‘Weaponized Wealth’: Bloomberg Group to Spend $60M on Elections

U.S.A.-(Ammoland.com)- Anti-gun billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety will spend “at least $60 million in the 2020 election,” according to The Hill, in what is shaping up as an effort to buy Congress and perhaps even the Constitution, with a focus on 13 states.

Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor, has already spent millions of dollars launching his own bid to replace President Donald Trump. His campaign focuses on gun control as a major issue, a fact underscored by a statement from Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action and a chief Bloomberg surrogate.

“The gun safety movement has never been stronger,” Watts asserted. “We have millions of supporters, and we are going to seize the moment. We are going to compete at every level.”

“This massive 2020 effort is fueled by a combination of financial resources, unprecedented grassroots power and a consensus among more than 90 percent of Americans across party lines that we need action now to reduce gun violence,” Watts stated.

In 2016, according to The Hour, the National Rifle Association spent $54.4 million on advertising, but ever since, NRA has been “outspent in smaller contests, including the 2019 state elections in Virginia.”

One look at headlines in Ammoland News lately has shown how that worked out. Virginia is now in the hands of anti-gun Democrat lawmakers, and the gun prohibition lobby has set its sights on Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin, according to a report in Tasnim News, an Iran-based news agency.

The NRA, said spokeswoman Amy Hunter—quoted by The Hour—will be “very active in 2020, as we are in every election cycle.”

“Unlike Michael Bloomberg,” Hunter said, “the NRA won’t be pouring billions into the radical groups that are conspiring to steal freedom from other Americans. Our activities in 2020 will be smart, strategic, and reflective of the passion of our members, who turn out to vote. Our opponents cannot say the same.”

But can the NRA deliver? American gun owners who have long depended upon the NRA to fight their battles—even when they sometimes don’t bother to vote—better hope so.

As The Hour noted, the big anti-gun budget “is meant to send a statement about the growing power of the gun regulation movement,” while NRA is “struggling with a governance crisis.”

For example, in Colorado—one of the states reportedly being targeted by Bloomberg—the Colorado Sun is reporting, “Ahead of his White House bid, the former New York mayor and billionaire businessman contributed at least $6 million to Colorado political campaigns in the past decade, funded major outside advocacy efforts and gifted millions more through philanthropy…

“A handful of donations boosted local school board candidates,” the report added. “Other big checks helped elect the current Democratic legislative majority. Two cities — Fort Collins and Denver — received millions respectively to improve energy efficiency and address climate change.”

This only confirms what Watts said about competing “at every level.” And to erase any doubts about where Bloomberg’s effort is focused, the newspaper noted, “The bulk of Bloomberg’s money in Colorado went toward advocacy for tougher gun regulations and like-minded candidates — and then, protecting those politicians from recall threats. The defense of Democrats on the issue of guns is what the campaign wanted to emphasize to voters in its first canvassing effort Saturday.”

The turnout of an estimated 22,000 gun owners in Richmond, Virginia to rally for gun rights does signal an increased activism, but can gun owners maintain that momentum and build on it into November? Can they raise the tens of millions of dollars necessary to support pro-Second Amendment candidates “at all levels” where Watts and her allies will apparently be engaged?

This includes congressional battles and state legislative races, all of which will unfold this year. Trump and the GOP want to flip the U.S. House back to Republican control, but with Bloomberg’s group vowing to pour fortunes into the 2020 races, the outcome will depend upon often-lethargic gun owners getting involved enough to vote.

As Pericles, the ancient Greek philosopher, purportedly observed, “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”

According to history, he also said something else American gun owners should remember:

“Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.”

Following the Jan. 20 rally in Richmond, Virginia Democrats continued pushing the gun control agenda of Gov. Ralph Northam, almost as though they were telling gun owners who’s in charge. With Democrat majorities also in Washington, Oregon and California, New Jersey and other states, what those legislatures do over the next eight to ten weeks will provide a strong indication of what they have planned if they capture Capitol Hill and the White House.

