Mayor Bloomberg defended the NYPD's Stop, Question and Frisk policy today, but that's not really what's newsworthy about his comments, considering he's done that numerous times before. What he also said was: "We are not racist...we look to see where the crimes are committed, and then we go to those neighborhoods. That's where most of our police officers are deployed..."

Mayor Bloomberg, it would be nice to think no one is racist, but that's simply not the case. Police officers, like any other person walking the street, are not immune to bias. They take their upbringing, opinions and experiences with them on the beat. And, let's face it, some of those attitudes reflect who is stopped and who is not.

Mayor Bloomberg had a series of high-profile meetings in Washington today to push for stricter gun control laws. Bloomberg met with Vice President Joe Biden and four senators on the same day the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several gun bills, including a ban on assault weapons.

Lawmakers in Washington are considering stricter background checks and bans on certain style weapons in the wake of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Mayor Bloomberg said those he met with "generally had a feeling that the tone has changed in the country."

When it comes to getting illegal guns off the streets, Bloomberg praised the NYPD's controversial Stop, Question and Frisk policy. He said it's "taught these kids you cannot walk the streets and carry a gun, because the likelihood of you getting stopped is great." What do you say?

What's your reaction to Mayor Bloomberg's trip to Washington to fight for more gun control legislation? If you were invited to one of these meetings, what reforms would you push for? Do you support police stops as a way to get illegal guns off the streets?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

I guess he has already paid the $500,000 fee to have his meetings at the White House.
So all this time and money and persistence by this dictator he still hasn't accomplished what he feels should be the outcome.

WHY CAN'T WE KNOW THE SENATORS THAT WERE AT THAT MEETING. [SNEAKYYYYYYYY] I hope everything stays as is and he should be in New York worrying about our problems and not someone else's and keep his nose out of other peoples business.

BY THE WAY HE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR THE SEAT LEFT EMPTY BY JESSIE JACKSON, JR.
Behind the scenes he is influencing many elections with his money.

People are getting mighty restless with all of these politicians that are just working for themselves and not us.

maxxiee
mp

The stop, question and frisk law is a direct violation of 4th Amendment to the US Constitution. It is a warrantless search which is prohibited by law.

Any police officer who conducts such a search should be fired from the force. Bloomberg should be prosecuted as an accomplice to the crime.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

And who are these "kids" of which the mayor speaks of , the majority of which are stopped harassed and set free, members of minority groups when in fact the majority of mass killings happens randomly at the hands of white males.

Felix Bay Ridge

If I were invited to one of these meetings I'd push for all of them to have an MRI of the brain, I don't think theirs are working AT ALL. Ever since talk of stricter gun laws began there have been nothing but reports of shootings all across the country, what makes them think criminals give a damn about new laws when they don't abide by the current laws!

Terry
Hamilton Beach

What? What is this? Why is "Mayor" Bloomberg in Washington, meeting with people? He a City Mayor, he is NOT A GOVERNOR, A SENATOR, A LOBBYIST, What is he doing down there I wonder? I don't know what to say anymore, I really don't, no one is where they are supposed to be or functioning in the respective positions in government. Everyone is all over the place seeking to legislate. This is wrong, this just so wrong.

Eileen

I applaud the mayor for staying on gun control (esp. for keeping handguns in the conversation, not just assault weapons). I think he should place less emphasis/money on stop and frisk, however, and get more cops walking regular beats in a positive way. Simultaneously, if we tackle poverty, and lift everyone up, a lot of our gun violence will disappear - in NYC, anyway. Right now, though, people are marginalized, hungry, unskilled, under-educated and living in substandard housing...and they are pissed. That is a bad setting for a gun to land in.

I also think that the ATF needs to have its authority restored. The Republicans seem to have decimated that.

Anni
Manhattan

I support prayer in schools. When you took it out of schools, the public schools went down and so did the morality of a huge portion of the youth. Separation of church and state is a misreading of the first amendment.

