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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCriticizing NRA ‘Vigilantism’, Mayor Bloomberg Leads Call To Roll Back ‘Stand Your Ground’
Criticizing NRA Vigilantism, Mayor Bloomberg Leads Call To Roll Back Stand Your Ground LawsNew York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) launched a national grassroots campaign today aimed at putting an end to laws like the Stand Your Ground law that left Trayvon Martin dead and George Zimmerman a free man. At a press conference in Washington, DC, Bloomberg, along with Florida lawmakers and civil rights leaders, called on Florida to repeal Stand Your Ground laws (which Bloomberg characterized as Shoot First laws) and for other states to repeal or prevent similar Shoot First laws.
Mayor Bloomberg heavily criticized the National Rifle Association for their involvement in passing Shoot First laws, which often immunizes people who feel their life is being threatened if they shoot their perceived assailant:
Florida was the NRAs first target, and it succeeded in pushing the bill through the legislature over the objections of leading police and law enforcement In reality, the NRAs leaders werent interested in public safety. They were interesting in promoting a culture where people take the law into their own hands and face no consequences for it. Lets call that by its real name: Vigilantism.
Watch it:
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/04/11/462841/bloomberg-stand-your-ground/
Civil rights leaders from the NAACP, National Urban League, VoteVets, and ColorOfChange took up the banner of Mayor Bloombergs Second Chance On Shoot First push. At the press conference, they stressed the importance of Shoot First repeal and prevention, as well as the need to hold the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) accountable for its role in prioritizing and pushing such laws.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)That exists everywhere and always will. This SYG law seems to be specifically geared to protecting vigilantes with guns.
ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)TheWraith
(24,331 posts)Of course, that's about par for the course for Bloomberg.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)Isn't that called astroturf?
derby378
(30,252 posts)It's called Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
badtoworse
(5,957 posts)He does not believe that the citizens of his city have the right to any means of self defense.
Baitball Blogger
(46,758 posts)FightForChange
(44 posts)I'm glad at least somebody is willing to stand up and say something. Yea people have a right to defend themselves, but being able to claim "self defense" and walk away free is bull. Remember, if it had been Trayvon claiming self defense, he'd have been sentenced in a heartbeat. No media, no news, no nothing.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)Anyone applauding Bloomie needs to take a long look inward
randr
(12,417 posts)and will, in all likelihood, become a victim of the over zealous NRA himself. Without these laws he would probably not have thought he could get away with the execution of Trayvon. He will be sitting in jail long after the lobbyists who pushed these laws have moved on to other nefarious efforts.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,169 posts)...just as night follows day.
The NRA blew this one.