Back in November, Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, a national grassroots organization, said this about Bloomberg: “For years, Bloomberg has treated the constitutionally-protected Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens like they are a regulated privilege. He’s weaponized his vast wealth to erode those rights in every corner of the country by supporting anti-rights initiatives and anti-gun politicians. He has waged a war on people who have committed no crimes, harmed nobody and merely wish to be left alone to mind their own business. To protect our guns and 15 round magazines, we need to ban Bloomberg’s billion round checkbook before he assaults our Second Amendment with it.”

That assault now appears to be in high gear.


About Dave WorkmanDave Workman

Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.

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a.x. perez

Contribute to progun candidates. turn out to vote for progun candidates. Remember that even if he doesn’t get the presidential nomination Bloomberg will continue to toss money at antigun candidates to buy votes for them. Yell out on social media about Bloomberg’s spite for personal freedom, not just on guns but even so far as your right to buy whatever the hell size soda pop you want.

Blomberg is willing to spend at least 60 million dollars? Let’s get out 61 million votes.

MICHAEL J

Can you imaging this arrogant prick as your next president?

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

I can imagine him getting hit by a hunters stray bullet. That’s easy to imagine. Too bad it won’t happen.

There are always trains, cars, falls from penthouses. It could happen.

Doszap

Personality of a 95yr olds prostate.

Ansel Hazen

Our Founding Fathers
They were astute
Their wisdom great
Do not dispute
They warned us all
Of what could come
It’s time for Johnny
To get his gun.

Deplorable Bill

Now, what was that slogan on the Va. flag?

Arm up, carry on.

Deplorable Bill

Anyone who would deny our GOD given right to keep and bear arms is evil and should be treated as such. Before socialism, communism, dictatorships, foul evil religions of peace or tyrants can capitalize on a nation, the citizenry must be disarmed. This is exactly why they are trying to disarm us. This is exactly why we can’t let them disarm us. There was a then famous man who talked an entire nation into registering their firearms. He shortly afterward confiscated all of the registered firearms. He did this under the guise of; “For a kinder, gentler nation”. Shortly afterward,… Read more »

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Read A Day of Deceit by Robert Stinnett and see if you still adhere to the “sneak attack” belief on Pearl Harbor. Just another lie we were fed by the liars in the government. As for what is going on in the way of treason? Fact is, THEY have declared war on us. They started it back in 1903 by eviscerating the 2nd amendment with the Dick Act.Today these blatant attacks directly on our UNALIENABLE rights are in your face tactics of war. What does one nation do when another nation declares war on them? Well they either arm up… Read more »

It’s a well know fact FDR KNEW the Japs were coming 2-3 weeks before they hit Pearl.
He allowed 5k Americans to die to get Americans into WWII.
Which to be made him a traitorous POS.

RoyD

Our carriers being at sea was our saving grace. But was it Devine or part of a plan? We will never know in this life.

Doszap

Yes we already know, it was planned.

Doszap

Bill, that’s just it, THEY DO NOT HAVE the right, WE let them have them.So it’s up to us to first REDRESS/DEMONSTRATE, and the last one GOD forbid is what I fear we are headed for.
We need to split and balkanize ASAP.That’s the on;y way we do it w/out the Boogaloo(as some have named it).

Will Flatt

Bloomturd must want to trigger a civil war, because if he suborns the electoral process itself in a bid to deprive millions of Americans of their Rights under color of law, that’s EXACTLY what he’s gonna get.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Here is what Bloomturd is going to trigger….his very own version of Romanian term limits.

Will Flatt

Yep, the 2nd Amendment is about tyrant hunting, not deer hunting. They want 2A gone because they fully intend to do things that would otherwise get them shot.

Doszap

THE SOB’s Already are.

Will Flatt

@Doszap – The things I’m thinking of would be an absolute certainty to get them shot; the things they’re doing now aren’t. If it were so they’d already be gone!

