Bloomberg Backlash

S.E. Cupp has the story here.  Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a big splash shortly before the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits, announcing he was consolidating two groups, Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, under one umbrella group called Everytown for Gun Safety, and was going to put $50 million into the campaign to out muscle the NRA. He named an advisory board that included former Republican Governor of Pennsylvania and former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge.  But news came yesterday that Ridge was parting ways with the group after only 10 days:

“When I signed on as an adviser to Everytown,” Ridge said, “I looked forward to a thoughtful and provocative discussion about the toll gun violence takes on Americans. After consultation with Everytown, I have decided that I am uncomfortable with their expected electoral work.”

That comes on top of the comments of numerous mayors who had joined MAIG then quit after they learned Bloomberg's real agenda:

Rockford, Ill., Mayor Larry Morrissey: “The reason why I joined the group in the first place is because I took the name for what it said: against ‘illegal’ guns. The focus should not be against law-abiding citizens. We should be focusing our enforcement on folks who have no right to carry a gun, concealed or otherwise."

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Mayor John Tkazyik: “It did not take long to realize that MAIG’s agenda was much more than ridding felons of illegal guns . . . MAIG intended to promote confiscation of guns from law-abiding citizens.”

Sioux City, Ia., Mayor Bob Scott: “They’re not just against illegal guns, they’re against all guns.”

Danbury, Ct., Mayor Mark Boughton: “I joined because I believe enforcement of existing gun laws is preferable to creating new gun laws. It is clear in recent months, however, that Bloomberg’s mission has changed from law enforcement to simply increasing gun regulations.”

Finally, while it was no surprise that the NRA was not going to take Bloomberg's challenge lying down, they unveiled a very smart response at the Annual Meeting last weekend.