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Michael Bloomberg funds $12m US gun law campaign | Michael Bloomberg funds $12m US gun law campaign |
(about 11 hours later) | |
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is bankrolling a $12m (£7.8m) advertising campaign for tougher gun control laws. | New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is bankrolling a $12m (£7.8m) advertising campaign for tougher gun control laws. |
The television adverts will run in 13 states and urge voters to persuade their senators to back comprehensive background checks for gun buyers. | The television adverts will run in 13 states and urge voters to persuade their senators to back comprehensive background checks for gun buyers. |
Mr Bloomberg, a strong supporter of gun control, has said he is cautiously optimistic of winning over Congress, which votes on the issue next month. | Mr Bloomberg, a strong supporter of gun control, has said he is cautiously optimistic of winning over Congress, which votes on the issue next month. |
But his campaign has been dismissed by the National Rifle Association (NRA). | But his campaign has been dismissed by the National Rifle Association (NRA). |
NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre said Mr Bloomberg was "going to find out this is a country of the people, by the people, and for the people". | NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre said Mr Bloomberg was "going to find out this is a country of the people, by the people, and for the people". |
"And he can't can't spend enough of his $27bn to try to impose his will on the American public," Mr LaPierre told NBC television's Meet the Press on Sunday. | "And he can't can't spend enough of his $27bn to try to impose his will on the American public," Mr LaPierre told NBC television's Meet the Press on Sunday. |
Mr Bloomberg told the same NBC programme that opinion polls showed there was overwhelming public support for tighter background checks. | Mr Bloomberg told the same NBC programme that opinion polls showed there was overwhelming public support for tighter background checks. |
"We are trying to do everything we can to impress upon senators that this is what the survivors want and this is what the public wants," he said. | "We are trying to do everything we can to impress upon senators that this is what the survivors want and this is what the public wants," he said. |
Congress is due next month to consider legislation drafted by the Obama administration in response to last December's shooting at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 20 children and six adults. | Congress is due next month to consider legislation drafted by the Obama administration in response to last December's shooting at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 20 children and six adults. |
President Obama had been seeking a ban on military-style assault weapons, but this was dropped from the bill last week when it became clear it would not find sufficient support in the Republican-led House of Representatives. | President Obama had been seeking a ban on military-style assault weapons, but this was dropped from the bill last week when it became clear it would not find sufficient support in the Republican-led House of Representatives. |
Instead, gun control advocates are now focusing on another of Mr Obama's proposals - to implement wider background checks on people purchasing firearms. | Instead, gun control advocates are now focusing on another of Mr Obama's proposals - to implement wider background checks on people purchasing firearms. |
Gun control is a particular issue in the 13 states being targeted by the television advert this week. | Gun control is a particular issue in the 13 states being targeted by the television advert this week. |
Both sides believe the next few weeks - when members of Congress are in their homes states during Easter recess - could be crucial to the gun control debate, the BBC's David Willis reports from Washington. | |
The NRA is planning its own advertising campaign, but despite being one of the best-funded lobby groups in America its spending is unlikely, for the moment at least, to rival that of Mr Bloomberg, he adds. | The NRA is planning its own advertising campaign, but despite being one of the best-funded lobby groups in America its spending is unlikely, for the moment at least, to rival that of Mr Bloomberg, he adds. |
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