Bloomberg Initiates Campaign/NRA Responds

Speaking as a member, I can tell you the National Rifle Association is an out-of-control organization, comprised of millions of perfectly rational gun owners and sportsmen who favor stricter reporting and background checks and the banning of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, but which is led by extremists.

None of this should be surprising to you, but a quote from NRA lobbyist Chris Cox in a recent New York Times article about Mayor Bloomberg's planned media blitz in support of Federal regulations to curb gun violence applies to The PeaceWorks Project.

“What he is going to find out is that Americans don’t want to be told by some elitist billionaire what they can eat, drink and they damn well don’t want to be told how, when and where they can protect their families,” Mr. Cox said.

On some level, the quote is standard attack-dog lobbyist populism.  On a deeper level it's a little sad.

Mr. Bloomberg responded by saying (referring to background checks, etc.),  "These ideas shouldn't be controversial."

But they are.  For good or for bad.  And encouraging that discussion is what The Project is all about.