Opinion

National gun-law reform? Bloomberg takes a shot

The Issue: Mayor Bloomberg’s comments on guns, ‘stand your ground’ laws and the Trayvon Martin case.

***

Last week, in response to the Martin-Zimmerman case, Mayor Bloomberg said, “I’m a citizen of America. If I go to another state, I want to be safe, too. My kids travel. I have a very vested interest in every state’s laws wherever I’m going.” (“Mike’s Meandering,” Editorial, April 12).

Of course, he and his family are safe. They travel in private jets and are protected round the clock by armed guards.

It’s the rest of America that’s on its own.

Gary Cella

Cos Cob, Conn.

***

The Florida shooting has set off another debate on guns.

To all gun advocates: George Zimmerman could be you.

You need to know more than the Second Amendment. You need to know when the use of deadly force is permitted, along with the laws of your state.

It gets complicated. The possession of a gun can turn out to be your worst nightmare.

Phil Serpico

Queens

***

Everybody is looking to blame one person for what happened to Trayvon Martin.

The real reason this terrible tragedy happened is because of bad gun laws, an overzealous neighborhood watch and a boy turning into a man and feeling his oats.

Billy Chris

East Hanover, NJ

***

“Stand your ground” laws save lives of innocent people from liberal anti-gun zealots like Bloomberg.

It’s a shame that “stand your ground” isn’t a New York law. “Stand your ground” and acting in self-defense are within the law, not vigilantism.

If abused, serious consequences ensue.

Society’s problem is that too many criminals disregard the law and unarmed citizens are sacrificed.

Bloomberg’s ideology renders him incapable of logic in regard to the Second Amendment, the rest of the Bill of Rights and basic civic freedoms.

In response to his “meandering,” maybe Virginia and other states should start a campaign to get rid of some of Bloomberg’s “great” ideas, like bike lanes in New York City, for the safety of New Yorkers and tourists.

Lou D’Agostino

Queens

***

It’s deplorable enough that a law-abiding New Yorker can’t get a gun permit for the purposes of personal protection because of the gun-control zealots and their disdain for the Second Amendment.

But now Bloomberg also wants to rescind the right of people to protect themselves living anywhere outside new York.

The predictable end of Bloomberg’s psychosis would be to create an even more target-rich environment for a well-armed criminal underclass that cares little about any law.

The greatest right we have in America is the right to life.

While the police do a wonderful job, they cannot be everywhere.

No government official should be permitted to take away a citizen’s right to protect himself in the name of political correctness.

Scott Westcott

Queensbury

***

If Bloomberg really believes that we should not have the right to arm ourselves for protection, he should prove he is sincere by immediately refusing any armed police protection or any armed private-security protection.

Let’s see if he changes his tune when he no longer has his bodyguards.

Then he will know how the rest of us who can’t afford perks like private protection have to live.

Robert White

Saranac Lake

***

Gun manufacturers are no different than cigarette manufacturers — they both sell death.

Paul Godnig

Staten Island

***

Why isn’t Bloomberg going after the illegal drugs and drug dealers the way he is going after weapons?

I bet more people die or have their lives ruined from illegal drug use or drug involvement than gun deaths.

I guess it’s easier for the mayor to go after law-abiding citizens.

Billy Wiggins

South Ozone Park