Getting to know David Yassky
David Yassky’s latest campaign commerical:
“… I worked with Chuck Schumer to pass the Brady Law and the assault weapons ban …”
Microstamping FAIL
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that California’s microstamping law has problems and might not kick in as planned on January 1, 2010.
No problem for New York, though. The current version A-6468B/S-6005 would go into effect January 1, 2011 no matter what.
Bloomberg’s anti-NRA effort
According to the Boston Globe, Mayor Mike wants to raise money for an anti-NRA effort:
“… “You know, the NRA doesn’t spend that much money,’’ said Bloomberg during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press’’ program yesterday. “If you want to beat the NRA you have to go out and get your message out, and it costs money to do that.’’ … Bloomberg has already contributed about $2.9 million to “Mayors Against Illegal Guns.’’ …”
This true. Relative to other special interests, the NRA doesn’t spend much money. Their power comes from the fact that the public agrees with them. I have a media brochure from ATI News and Zogby I picked up at the ’08 annual meeting which says that polls show 10-15% of voters consider themselves NRA members, not just people who listen to their message. That translates into 20-30 million voters think they’re NRA members. This is what Bloomberg and the other antis simply cannot understand.
As for the money, the last story I saw put Bloomberg’s net worth in excess of $16 billion. His $2.9 million to MAIG is pocket change. If he really thinks he can beat the NRA then let him put up $1 billion of his own money. He can afford it. Heck, I don’t think he’d even miss it.
The ’10 elections are only 15 months away
They will be back
As expected, the Senate did not take up any gun bills yesterday. They might come back next month for another special session to deal with more budget issues.
News of the day
Tom Libous has been telling people the Senate will not be taking up any gun bills during today’s special session. I’ve seen several copies of a letter his office is sending around.
Doug Hoffman wants to be the Conservative Party nominee to run in the CD-23 special election. His campaign website says he supports the 2A.
Members of the Dewitt Fish & Game Club won a team championship trophy last weekend in the state AIM Youth Championship.
There’s a new website for shotgunners, Sporting Clays New York.
Charles Schumer, Majority Leader
Just what the country needs, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer:
“… “I think he’s the future majority leader,” said Representative Eliot Engel of New York, in response to a general question about Mr. Schumer’s influence. “I do.” …”
Rules bills for tomorrow
I just got the list of bills on Senate Rules Committee agenda for tomorrow’s special session. Still no gun bills on it.
Bloomberg v. NRA
The Washington Post has an article in today’s paper on Mayor Mike’s effort to block the Thune amendment, “A Battle of Goliaths: Michael Bloomberg and His Anti-Gun Group Take on the NRA.” The interesting part is on page 3 where Bloomberg’s Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt takes credit for Arlen Specter’s vote against the amendment causing it to come up a couple votes short. Specter has to get through a primary against Congressman Joseph Sestak next year. Sestak was endorsed by the Brady’s last year and is one of the few to get some campaign money out of them.