And just WHAT is he smoking?

MAYOR SAYS NRA IN MINORITY OVER GUNS

Most Americans want illegal guns off their streets - and groups such as the National Rifle Association are in the minority when it comes to gun control, Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday.

"I think when you look at the numbers, when you do surveys, it's a very small number of people who actually believe that people should be carrying concealed weapons in the workplace, on the streets of our cities, in schools," Bloomberg said yesterday.

The federal government estimates there are over 65 million gun owners in this country. At least four million are members of the NRA, and millions of others belong to other gun rights groups such as Gun Owners of America and the Second Amendment Foundation. Is it realistic to believe that all these gun owners want to be controlled and told when they can and cannot exercise their constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms?

A survey in April, 2000 by ABC News/Washington Post asked whether "passing stricter gun control laws" or "stricter enforcement of existing laws" is the best way to curb gun violence. Enforcement was preferred by 53 percent to 33 percent. (Source: Gun Facts v. 4.0)

A recent Time Magazine survey (not exactly the bastion of conservative thought) showed that out of 33,202 adult Americans surveyed:

• 92.25% do not believe that the US needs stricter gun control laws

• 92.22% believe that allowing people to carry concealed weapons reduces crime

Then there was the CBS survey conducted in 1999 (Another liberal-leaning media outlet, by the way) that showed:

• Only 14% of Americans believe that gun control can prevent violence with guns.
• 56% of people said enforcement of existing laws is the better way to reduce violent
crime than new gun control laws.
• Only 4% said gun control should be a top issue for the government.

A recent National Association of Police Chiefs Survey also contradicted Bloomberg's claims and concluded that most police also believe that carrying concealed weapons reduces crime.

As a matter of fact, 63 percent answered in the affirmative to the following question:

Will a national concealed handgun permit reduce rates of violent crime as recent studies in some states have already reflected?

This tells me that Bloomberg is either a liar, or an uninformed buffoon who is completely out of touch with not just his constituents, but also the rest of America.

Or he's just high...