\n<\/p>\n
NSSF won\u2019t hold our collective breath waiting on U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to issue even a whisper of a statement blasting Michael Bloomberg\u2019s\u00a0latest move<\/a>\u00a0with breathless hysteria as \u201ccorrupt<\/a>\u201d and a \u201cthreat to democracy<\/a>.\u201d After all, the two are gun control bedfellows.<\/p>\n But Sen. Whitehouse\u2019s staunch stands against \u201cdark money\u201d groups trying to buy influence will prove again to be glaring hypocrisy and yet another case of a politician forcing one-sided standards against opponents.<\/p>\n Michael Bloomberg, the failed presidential candidate and former New York City mayor, who also funds the gun control groups Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, is throwing more of his chump change at Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign in the last week of the election to try and buy more gun control seats in Washington, D.C., and hopefully The White House.<\/p>\n His latest gift amounts to $50 million, on top of several million he\u2019s already donated. Sen. Whitehouse hasn\u2019t said a thing.<\/p>\n Bloomberg\u2019s net worth is\u00a0reportedly<\/a>\u00a0north of $104 billion \u2013 that\u2019s with a \u201cB.\u201d After all, he spent\u00a0more than $1 billion<\/a>\u00a0himself in 2019 and 2020 during his failed Democratic presidential campaign and then to support eventual President Joe Biden. Throwing millions of dollars at his pet project causes doesn\u2019t dent his pocketbook.<\/p>\n Bloomberg, after noticeable hesitation in backing Vice President Harris\u2019 campaign, jumped in again at the last minute to provide a shot in the arm over the final week.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bloomberg\u00a0announced<\/a>\u00a0he was giving another $50 million to help the vice president become president, but not directly to the Harris-Walz campaign.<\/p>\n Forbes reported Bloomberg instead gave his pocket change donation to Future Forward USA Action. That\u2019s a group Forbes\u00a0describes as<\/a>\u00a0\u201cthe so-called dark money arm of the pro-Harris Future Forward super PAC that, as a nonprofit, is not required to report its donors.\u201d You know -a \u201cdark money\u201d group Sen. Whitehouse rails against.<\/p>\n Sen. Whitehouse, for his part,\u00a0decried<\/a>\u00a0Senate Republicans just a couple years ago for receiving support from \u201cmegadonors and secretive special interests\u201d that \u201cprotect the most corrupting force in American politics \u2014 dark money.\u201d Where\u2019s Sen. Whithouse\u2019s outrage now?<\/p>\n This donation now isn\u2019t Bloomberg\u2019s first money drop of the 2024 campaign, though. He\u2019s already given $47 million in federally disclosed political contributions this election cycle, including $19 million to President Biden\u2019s main super PAC, which Harris took over, and $10 million to the House Democratic campaign arm, according to the Forbes report.<\/p>\n The dark-money hypocrisy by Sen. Whitehouse isn\u2019t alone. Bloomberg himself is a case study that should be taught in graduate school political science courses. His gun control wishes are well known and go back decades. He founded the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) in 2006 during his first term as the mayor of New York City. He immediately caused some big problems.<\/p>\n Bloomberg unlawfully co-opted protected firearm trace data from the New York City Police to prepare a lawsuit against the firearm industry and ordered private investigators to conduct \u201csting\u201d operations of out-of-state firearm retailers \u2013 without the knowledge of ATF or even his own police commissioner.<\/p>\n The\u00a0result was disastrous<\/a>. Bloomberg interfered with as many as 18 ongoing criminal investigations, jeopardizing the lives of law enforcement officers, informants, witnesses and others. The ATF was forced to pull agents out of the field for their own protection. The Department of Justice (DOJ) investigated the actions of the mayor\u2019s private investigators and\u00a0admonished<\/a>\u00a0the city against engaging in similar conduct because it could \u201cinterrupt or jeopardize ongoing criminal investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n Fast forward to his failed presidential campaign and Bloomberg\u2019s \u201cholier than thou\u201d mentality was on full display, clearly demonstrating why his campaign flamed out.<\/p>\n During a Fox News Town Hall, Bloomberg fielded an audience question regarding his strict gun control platform and questioning why he supported gun control for others while enjoying private armed security. \u201cDoes your life matter more than mine, or my family\u2019s or these people\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n Bloomberg\u2019s answer went over like a lead balloon. He dismissively responded, \u201cAlright, look\u2026 I probably get 40 or 50 threats every week\u2026 That just happens when you\u2019re the mayor of New York City, or very wealthy, or campaigning for the president of the United States. You\u2019re gonna get lots of threats.