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

The police chief is a oath breaking piece of human crap. I like who can cause a ERPO to go into effect. One being “law enforcement”. Oh, how does that work? Maybe they ask someone a question like “What would you do if the government decides to confiscate all firearms from everyone?” And your answer is, “SHOOT THEM IN THE FACE”. Well golly gee, there is a REASON at that point for the LE “officer” to say you could be or would be a threat to others. Especially THEM. So one thing we need to start doing when talking to… Read more »

Will Flatt

Lawyers tell people this all the time, it bears repeating here and everywhere; DON’T TALK TO THE POLICE!!

Anything you say WILL be USED AGAINST YOU.

Doszap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE

One of the BEST on YT,the dude is double barrel sharp.
Do yourself a FAVOR WATCH IT.

Will Flatt

@Doszap – Yeah this is the guy I was thinking of; I’ve seen this more than a couple times. WELL WORTH WATCHING AGAIN AND AGAIN!

CL: Wise thought. We should not forewarn of actions. Such as telling about hidden firearms, defying with violence, mentioning stray bullets striking certain individuals. We should refer to and consider LE as OE, official enforcer or oppression enforcer. Bear in mind that too many of them refer to and considers us as civilians instead of citizens. It should be consider by peace officers not to forewarn of intent of disobeying illegal orders. Our freedom of speech has been infringed enough to guard what is said to OEs and our own doctors. Doctors and such can come up with more pretenses… Read more »

Finnky

@USA – I understood @laughing Jack to be saying “shut up”. What you say on the internet can and probably will come back to haunt you. Should @CL ever be accused of a crime (any crime!), anything he ever posted could be used by prosecutors in presenting @CL as a dangerous person with evil intent. Maybe reading more into it, but @laughing Jack also suggests that there may be more LEO sympathy than we are aware of – LEO members dare not express disapproval of or suggest refusal to enforce specific laws – for fear of losing their jobs or… Read more »

Will Flatt

A bit of a difference between the legal system and the electoral system. But I think we can agree, he wants to buy it all – so HE has absolute control.

Doszap

If a Rattlesnake is going to bite you, how do you stop it?, you take the HEAD off first.

Doszap

Right now my Texas county one of the top 10 largest, declared itself a 2A Constitutional County.Our legislature only GETS to meet every TWO years, so we are safe from our county/state officials and LE.(NO Red Flags will be enforced nor any laws they make in D.C. repugnant to the Const.) IF our GOV was smart he would call a special session to Amend the state Constitution that STOPS all FED laws passed from being enforced) The Feds are the issue. Bloomberg is spending 60 million to get 12 Red southern states flipped. If he does that, WE are going… Read more »

Rebel VA

I bet that if they were to take away those armed goons that are with him he would squeal like the pig he is!

JIAZ

Signs of Napoleon Complex:

Small, aggressive, power-seeking man who cannot accept occasional defeat (especially over trivial matters) or has a constant desire to compete.

He will stop at nothing and do almost everything to get what he wants at any price, even if he knows it is wrong.

He will do anything to do what he wants even if it includes lying, spreading rumors,
manipulating, or even having physical harm done to those who oppose him.

Jim

The socialist billionaire dwarf needs no “gun”–his coat is armored and he has at least from what I can see, four armed body guards (there are more, I suspect his detail is ten total). Anyway, look at what he outlawed and tried to outlaw in NYC and think what he could do nationally.

Greg K

He’s been virtually anti-everything when mayor, so why would anyone give him their vote? The one I remember the most was his 3 minute idling limit in NYC, which he broke for “his own safety.” Then, under pressure he put window shakers in his motorcade vehicle. Interestingly, this creates the same problem, which he claims to be fighting…hypocrisy is and always will be their greatest downfall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5vJWHMlHHg

PMinFl

Dave, I’m tired of hearing about 130 million gun owners …etc. So many of these gun owners just have a Ruger 10/22 or a Marlin 60 to shoot those pesky raccoons in the garbage. They are not reading this blog, they are reading PTA news or Farm journal or comic books. The more engaged gun owner has been voting, but alas the numbers are poor. I myself have only been a gun owner for a few years but I try to stay informed, always have. We must reach out to more “casual” gun owners and point out that they also… Read more »

JDL

It’s obvious that you are new to gun ownership with your stated opinion about what many gun owners have. You couldn’t be more incorrect. There are 130 million, or more, gun owners who all need to be voting and involved in protecting our rights. Disparaging those who own guns for purposes different than your own is highly counter-productive.

