Bloomberg Launches National Campaign To Repeal "Stand Your Ground" Laws

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is in Washington to launch a national campaign to repeal the "Stand Your Ground" laws which the National Rifle Association has paid to implement in dozens of states.

The campaign will be very challenging. The National Rifle Association, which supported" the "Stand Your Ground" law in Florida, is one of the most powerful and influential lobbying groups in the country, both in Washington and in state capitals. And many Democrats, including President Obama, are wary of showing any sign they are against gun rights, worried about losing moderate voters in the Midwest and South. The party has largely dropped the issue of gun control over the last decade and Democrats did not heed Bloomberg's call for tighter gun laws last year after the shooting of then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Republicans, both at the national and the state level, are closely-allied with the NRA and opposed to measures that might affect gun rights. "The NRA's 'shoot first' laws that have passed in 25 states have undermined the integrity of the justice system and done serious harm to public safety," says Bloomberg.

Here at home, the NRA is targeting Bloomberg directly by pouring money in the campaigns of Republican state legislators who want to impose a New York state version of "Stand Your Ground." According to the NY Daily News, the NRA has contributed more to New York legislators than they have in any other state.

RELATED: The NRA is also battling Bloomberg on his plan to mandate the microstamping of all bullet casings, a move that would enable law enforcement to know exactly when, where, and by whom the bullets were purchased. Microstamping would make bullets slightly more expensive, but since the lives of humans are worth less the profits of NRA member gun corporations, Bloomberg's bill has had little traction.