New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is going on the offensive in the state, taking out ads directly targeting pols in the State House for not being bold enough on gun safety issues.
Through his coalition -- Mayors Against Illegal Guns -- Bloomberg put out television, radio and print ads on Tuesday demanding that Albany take action to advance "microstamping" legislation. The bill would provide law enforcement personnel with more ways to track down firearms used in deadly or criminal activity. It is opposed, in part, because the gun lobby argues that the costs added to firearm production would effectively prevent consumers from purchasing them. Microstamping already exists in California.
Bloomberg is hosting a press conference on Tuesday to make an even more public push for the legislation, which is the subject of an intense legislative battle in New York.
Below is the TV ad:
Below is the radio ad:
Below is the print version, which is running in the Albany Times Union:
The mayor has long been a proponent of smarter and stricter gun safety measures so his willingness to take on potential legislative allies is not that striking. Bloomberg, indeed, has become defined far more by the issues for which he advocates than for his party affiliation (he is officially an independent though still informally considered a Republican). In addition to gun control, he has carved out a niche as a respected voice on immigration reform, education policy, and global warming.