Immoral people with arms are a threat not decent law abiding ones.

Alan from Midwood

While I am certainly an advocate for gun control, it is important to remember that both the Sandy Hook massacre and the Colorado theatre (batman) massacre were both accomplished with legally purchased weapons and ammunition. It is the horrific images of these tragedies which haunt us-which compel us to do SOMETHING. I don't advocate assault weapons. But we should really address mental illness where these cases are concerned- both shooters we in fact mentally ill and had access to these guns. Most gun deaths are not from assault weapons and that's what really does need to be addressed.

Why not make trafficking, selling or possessing an illegal gun (of any kind) a crime that is punishable with jail time? Minimum 10 years. Make an example of some- but save our innocent children & bystanders and send a message to gangs that this won't be tolerated on our watch.

Unfortunately stop and frisk does work to a degree- but it needs to be implemented properly- with respect. Do you remember last summer- a shooting every other night.... peaceful marches and candlelight vigils will not change this.

Marie / Bayridge

I'm very sad people die every year from gun violence. . I think though government cant protect us from cradle to grave ... laws only effect law abiding citizens. . I don't think this is about keeping citizens safe and in a capitalistic system I don't see how anyone would trust any decision they make ; Special interest bought Capitol Hill a long time ago an so many people know it now ...

The system is failing an they want to unarm the people ...Period!!! The Banksters and special interests know more an more people are aware of their shananagans an the American people will fight

Angel

Stop & Frisk is only legal if they are investigating a crime that has already happened or if the person can be reasonably assumed to be involved with crime. But we all know that's not what's happening with Stop & Frisk. They simply target young male blacks & Hispanics in high crime areas, and that's unConstitutional.

-Dan from Rego Park

The trip to Washington by Mayor Bloomberg is a joke; he is trying to make this the world according to his views. He like Gov. Cuomo ceded on a terrible moment to push an agenda that would never had passed any other time, they are opportunistic parasites. Most people including the ones calling in have no idea about the guns that they speak about or about what the Senators are trying to do to the 2nd Amendment. I served my country and have a right to own a gun if I choose it is a right granted to me by the constitution and it is not a privilege.

Anonymous

I want to own a gun to protect my establishment and to protect my family. Why? Because I'm a convicted felon. I've been out of trouble four 15yrs and turned my life around. That's when I'm glad I can be able to purchase in the streets or change the law to non violet offenders being allowed to purchase a gun.

Jackie

Let's look at the pattern of the mass shooters:

-emotionally disturbed and untreated
-bullied at school
-neglected or abused by their parents
-easy access to arsenals
-a media frenzy after each shooting that turns the shooter into an anti-hero
-a govt and society that loves guns

I blame video games.

Jordan
Flushing

If stop & frisk is not based on race but rather the zip code, i.e high crime areas then the number of white males stopped in Central Harlem would have increased considering the influx of whites in recent years yet it has not.

Lamyus
midtown

When I was on the job there was no Stop Question and Frisk quota. I think Mike from Staten is wrong.

Kate
Midtown East
retired NYPD

i am totally shocked that the mayor who appeared to be intelligent is wanting gun control. okay, don't drink big sodas - lets really control people - like ?????. lets take all the rights away from the states.

my little brother was murdered by criminals that had guns. register the criminals - not the public that are granted by the second amendment the right to bear arms. what is wrong with this country? people kill people, not guns.

gay rights, abortion, etc. are the rights of the people. same sex marriage, abortion, let people chose - our government was founded on this.

the present government should take care of the debt, war, etc.... LEAVE THE PEOPLE ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what happened to states rights?

what happened to people and states's rights.... we have none. leave us alone and save the country. stop giving money to people that hate us and take care of of our own people in need.

it appears the mayor is against the second amendment as well as the president.

let's outlaw cars and trucks, especially the ones that are automatic - just like the guns...

Janet