NYC Mayor: Hold Obama, Romney accountable on gun control

Last Updated 10:03 a.m. ET

(CBS News) New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has a question for President Obama and Mitt Romney in response to the mass shootings in Colorado: "What are you going to do?"

"You know, Governor Romney when he was governor of Massachusetts actually passed a ban on assault weapons, and President Obama when he came into office in 2008 said he would reinstitute a federal ban on assault weapons," Bloomberg told CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer, in an interview for "Face the Nation."

"The governor has apparently changed his views, and the president has spent the last three years trying to avoid the issue - or if he's facing it, I don't know anybody that's seen him face it.

"It's time for both of them to be called, held accountable," he continued. "You know, we spend all our time talking about tax returns, and gaffes, and things like that. This is one of those issues, along with a handful of others, that really matter to the American public. It matters to the future of our country, it matters to you and me and to our children and grandchildren. And it's time I think that we hold them accountable and say, 'Okay, you want our votes? What are you going to do?'"

Bloomberg began his remarks by saying that, while "expressing sympathy is nice," incidents like Friday's shooting happen to far too many people.

"There are about 34 people killed with illegal guns every single day," he said before pointing to other recent tragedies.

"Somebody's got to do something about this and it requires, particularly in a presidential year, the candidates for President of the United States to stand up once and for all say, 'Yes they felt terrible, yes it's a tragedy, yes we have great sympathies for the families, but it's time for this country to do something,'" Bloomberg said. "And that's the job of the President of the United States. I don't know what they're gonna do, but I think its incumbent on them to tell us specifically, not just in broad terms."

Bloomberg: Gohmert gun comment "nonsensical"

The New York City Mayor also said "reasonable restrictions" on guns are constitutional and that federal laws need to be enforced.

"I think the Congress passed reasonable restrictions, but to not enforce them is just ridiculous," he said.

The mayor also noted that the gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, has an effective lobby to remove gun regulations. "The NRA is an organization that is adamant about no controls on weapons, in spite of the fact that we have federal laws that say you cannot sell guns to minors, to people with psychiatric problems or drug problems, or convicted felons.

"And yet they pressure Congress and the White House, and they've been doing it for decades, to not fund enforcement of those laws," he said.

[NYCTruth]

I'm sure this won't please a lot of people, but I think it's time that this country did a little bit more racial profiling when it comes to gun and ammunition sales. White Christian males are the ones who are doing most of this terrorism, and as a white Christian male myself, I don't have a problem with stepped up regulation on my race, gender and religion. If I'm not hiding anything, I have no problems with extra regulation in these times of violence.

Also, the 2nd Amendment does mention a "well-regulated militia," so I think it's in the Constitution that "well-regulated" should be taken more seriously. I really don't think anyone who doesn't have some type of business connection to the firearms industry can argue these points.

[ugacrew]

Our great constitution was written many years ago, and it was written within the context of the characteristic's of that society. The context of that society has changed because the characteristics of that society and has changed, and it has changed dramatically over time. The change has resulted from multiple stimuli from a variety of sources to include physical, social, environmental as well as technical. The people in the society during which the original constitution was written have an entirely different set of values than today's society. The changes have not necessarily been for the better. To argue for the literal enforcement of the original constitution in the absence of considering the changes, is to argue for its exact enforcement without consideration of the new context. I would liken it to cooking the same recipe, using the same ingredients, and cooking it for the exact time limits but cooking one in a microwave and one in an old fashion oven. The results are potentially disastrous.

[fralene-2009]

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and the NRA and its pandering politicians squeak the most by far. Nothing is going to change until another delusional mad man opens fire on an NRA convention. Our values in this country are sickeningly twisted when such a bunch of gutless cowards fight even the most commonsense laws. Their so called right to bear arms is not worth the life of a single child killed by an adult's unsecured gun.

[Thinkbeforeyouwrite]

Obama knows if he was to attempt to push any restrictions on assault weapons the NRA would go crazy. I have seen criticism on what they THINK he would like to do about guns. In their speeches, they accuse him of working for gun control though he has done nothing of the kind in the last few years. Obama knows if he loses the election, all the other issues he would like to work on are lost then, too.

[NYCTruth]

Mostly this talk of Obama coming for guns is drummed up by the gun industry themselves, because the simpletons who are drawn to guns take it seriously. Instead of buying school supplies or shoes for their children, they will spend their last dollars on rifles and ammunition, which is why the gun industry has been selling so many guns these past few years. It is too bad that the Red States can't convince citizens that Obama is going to take away their books.

[SUZAMBA]

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is an idiot. Psycho paths like Holmes will always find a way to purchase guns. He is the sole person responsible for his actions, the nightmare he created. Blame him.
If the Mayor isn't attacking soda's, he's going after guns!!!
What is next with him.!

