Events involving Al Sharpton, the New York Times and NBC have been pushing a narrative that this singular event - regardless of the facts of the case - "proves" that America is a deeply racist nation. The other big reason is that conservatives are wary that the Left won't let a crisis go to waste and pursue more gun control laws.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is proving those fears correct. Today he partnered with liberal groups for a campaign he's calling "Second Chance to Shoot First."
The campaign aims to repeal or reform the laws that eliminated a person's duty to retreat when threatened with serious bodily harm or death. These laws have passed in 25 states.Bloomberg said these laws undermine the integrity of the justice system, threaten public safety and make it more difficult to prosecute shooters.
The grassroots campaign will contact state legislators who have passed what he terms "shoot first" laws, produce education material for the public and create model legislation.
"The tragic death of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., touched a nerve all across this country," Bloomberg said. "I believe we all have a responsibility to investigate the meaning of this terrible event for our nation and then to take action."
Bloomberg said neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who shot Martin, should have never had a gun with his history of violence. He said New York and other states would not have allowed him to carry a gun.
To make this naked exploitation worse, Martin's parents' attorney want Trayvon's name attached to the laws, and call it "the Trayvon Martin Law."
Never mind that Stand Your Ground laws have had nothing to do with the Zimmerman-Martin shooting. Never mind that, if anything, it was police malfeasance on the scene of the incident that led to Zimmerman being set free. No, liberals see this as an opportunity to push more gun control laws.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg promotes himself as a pragmatist who doesn't hew to ideological boxes. He's right about that - he sees no reason whatsoever that the government shouldn't push itself into any aspect of any American's life. And he doesn't see any reason why his ungrounded "pragmatism" shouldn't be followed by the ignoramuses in the flyover states. Because Michael Bloomberg just knows better than anyone else.