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Mayors Call for Middle Ground on Guns

Bloomberg, Boston counterpart lay out consensus changes

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2008 9:44 AM CDT

(Newser) – Extremist-driven debate over gun control “made for good political theater,” but it hasn’t accomplished much, mayors Michael Bloomberg of New York and Thomas Menino of Boston write in the Wall Street Journal. Now that the Supreme Court has clarified the issue, it’s time to implement some common-sense consensus changes to the nation's gun laws.

Bloomberg and Menino head a bipartisan “mayors against illegal guns” group that’s identified four such uncontroversial fixes:

  • Close the gun show loophole
  • End gun dealer fire sales
  • Require background checks on gun seller employees
  • Prevent suspected terrorists from getting guns
The group’s polling shows that more than 80% of Americans, including over 80% of gun owners, support those proposals.

Arguing for a handgun ban, or against the assault weapon ban may be good political theater, but it's hardly productive.
Arguing for a handgun ban, or against the assault weapon ban may be good political theater, but it's hardly productive.   (Shutterstock)
Gun laws have lots of loopholes - and most Americans agree on closing them.
Gun laws have lots of loopholes - and most Americans agree on closing them.   (Shutterstock)
Mayors, who often head their cities' law enforcement efforts, are acutely attuned to the gun issue.
Mayors, who often head their cities' law enforcement efforts, are acutely attuned to the gun issue.   (Shutterstock)
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