For Bloomberg, Gun Control Fight Shifts to State Capitals

[SecularMotion]

CARSON CITY, Nev. — John W. Griffin is a fast-talking, whiskey-loving, fifth-generation Nevadan who spends his days as a lobbyist courting lawmakers in Stetsons. He advocates for luxury casinos, once brokered a dispute between a brothel and a nightclub, and has helped feuding families resolve tussles over cattle crossings.

Now he is representing the ultimate city slicker, Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayor of New York, who, undaunted by defeat in Congress, is taking his campaign for stricter gun laws to the nation’s state capitals, including here, where a bill to expand the use of criminal background checks is before the State Legislature.

“I thought, ‘Heck, that’s going to be a tough battle,’ ” Mr. Griffin said. “But for a man with unmatchable resources, there’s good reason to be hopeful.”

Fortified by several million dollars in contributions that have come in since the Newtown school massacre in December, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the national coalition Mr. Bloomberg co-founded and finances, says it has deployed more than 50 people across the country, building grass-roots organizations and dispatching foot soldiers to pressure local politicians.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/nyregion/bloombergs-push-for-tighter-gun-laws-shifts-to-other-states.html?hp&_r=0

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I have a problem with ANYONE who buys legislation.

Even if it's legislation I agree with.

Bloomberg has used his billions to buy an otherwise unobtainable third term as mayor.

He's used his money to affect policy that should come from the voters and their representatives.

Spending money is not democracy. It isn't how the system was set up to work.

[Robb]

2. It's called fighting fire with fire.

Unless you embrace the fiction that the NRA's funding is a grassroots phenomenon, in which case I don't know what to say.

But the NRA and other man-gun-love groups receive tens of millions in donations each year from manufacturers of firearms and ammunition. There is no natural corollary to direct action funded by big business in a system that requires money to win.

You can lament the system, but you cannot fault Bloomberg for using his own money to give voice to the majority of Americans who are drowned out by the money spent by gun manufacturers to ensure only their message is heard.

[Paladin]

3. +1

Just another "liberals must play by rules which the right wing discarded decades ago" gripe. You can't play nice with pond scum like LaPierre and Nugent; if Bloomberg wants to utilize some of his billions in waging this battle, I'm OK with it.....