\u201d So yes, Bloomberg believes his life is more valuable than that of everyday Americans.<\/p>\n Since the last presidential election in 2020, the political landscape has changed and the calculus has too, specifically regarding the population of gun owners in America. In the four years after Bloomberg\u2019s own presidential attempt went down in flames, more than\u00a022.3 million<\/a>\u00a0Americans decided the Second Amendment was right for them and went to a firearm retailer to purchase a firearm \u2013 for the first time.<\/p>\n Skyrocketing crime drove much of those sales, which included the\u00a0most diverse population<\/a>\u00a0of gun purchasers in history. In fact, the fastest-growing demographic of new gun owners over the past four years has been\u00a0African American women<\/a>.<\/p>\n One Real Clear Policy column, however, summed up why the shifting landscape could mean Bloomberg and his millions could come up empty yet again.<\/p>\n \u201cAs more left-leaning Americans become gun owners, they may develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for firearm rights\u2026 As firearms become tools of self-defense for an increasingly diverse population, the evolving demographics of gun ownership may well reshape the national conversation on this vital issue for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n With only days until Election Day, it\u2019s crucial that all gun owners and Second Amendment supporters make it to the polls and #GUNVOTE so they don\u2019t risk their rights. If they do, Micheal Bloomberg and Sen. Whitehouse could be left crying in their pillows again.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nCouch Cushion Donation<\/h2>\n
Hypocrisy Abounds<\/h2>\n
Landscape\u2019s Changed<\/h2>\n
![<\/a>AP Photo\/Rick Bowmer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\nNSSF won\u2019t hold our collective breath waiting on U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to issue even a whisper of a statement blasting Michael Bloomberg\u2019s\u00a0latest move<\/a>\u00a0with breathless hysteria as \u201ccorrupt<\/a>\u201d and a \u201cthreat to democracy<\/a>.\u201d After all, the two are gun control bedfellows.<\/p>\nBut Sen. Whitehouse\u2019s staunch stands against \u201cdark money\u201d groups trying to buy influence will prove again to be glaring hypocrisy and yet another case of a politician forcing one-sided standards against opponents.<\/p>\nMichael Bloomberg, the failed presidential candidate and former New York City mayor, who also funds the gun control groups Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, is throwing more of his chump change at Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign in the last week of the election to try and buy more gun control seats in Washington, D.C., and hopefully The White House.<\/p>\nHis latest gift amounts to $50 million, on top of several million he\u2019s already donated. Sen. Whitehouse hasn\u2019t said a thing.<\/p>\nCouch Cushion Donation<\/h2>\nBloomberg\u2019s net worth is\u00a0reportedly<\/a>\u00a0north of $104 billion \u2013 that\u2019s with a \u201cB.\u201d After all, he spent\u00a0more than $1 billion<\/a>\u00a0himself in 2019 and 2020 during his failed Democratic presidential campaign and then to support eventual President Joe Biden. Throwing millions of dollars at his pet project causes doesn\u2019t dent his pocketbook.<\/p>\nBloomberg, after noticeable hesitation in backing Vice President Harris\u2019 campaign, jumped in again at the last minute to provide a shot in the arm over the final week.\u00a0<\/p>\nBloomberg\u00a0announced<\/a>\u00a0he was giving another $50 million to help the vice president become president, but not directly to the Harris-Walz campaign.<\/p>\nForbes reported Bloomberg instead gave his pocket change donation to Future Forward USA Action. That\u2019s a group Forbes\u00a0describes as<\/a>\u00a0\u201cthe so-called dark money arm of the pro-Harris Future Forward super PAC that, as a nonprofit, is not required to report its donors.\u201d You know -a \u201cdark money\u201d group Sen. Whitehouse rails against.<\/p>\nSen. Whitehouse, for his part,\u00a0decried<\/a>\u00a0Senate Republicans just a couple years ago for receiving support from \u201cmegadonors and secretive special interests\u201d that \u201cprotect the most corrupting force in American politics \u2014 dark money.\u201d Where\u2019s Sen. Whithouse\u2019s outrage now?<\/p>\nThis donation now isn\u2019t Bloomberg\u2019s first money drop of the 2024 campaign, though. He\u2019s already given $47 million in federally disclosed political contributions this election cycle, including $19 million to President Biden\u2019s main super PAC, which Harris took over, and $10 million to the House Democratic campaign arm, according to the Forbes report.