CNN POLITICAL TICKER 9 Hours Ago
Bloomberg: Biden no 'shrinking violet' on gun control
by Ashley Killough
(CNN) – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a vocal proponent of tighter gun laws, confirmed Monday he was advising Vice President Joe Biden's task force to help curb gun violence.
"What we've got to do first is try to do everything we can to help Joe Biden," Bloomberg said at a press conference in New York. "We sent some of the people down to Washington, and we had some people on the phone to give Joe Biden our ideas."Follow @politicalticker
Bloomberg detailed his recommendations, saying he's pushing for criminal background checks on all gun sales, not just at gun dealers. He's also calling for better enforcement of current checks and criticized the system for being too simplistic.
"The whole thing takes about 90 seconds. You type in the name, you hit the 'Go' button and bang, back it comes and says 'yes' or 'no.' Costs next to nothing," he said. "It would be very easy for private transactions."
He further urged the renewal of a federal assault weapons ban, similar to the one enacted in 1994 but expired in 2004. Bloomberg pointed out that Biden was a lead senator on the bill.
"I think all of us know that Joe Biden is not a shrinking violet, particularly when it comes to crime and the gun problem in this country and the number of murders," Bloomberg said.
The independent mayor, who leads the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns, has been a top voice in the firearms rights debate. He has forcefully called on lawmakers to change current laws, despite the political consequences they may face.
Nearly a dozen new gun bills were introduced on the first day of Congress last week, as lawmakers followed up on calls for stricter regulations in the wake of the Connecticut elementary school shooting last month that left 27 killed, including the gunman's mother at her home. More bills are scheduled to be proposed.
Days after the massacre, President Barack Obama appointed Biden to lead an effort that would result in recommendations to prevent another mass shooting. The president gave the group a deadline of "no later than January."
Coming out with its own solution, the National Rifle Association is lobbying for a plan that would equip every school with an armed guard. Other ideas thrown into the mix–from both sides of the aisle–include a stronger focus on mental health issues and better security systems at schools.
Bloomberg also reiterated a sense of urgency Monday by asking the president to make a recess appointment to fill the director's slot at the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms bureau, which has had a vacancy in the top leadership position for six years.
Furthermore, Bloomberg emphasized a need to make gun trafficking a felony.
"If you break the law, you should answer to the law," he said. "This is not a kid's game."
- CNN's Steve Brusk and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report.
Want to see more from CNN? See the rest of their great content in Zite.
Bloomberg: Biden no 'shrinking violet' on gun control
by Ashley Killough
(CNN) – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a vocal proponent of tighter gun laws, confirmed Monday he was advising Vice President Joe Biden's task force to help curb gun violence.
"What we've got to do first is try to do everything we can to help Joe Biden," Bloomberg said at a press conference in New York. "We sent some of the people down to Washington, and we had some people on the phone to give Joe Biden our ideas."Follow @politicalticker
Bloomberg detailed his recommendations, saying he's pushing for criminal background checks on all gun sales, not just at gun dealers. He's also calling for better enforcement of current checks and criticized the system for being too simplistic.
"The whole thing takes about 90 seconds. You type in the name, you hit the 'Go' button and bang, back it comes and says 'yes' or 'no.' Costs next to nothing," he said. "It would be very easy for private transactions."
He further urged the renewal of a federal assault weapons ban, similar to the one enacted in 1994 but expired in 2004. Bloomberg pointed out that Biden was a lead senator on the bill.
"I think all of us know that Joe Biden is not a shrinking violet, particularly when it comes to crime and the gun problem in this country and the number of murders," Bloomberg said.
The independent mayor, who leads the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns, has been a top voice in the firearms rights debate. He has forcefully called on lawmakers to change current laws, despite the political consequences they may face.
Nearly a dozen new gun bills were introduced on the first day of Congress last week, as lawmakers followed up on calls for stricter regulations in the wake of the Connecticut elementary school shooting last month that left 27 killed, including the gunman's mother at her home. More bills are scheduled to be proposed.
Days after the massacre, President Barack Obama appointed Biden to lead an effort that would result in recommendations to prevent another mass shooting. The president gave the group a deadline of "no later than January."
Coming out with its own solution, the National Rifle Association is lobbying for a plan that would equip every school with an armed guard. Other ideas thrown into the mix–from both sides of the aisle–include a stronger focus on mental health issues and better security systems at schools.
Bloomberg also reiterated a sense of urgency Monday by asking the president to make a recess appointment to fill the director's slot at the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms bureau, which has had a vacancy in the top leadership position for six years.
Furthermore, Bloomberg emphasized a need to make gun trafficking a felony.
"If you break the law, you should answer to the law," he said. "This is not a kid's game."
- CNN's Steve Brusk and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report.
Want to see more from CNN? See the rest of their great content in Zite.
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