All about guns, legislation and politics in New York
Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown has come out against H.R. 822 in a letter to Mayor “Mumbles” Menino.
This isn’t a surprise. I wasn’t expecting him to vote in favor of the bill. His declared No vote isn’t likely to be enough to derail the bill in the Senate either. Both the antis and their media supporters continue to ignore the ’10 elections where a bunch of their allies lost. There should still be 60+ votes which is enough to prevent a filibuster when it comes to the floor.
It seems that not everyone in Indianapolis is pleased with Mayor Mike getting involved with their local elections:
“… Kennedy has also chastised Ballard for his refusal (thank goodness) to join New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s anti-gun group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns. This is a small (and growing smaller) group of liberal mayors across the United States who are trying to rescind the Second Amendment rights of citizens to own firearms and use them to protect themselves and their families from criminals. Their agenda would take guns away from law-abiding citizens, but realistically would have no impact on criminals with guns …”
Good letter. However, it won’t discourage Bloomberg from giving or supporters like Kennedy from taking campaign donations. Only political action from NRA, ISRPA and VSSA targeting the recipients of Bloomberg’s bucks will do that.
On a positive note, Kennedy is down in the polls so Bloomberg’s donation is probably too little, too late.
Mayor Mike is spreading some money around in Indianapolis as well as Virginia:
“Democratic mayoral candidate Melina Kennedy received a $25,000 contribution Thursday from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “I am very pleased to receive the support of Mayor Bloomberg,” said Kennedy. “Mayor Bloomberg started Mayor’s Against Illegal Guns, a bi-partisan group of mayors across the nation who are working together to get illegal guns out of the hands of criminals. I am willing to take a stance on this tough issue with a reasonable approach that 600 other mayors support as well. Mayor Ballard’s refusal to sign on with this nationwide bi-partisan group of Mayors to go after illegal guns in the hands of criminals is disappointing.”” …
Carolyn McCarthy’s latest e-mail indicates she’s worried about being redistricted out during next year’s elections:
“Redistricting could mean I will face an incredibly tough reelection race. Because New York is losing two Congressional seats, I could be pitted head-to-head against another strong incumbent. We don’t know what will happen. But when it does, we need to be ready to hit the ground running. It’s the only way I can continue to be a strong voice on the issues we care about …”
Excellent. She’s never had a creditable opponent before. Let her try and justify her record against another professional politician who will have no problem attacking her for being little more than a single issue incumbent.
“… While other lawmakers are running scared and staying silent on issues like the ridiculous “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act,” I’ve already contacted every governor in the country, urging them to oppose the NRA’s brazen attempt to override important state guns laws …”
Yep, and all 50 of them have blown her off. So much for her strong voice.
Mayor Mike is trying to buy some influence down in Virgina by donating to antigun Democrats. The Washington Post reports:
“… Bloomberg (I) has donated $25,000 of his own money to six Senate Democratic candidates, who are involved in some of the closest races in the state … He plans to travel to Northern Virginia next week to appear with some of the candidates … Republicans are aggressively trying to take control of the state Senate, where Democrats hold a slim 22-18 majority. Bloomberg is concerned that a Republican-controlled Senate will further loosen Virginia’s gun laws, including overturning the state’s one-gun-a-month restriction …”
This is pocket change for him. He made larger campaign contributions to local reps. in support of gay marriage.
While the candidates probably appreciate the cash, I question whether his going down there to campaign with them is going to be viewed by the public as a positive for these incumbents. It just looks like him meddling in other people’s affairs. However, if Bloomberg wants to go and ruin other antigun politicians careers more power to him.
Chuck Schumer finally address H.R. 822 in this NY1/YNN story:
“… There are 242 co-sponsors to the bill,” [Congressman Jerrold Nadler] said. “I hope we can stop it in the Senate.” That will likely happen, according to New York’s senior senator, Charles Schumer. “It’s come up in the past and the Senate’s defeated it,” he said. Schumer also said the bill would allow gun owners into the state without permission from law enforcement officials, which he said was not wanted …”
That isn’t what happened. When is came up last year it had 58 Yea votes, just short of the 60 needed to prevent Schumer’s promised filibuster. The ’10 elections should have added 6 pro-gun votes meaning there should be enough support now to end debate on the bill and bring it to the floor for a vote. Schumer isn’t saying this.
“Democratic New York electeds are becoming increasingly alarmed by a bill in Congress that they say strip the rights of states to regulate conceal and carry laws … U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, who is appearing on former Gov. David Paterson’ WOR radio show this afternoon at 5:10 p.m, previously sent a letter to all 50 U.S. governors alerting them to the bill … And Attorney General Eric Schneiderman also took the issue last week writing in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell …”
Two fringe politicians out of hundreds of elected local, state and federal representatives from all across the state are complaining about the bill. McCarthy’s letter has accomplished nothing, which isn’t surprising considering the vast majority of governors represent states which view New York gun laws as far outside the mainstream, while both Reid & McConnell are blowing off Schneiderman. If there was serious concern by our local elected officials about H.R. 822 there would be a lot more people complaining about it.
H.R. 822 has been voted out of the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 19-11. Hilarity ensues on the Brady Campaign’s Twitter feed.