Finnky

@JDL – have also met many who “just” have a single pistol, a 22 rifle or a single shotgun. Many of the ones I’ve spoken with, do not think “gun control” efforts impact them. I do what I can to provide knowledge, but it can be tough to convince people. Did not read anything in what @PMinFl wrote as being disparaging to other gun owners. Just recognizing that owning a gun does not make someone a firearms enthusiast any more than owning a pair of “running” shoes makes me a runner or an athlete. @PMinFl simply points out that we… Read more »

Jim

I 100 percent agree–have seen some of the actual statistics. A huge percentage of “just” gun owners are actually anti-Second Amendment due to ignorance of what it is about–and the same for how they see or perceive the NRA. Just because one owns a car does not mean they read Hot Rod or know anything about drag racing, formula one or any other car sport or activity–or even want or care to.

jack mac

We can not say enough against Bloomberg, his body guards are worth far more than who they protect. We should not let him distract from other such like minded greedy demigods holding similar wealth. They are the real masters of our public servants.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

A number of years back I’ve gone and hid a couple of rifles, pistols and ammo. IF THEY EVER pull this kind of shit on me, you can expect to read about me in the stinking newspaper.

@CL, However will we know that it is you?

BowserB

Thanks for lightening the mood, Wild Bill.

Terry

Let me guess, all of the black costs following Bloomberg are reformed hippies and are not caring those awful guns.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Naaa…they aren’t carrying guns. They are carrying full auto Glocks and MP5’s and whatever else they can get away with since he is a special animal at the farm. I’d like to stomp his face with my size 15 shoe but unfortunately I’ll never get the chance.

Well those don’t work at 1500yds.

Finnky

@DZ – Nice to use the best tools for the job. Of course that takes considerable skill, that not all possess.

Doszap

True, WAY past time to start if you do not have the skill.(get with it asap)
Not expensive to get a rig that will do it, finding ranges that go to 1k+ are difficult, in urban areas.

PMinFl

There are ,so I read, seven (wow) in NYC. Not much hope there.

Finnky

@PMinFl – I’ve heard seven gun ranges in NYC. That’s total seven ranges, not ranges allowing shooting to 1k+ yards. My unsupported guess is they are all indoors and probably limited to 25 yard pistol and 50 yard rifle. @Dozap was talking about public ranges to 1k+ yards – quite a different proposition. I know of but one within a two hour drive of Dallas. City and suburbs are urban, but Texas still has a fair bit of open space and is a reasonably gun friendly state. If it’s tough to get out there here, cannot imagine what it’s like… Read more »

Finnky

@DZ – Need to mount my 4-12 scope on my Grendel upper. Not a 1500yd round, but retains more energy than 308 past ~500yds. Training and practice are more critical at my skill level. Within a couple hour drive I can find a few 200-500 yard ranges and am aware of one which goes to 1000. Have to demonstrate competency at shorter ranges before they’ll let you shoot that far – and given my skill level am content sticking to short range shooting. Who knows – once I’ve got Grendel going, may get good enough to feel compelled to take… Read more »

RJL

Do What I Say, Not What I Do!..

Mike11C

What a POS! He’s been flooding the air waves with bull shit in the Houston area for the last few months. I throw up a little bit in my mouth every time I hear it. We can’t let him get elected. It’ll result in the American revolution 2.0 within weeks. He’ll pull some tyrannical nonsense and, it’ll be on. No one wants that. Vote Trump 2020! Make them cry again!

