New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been receiving some criticism from the right lately over his handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy . A new report has emerged that Bloomberg has denied assistance from the National Guard due to the simple fact that they carry guns.
Fox Nation sparked the rumor that Mayor Bloomberg has denied Borough President Markowitz’s request for National Guard assistance in Brooklyn, with the former arguing that it would be a waste of federal manpower and fearing that it would turn New York City into a police state during the post-Sandy cleanup.
“We don’t need it,” Mayor Bloomberg said on Wednesday during a press update. “The NYPD is the only people we want on the street with guns.”
Markowitz’s request for National Guard assistance, which came mere hours before Bloomberg’s press update, claimed that the NYPD and FDNY are “brave — but overwhelmed.”
Whether intended or not, Conservative blogs have ripped Mayor Bloomberg apart over that last comment about the National Guard patrolling the street with guns.
HotAir points out that Bloomberg has long been a strict gun-control advocate and opponent to the NRA, all of which is true. But they take it a step too far by insisting that we’re “witnessing the complete implosion of somebody who was once considered a pretty influential politician on the rise,” and questioning whether or not Bloomberg has “completely lost his mind.”
Liberal blogs haven’t really touched the subject. Conservatives might be tempted to think this is due to some massive cover-up of the “silence is confirmation” school of thought, but it might just be that Bloomberg’s words are to be taken at face value. Perhaps he doesn’t want to “jump the gun” and call in the National Guard until he believes they are absolutely necessary.
What do you think? Is Mayor Bloomberg slapping the National Guard in the face because he doesn’t like guns, or is he just trying to keep the Hurricane Sandy cleanup in-house? Should he call in the National Guard? Let us know what you think of his comments below.