<\/p>\nHypocrisy Abounds<\/h2>\nThe dark-money hypocrisy by Sen. Whitehouse isn\u2019t alone. Bloomberg himself is a case study that should be taught in graduate school political science courses. His gun control wishes are well known and go back decades. He founded the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) in 2006 during his first term as the mayor of New York City. He immediately caused some big problems.<\/p>\nBloomberg unlawfully co-opted protected firearm trace data from the New York City Police to prepare a lawsuit against the firearm industry and ordered private investigators to conduct \u201csting\u201d operations of out-of-state firearm retailers \u2013 without the knowledge of ATF or even his own police commissioner.<\/p>\nThe\u00a0result was disastrous<\/a>. Bloomberg interfered with as many as 18 ongoing criminal investigations, jeopardizing the lives of law enforcement officers, informants, witnesses and others. The ATF was forced to pull agents out of the field for their own protection. The Department of Justice (DOJ) investigated the actions of the mayor\u2019s private investigators and\u00a0admonished<\/a>\u00a0the city against engaging in similar conduct because it could \u201cinterrupt or jeopardize ongoing criminal investigations.\u201d<\/p>\nFast forward to his failed presidential campaign and Bloomberg\u2019s \u201cholier than thou\u201d mentality was on full display, clearly demonstrating why his campaign flamed out.<\/p>\nDuring a Fox News Town Hall, Bloomberg fielded an audience question regarding his strict gun control platform and questioning why he supported gun control for others while enjoying private armed security. \u201cDoes your life matter more than mine, or my family\u2019s or these people\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\nBloomberg\u2019s answer went over like a lead balloon. He dismissively responded, \u201cAlright, look\u2026 I probably get 40 or 50 threats every week\u2026 That just happens when you\u2019re the mayor of New York City, or very wealthy, or campaigning for the president of the United States. You\u2019re gonna get lots of threats.\u201d So yes, Bloomberg believes his life is more valuable than that of everyday Americans.<\/p>\nLandscape\u2019s Changed<\/h2>\nSince the last presidential election in 2020, the political landscape has changed and the calculus has too, specifically regarding the population of gun owners in America. In the four years after Bloomberg\u2019s own presidential attempt went down in flames, more than\u00a022.3 million<\/a>\u00a0Americans decided the Second Amendment was right for them and went to a firearm retailer to purchase a firearm \u2013 for the first time.<\/p>\nSkyrocketing crime drove much of those sales, which included the\u00a0most diverse population<\/a>\u00a0of gun purchasers in history. In fact, the fastest-growing demographic of new gun owners over the past four years has been\u00a0African American women<\/a>.<\/p>\nOne Real Clear Policy column, however, summed up why the shifting landscape could mean Bloomberg and his millions could come up empty yet again.<\/p>\n\u201cAs more left-leaning Americans become gun owners, they may develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for firearm rights\u2026 As firearms become tools of self-defense for an increasingly diverse population, the evolving demographics of gun ownership may well reshape the national conversation on this vital issue for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\nWith only days until Election Day, it\u2019s crucial that all gun owners and Second Amendment supporters make it to the polls and #GUNVOTE so they don\u2019t risk their rights. If they do, Micheal Bloomberg and Sen. Whitehouse could be left crying in their pillows again.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nSource link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"AP Photo\/Rick Bowmer NSSF won\u2019t hold our collective breath waiting on U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to issue even a whisper of a statement blasting Michael Bloomberg\u2019s\u00a0latest move\u00a0with breathless hysteria as \u201ccorrupt\u201d and a \u201cthreat to democracy.\u201d After all, the two are gun control bedfellows. But Sen. Whitehouse\u2019s staunch stands against \u201cdark money\u201d groups trying […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4108","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-reviews"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4108"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4108\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsandpride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/AP_20051643487793-scaled.jpg\"){kind=link}