[TimeIsNowfor99]

Bloomberg is the perfect example of why Americans need the right to obtain assault rifles. During pecaeful protests in his city, the fascist mayor led the efforts of militarized police to beat, oppress, and violently oppose the protestors. He could really use his power to control the population once the population has been rid of all means to protect themselves from government gone bad. I hate guns personally, but I think people need to have the final check and balance to fend off an abusive government. And Bloomberg is just the type to lead an abusive government. he has alreay done it in his own city. Fascist...

[wizard800]

Total BS. I don't want u or anyone else having an AK in my neighborhood unless you are cleared by the community. I also don't want someone living next to my kids with 6,000 rounds of ammunition. Now we find out the owner of the gun range thought he was crazy but that's ok, just let him go out and murder children. The gun owners need to take personal responsibility and quit whining that your infringing on my rights.

[grayfox396]

Talk about an disgusting opportunist. Bloomberg has no qualms about stepping over the injured and dead bodies of the murdered movie goers in Colorado so he can get face time on all the networks. There was a time many years ago when the editors would have seen this cheap attempt and wouldn't have allowed him to sully the story with his headline grabbing attempt. Shame on them all now.
If a person with a conceal/carry permit had been in the audience that night would that evil murderer been able to hurt that many people as he did before being shot himself? He had body armor but not on his head, did he?

[TimeIsNowfor99]

True. Bloomberg is a self serving opportunitist who sees himself as superior to others in all aspects.

[NYCTruth]

You are watching too many videogames, Grayfox. This nutbag pinned them down with constant automatic fire, in smoky conditions. I doubt any armed citizen would be able to get a shot off, let alone incapacitate him with a headshot. Get real.

[TheFoundersLive]

"Our second ammemdment right is not UNLIMITED."

Crosskin posted this on another post. I will let those more knowledgeable about the Constitution decide if he is right....

"The right of a citizen to bear arms, in lawful defense of himself or the State, is absolute. He does not derive it from the State government. It is one of the "high powers" delegated directly to the citizen, and `is excepted out of the general powers of government.' A law cannot be passed to infringe upon or impair it, because it is above the law, and independent of the lawmaking power." [Cockrum v. State, 24 Tex. 394, at 401-402 (1859)]

"The provision in the Constitution granting the right to all persons to bear arms is a limitation upon the power of the Legislature to enact any law to the contrary. The exercise of a right guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be made subject to the will of the sheriff." [People vs. Zerillo, 219 Mich. 635, 189 N.W. 927, at 928 (1922)]

"`The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.' The right of the whole people, old and young, men, women and boys, and not militia only, to keep and bear arms of every description, and not such merely as are used by the milita, shall not be infringed, curtailed, or broken in upon, in the smallest degree; and all this for the important end to be attained: the rearing up and qualifying a well-regulated militia, so vitally necessary to the security of a free State. Our opinion is that any law, State or Federal, is repugnant to the Constitution, and void, which contravenes this right." [Nunn vs. State, 1 Ga. (1 Kel.) 243, at 251 (1846)]

"The whole of the Bill (of Rights) is a declaration of the right of the people at large or considered as individuals.... It establishes some rights of the individual as unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of." (Albert Gallatin of the New York Historical Society, October 7, 1789)

"Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American... The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state government, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people" (Tench Coxe, Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788)

[sandy 1027]

Mayor Bloomberg seems to be a thoughtful man, and is partially right. ALL of our elected officials, those who aspire to be, and the public must engage on this issue.Presidential candidates weigh in, but it will take the lobbying of Congress by those who can fully dedicate themselves to the cause to see significant legislation passed.[ Sarah Brady fought long and hard to get the Brady bill passed ]. Maybe the mayor himself should lead the charge.We have the right to bear arms in this country, but there has to be some common sense and proportionality used, which is missing on so many issues today.

[TheFoundersLive]

Sorry. Common sense is NOT taking away individual rights.

The solution lies elsewhere.

[GoGoUsa]

A problem is that the NRA has feed into the fears of some of America's most unstable persons who believe that any restrictions are a slippery slope to the worst case scenario. Leading to death camps, black helicopters, and total government domination of the human race. These people are of coarse nuts, but they are all down to the last nut, nuts that vote. Also down to the last nut, nuts who donate as much money and time as possible to protect their nuttiness. And these said nuts, are heavily armed and just itching for a chance to go to war against the government and all things perceived as liberal. The NRA has in effect taken our civilization hostage and created a scenario where the only effective solution to fighting gun violence is more guns. It comes down to that common sense belief that most people are good at heart, which I think is true, but I also think that even a good man with a gun always at the ready out of fear is likely to error from time to time and those errors with a gun, are enormous errors. Not to mention that many full time carriers of weapons carry those weapons because they are cowards, and a coward with a gun is just a dangerous as any criminal can be.

[My_Opinion_7]

All I can say is S.T.F.U. Mr Bloomberg. If you want to control New Yorkers fine they voted for you, but the rest of the country is off limits for you to control.

The rich 1% kill more people in a day then people killed with guns.