Doszap

Spend it,we’re going to kick your ass six ways from SUNDAY.You, being a JEW, should of all people BE FOR gun rights, after seeing what your PEOPLE went through,your an Anathema to this country and to your RACE. This sorry excuse for a human is buying legislators in 12 Red states,NEWSFLASH, buy them all.(VA was peaceful because WE are peaceful, push too far, and you will see the dark side) Make whatever laws you want, we will settle it on the field, and in the cities, and in the hillsides.(WE WILL NOT COMPLY) When 10-20 million Redneck TRUE AMERICAN shooters… Read more »

BowserB

Doszap, you sound as mad as I am!

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

This is why for YEARS I have said that donations for campaigns should be limited to ZERO. People should be elected on their merits, not on their wealth or the wealth of those that support their ideals. Bloomturd will get his. Just a matter of time.

Term Limits…

KenW

We have term limits, its called elections. It up to U. S. to vote the bums out.

RJL

No Comment….

tomcat1483

You have no problem with millions in dark money flowing in from the the Koch ‘s, Peter Thiel and others. But a liberal spending their money the same way is a problem? Your hypocrisy is showing. There are way more conservative billionaires poring their money into politics. They just focus on getting tax cuts and convincing you they are on your side and those evil libs are out to take your guns. So you vote in conservatives who only serve their interests. And they don’t care about guns. They just want more money to themselves and are using you to… Read more »

MICHAEL J

Buying elections must be eliminated everywhere. The reason it’s allowed is obvious, look at all the lifetime career politicians.

RoyD

So you think Koch is a conservative? You are stupid and don’t even know it.

Wild Bill

@t1483, You jump to conclusions. I am sure that the great majority of us are opposed to all political corruption. Although, I do not speak for anyone here, but myself.

Finnky

@WB – In this case, you speak for me as well. @tomcat – No one else had to convince me about demo attitude regarding public firearms ownership. I treat each candidate as an individual and listen to what they have to say. So far, I’d be happy to vote for a dog or goat over all candidates for president. It’s become a case of selecting the least of all evils – and my current plan is to vote in demo primary to reduce risk of the worst of the lot being nominated. Have never heard or read anything good about… Read more »

BowserB

One problem with listening to the candidates is that their political party will prevail in their decision making once elected. One Dem candidate may be pro 2nd Amendment, but once in office, he will vote with the party.

BowserB

You’re at least partly right, tomcat. Interesting thing is, the tax cuts that benefit the rich (Bush and Trump cuts to the estate tax comes to mind for one) have been supported by the Democrats, so it seems the congress is serving the interests of … the congress.

RoyD

Left wing Jew with a lot of money. A dangerous combination. Soros is another.

Dave in Fairfax

RoyD, Left Wing – check, lot of money – check, Soros – check, what’s your point in bringing religion into it? If that was a tell there wouldn’t be any JFPO. Pretty sure that the heads of some of the other orgs are Jewish too. Religion isn’t what matters, it’s the person. Just like guns aren’t what matters, it’s the person behind them. Bringing religion into it just makes us look bad and turns potential friends into enemies.

RoyD

I didn’t realize that I should have to explain that which anyone with a moderate knowledge of history should know. Guess I was wrong. However I am not going to do for you what you should already have done yourself: study history. The good thing is the knowledge is out there in many forms if you wish to enlighten yourself.

Wild Bill

@RoyD, Just a minute, history is an awfully broad subject. One could spend more time reading history than history, itself! I think that you should help us out by referencing us to the part of history that you are writing about.
Better yet, just spit out what you are talking about because you know what is precisely on your own mind, and no one would be in a better position to explain your moderate knowledge of history.

Dave in Fairfax

RoyD, I know a fair amount of history. Your answer doesn’t address what I said. Doszap made a comment and I didn’t say anything because his point was valid. People who have been shot at, one way or another, for 6K years shoulda figured out that shooting back makes sense. My points still stand though. Your broad brush doesn’t make sense. There are lots of pro-2A Jews and lots of anti ones. Same things with every race and religion. Attacking groups rather than individuals doesn’t fix anything, it just makes things worse.

RoyD

Yawn!

BowserB

Agreed, Dave, although attacking one group still is tempting: Socialist Democrat politicians.