“Bloomberg Gun Giveaway” a Hit!
NYC Mayor Michael Blowhard wasn’t eligible of course but hundreds of others were:
Openly armed firearms enthusiasts packed a normally sedate government building Thursday night, hoping to win a pistol or rifle and at the same time send a defiant message to gun-control advocates, especially New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights group, organized the “Bloomberg Gun Giveaway” in large part to thumb its nose at Bloomberg, who accuses some shops of allowing illegal purchases of firearms that later were used in crimes in his city.
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Two guns were awarded Thursday, a Para-Ordnance pistol and a Varmint Stalker rifle, each worth about $900. The winners did not immediately receive the weapons — they will still be required to undergo federal and state background checks.
[…]
The event drew an overflow crowd at a Fairfax County government building, with the fire marshal aggressively enforcing an occupancy limit of 150 for the meeting hall. Others stood outside and peered through open windows. About 200 people showed.
Blowhard has (as most of you know) been conducting possibly illegal investigations of gun shops around the country, making illegal “straw purchases” and then trying to blackmail those stores. He also refused to cooperate with the ATF in their investigations because the Mayor thinks he’s above the law. Things got so bad that Virginia passed anti-Blowhard legislation:
Last month, [Virginia Attorney General Robert F.] McDonnell sent Mr. Bloomberg a letter warning him that as of July 1 a new Virginia law would outlaw New York from sending undercover agents into the state to illegally purchase guns.
I suppose the Mayor already thinks he’s bought the presidency of the country. By the way, his response to yesterday’s event?
Asked Thursday about the giveaway, Bloomberg said, “I think it’s sick, is the nicest ways to phrase it.”
What’s sick is that Blowhard worries about the gun laws in other states but thinks he can violate them himself at will. Hey Michael? Stick to being dictator of New York City as you ban your subjects from eating “trans fat,” smoking, and using incandescent light bulbs.
Others put it more succinctly:
The first winner, Jay Minsky, responded with an obscene hand gesture when asked what message he hoped to send to Bloomberg.
“If he doesn’t like people in New York having guns, he should deal with New York,” said Minsky, who grew up in Brooklyn. “Just keep out of Virginia.”
Yup! It’s now the law in Virginia; that he “keep out.” Alas, criminals don’t obey the law.
Update: Bitter has pictures from the event.
6 Responses to ““Bloomberg Gun Giveaway” a Hit!”
on 18 May 2007 at 7:15 am # SDN
No, but when criminals don’t obey the law you have a chance to shoot them. And those of us who don’t like criminals might be on the jury.
on 18 May 2007 at 8:18 am # James
Wasn’t able to be there myself (damnit), but I’m glad it did eventually go ahead after it looked like they’d have to call it off.
Fairfax County brought up the idea that the drawing might be illegal, as eligibility required one to spend $100 dollars in a particular gun shop. However, VCDL decided on the night to give free draw entries to anyone who showed up, thereby bypassing the concerns raised.
Remember, support your local gun groups, gun clubs and gun stores!
on 18 May 2007 at 9:34 am # Boyd
It was a bit of a circus, James, and I’d say it was closer to 300 than 200 attending, since there were a lot more than 50 folks outside.
I spent the evening bent over trying to hear the various speakers through a window, and my back is yelling at me about it today. But it was well worth it.
The parking lot was thoroughly packed, so anyone arriving less than 30 minutes before the start time had to park out in the neighborhood. That meant that I walked over in the company of an unknown gentleman. We had a congenial conversation, and at the very end, he had to ask me if I were “pro” or “con” (he was one of the counter demonstrators). I was glad to be able to show him the congenial, responsible face typical of gun owners.
“We’re just like you, except we’re not victims.”
on 18 May 2007 at 10:00 am # Ellen
I am a 53 yr old white female, living in the midwest who is not only a gun owner but an FFL holder. I was born and raised in NYC and VERY MUCH resent Bloomberg calling me sick. I wish I would have been able to have a gun when I lived in NYC. I went to high school in the Bronx and that is a very scary place to be. I too agree that if someone would have been armed at V Tech and Columbine that there could have been less likely that there would have been mass slaughter. Bloomberg is a traitor. he is against the 2nd amendment which give the citizens the right to keep and bear arms. I wish I could talk to him because I know I could change his mind.
on 18 May 2007 at 3:47 pm # straightarrow
Ellen there were armed people at those events, admittedly well into the slaughters, but before they were finished. They hid outside till the shooting stopped. They were cops upon whom we are supposed to rely?
I don’t think so.
on 18 May 2007 at 4:34 pm # anon
I was there as well. I got there about 7:15 and got a place in the room (standing room only even 45 minutes early). The fire marshals were sort of enforcing the room capacity limit. Actually, THEY weren’t, the VCDL guys were. The Fire Marshals seemed mostly just standing around waiting for an excuse. I asked one of the VCDL guys (I think) if the capacity limit sign was there for any of their previous meetings, he just gave me a terse smile and didn’t answer. The capacity limit (150) meant that press members repeatedly tried to sneak in, risking the meeting being canceled by the fire marshals. Several VCDL members gave up their positions to let press in. No, I did NOT offer to give my place to any member of the ‘press’ - Mostly because of this: One of the VCDL members had brought a [very obviously] mentally handicapped son/ward with her. I saw at least two news crews stick a camera in the poor guys face and try to interview him. That gives you some idea of the image of gun owners the press wished to project. The press are pigs. The mother/guardian was considerably more polite than she should have been.