Michael Bloomberg Is Planning The Most Ambitious Challenge To The NRA Yet

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Michael Bloomberg

Getty Images / Mike Stobe

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is planning the most ambitious direct challenge to the National Rifle Association for clout in Washington on the issues of gun control and gun violence.

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Bloomberg is prepared to spend $50 million this year alone on the issue, The New York Times' Jeremy Peters reports. According to the report, he will use the investment to build "a nationwide grass-roots network to motivate voters who feel strongly about curbing gun violence."

The NRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Bloomberg's plans.

Under his plan, Bloomberg would bring two gun-focused groups he currently funds - Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America - under one umbrella group called Everytown for Gun Safety. It will focus in the short term on legislation to expand background checks on gun buyers.

The group's focus will be on field operations, something the NRA and other pro-gun groups have mastered. The focus of their outreach will be on women - mothers, in particular - who they feel can be swayed on the gun issue.

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The topic of gun violence has largely faded from the national scene. It has been almost a year since the Senate failed to pass a bill that would have expanded background checks, and there has been no renewed momentum. Supporters tout progress on the background check issue at the state level.

Some groups hinted at plans to punish senators who voted against the background check bill last year. When they did, some Democrats and liberals argued it would be counterproductive, since pushing red-state Democrats to the left on gun issues could lose the party the Senate.

Bloomberg doesn't seem to care about that potential prospect, saying his focus is on the long-term.

"You can tell me all you want that the Republicans would be worse in the Senate than the Democrats," he said. "Maybe they would. But that's not what we're talking about here."

He also said this about himself: "I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I'm not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It's not even close."

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