appeared before the state legislature in person to demand passage of the Philadelphia gun control agenda.

Mind you, there was nothing new or unique about these proposals. They included the rationing of rights in the form of one-gun-per-month purchase limitations, the repeal of Pennsylvania's 1995 state preemption law so cities could enact their own gun restrictions and a proposal to criminalize gun owners whose guns are stolen.

Rendell descended on the legislature in a full-scale rant. "Nobody tells the truth," said Rendell, adding his opinion that pro-gun lawmakers were "brainwashed or threatened into submission," according to thePhiladelphia Daily News. He demanded that legislators get "some backbone."

You can guess what happened. The legislators patiently listened to the mayor, and then gave him the "Bloomberg Treatment." They voted down his agenda after hearing from constituents. One lawmaker estimated that contacts to his office ran 1,000-to-10 against Rendell.

We will know we have succeeded when lawmakers in every state give the "Bloomberg Treatment" to every politician who pushes the anti-freedom agenda.

Here's what made the difference in Pennsylvania, in the other side's words. Rep. Dan Frankel, a longtime supporter of gun restrictions, told thePittsburgh Post-Gazette, "There's no political penalty for those who don't support [gun control] measures, but there is a political penalty if they do." A leader of the state anti-gun group told the same reporter, "We have our great role model out there in the NRA. They know how to do their job and mobilize people."

Rendell had the last word, telling the reporter, "This is a marathon, not a sprint … we are not going to go away." We'll be ready and waiting to meet him head-on in Pennsylvania-just as we're ready and waiting in every state legislature that is now going into session.

Our work is cut out for us in every state. We have to recruit, retain, mobilize and turn out more gun owners, hunters and, in the end, more voters. Now is the time to tune into your state legislature and stand up and be counted when anti-gun, anti-hunting proposals are under debate.

We will know we have succeeded when lawmakers in every state give the "Bloomberg Treatment" to every politician who pushes the anti-freedom agenda.

IN THIS ARTICLE
Politics
TRENDING NOW
Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

News  

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

On Tuesday, Joe Biden issued an executive order on gun control that could accurately be described as a mile wide and an inch deep.

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

At least one of the joyless scolds that predominate in gun control circles thinks they’ve stumbled onto a novel anti-gun tactic. According to Colorado Newsline Editor Quentin Young, gun control supporters should try to shame gun ...

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

News  

Monday, January 30, 2023

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

On Monday, January 30, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) published the final Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached “Stabilizing Braces” rule for public inspection in the federal register.

U.S. Taxpayers Funding “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

U.S. Taxpayers Funding “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders

Texans are paying for so-called “Red Flag” gun confiscation orders in New York. North Carolinians are bankrolling Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPOs) in New Jersey. Louisianans are footing the bill for gun confiscation orders in Maryland.

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

Friday, March 17, 2023

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

On March 23rd, at 8:00AM, the Senate Committee on Law & Justice will hear House Bill 1240, a comprehensive gun ban bill, and House Bill 1143, to impose a waiting period and training mandate for acquiring ...

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Today, the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee voted 11-6 to approve Senate Bill 150, constitutional carry, with an amendment aligning the language with the House’s version. It will now go to the full Senate for further consideration.

Michigan: Senate Passes Gun Control Schemes

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Michigan: Senate Passes Gun Control Schemes

Today, the Senate passed anti-gun bill packages to criminalize private transfers, require firearms be made unavailable for self-defense, and allow Second Amendment rights to be suspended without due process. They will now move to the House for further ...

Washington: Updates on Anti-Gun Bills

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Washington: Updates on Anti-Gun Bills

Three major anti-gun bills still remain active in the Legislature, while others are likely defeated for the session. The NRA provided testimony and strong, united opposition to these bills throughout the legislative process thus far.

The New Mexico Legislature Finishes Its 2023 Regular Session

Sunday, March 19, 2023

The New Mexico Legislature Finishes Its 2023 Regular Session

The New Mexico Legislature wrapped up at noon on Saturday, March 18.  Below is a list of gun control bills which passed and extreme anti-gun legislation which NRA-ILA worked to defeat with pro-Second Amendment lawmakers, members of the firearms ...

Florida: House Judiciary Passes Constitutional Carry

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Florida: House Judiciary Passes Constitutional Carry

Today, the House Judiciary Committee voted 17-6 to advance House Bill 543, the constitutional carry bill. It will now go to the House floor for debate.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.