A couple of comments from Mayor Bloomberg's event today really struck a chord with me. The Mayor said, "We are killing each other. And we're the only industrialized country in the world doing it." And the mother of a shooting victim who met with the Mayor said, "We can't allow a society to kill our children."

Think about these remarks for a minute. We are a nation that prides itself in leading the way when it comes to so many social issues, yet we cannot figure out how to save the lives of our children from guns. Our Congressional lawmakers need to think of those innocent faces the next time they try to play politics on the House and Senate floors.

On the same day funeral services were held in Connecticut for two of the six-year-old victims of Friday’s shooting, elected officials in New York renew their calls for tighter federal gun control laws. Governor Cuomo said he’ll propose state gun laws to close loopholes related to assault rifles, but a tougher federal law is needed to crack down on the interstate transport of guns. The Governor also said New York should re-evaluate its mental health system. State Republicans argue stricter penalties and mandatory minimum sentences are necessary to stop the influx of illegal guns.

Mayor Bloomberg also reiterated his call for Congress and President Obama to reform gun legislation. He gathered at City Hall today with dozens of people whose lives, or the lives of their relatives, have been affected by gun violence around the country. They're sending videos to lawmakers telling their stories.

Meanwhile, a Justice Department official tells the Associated Press the agency is investigating new ways to curb gun violence, including expanding and automating the federal databases used in background checks on gun purchasers. What ideas do you have to reduce gun violence?

Will the Connecticut massacre actually bring reform to gun laws? Should the issue be dealt with on a national level? Do you support strengthening the state ban on assault weapons? Are stricter penalties and mandatory minimum sentences the answer? Does the State need to re-evaluate its mental health system?

Send your thoughts using the e-mail link above.

One idea is to stop glamorizing guns. You see signs all over the streets, subways, in magazines and on TV advertising movies and TV shows, and some of the actors,and/or actresses are wearing sexy garb and shooting guns. I have an actress friend who goes to a shooting range to learn how to shoot a gun, so that she could get some roles. I hear young men walking down the street talk about what guns they have and who got shot, as though it is something to be proud of.

Rosalie from Canarsie

One person tries to make a bomb out of a shoe, and now we ALL have to remove our shoes to get on a plane. But NOTHING has been done to stop the maniacs going into a school, or movie theatre, or shopping mall from killing innocent victims whose only crime was to be in the wrong place at the wrong time!

Dina and Edwin from Throggs Neck

Guns don't kill people. People kill people. Ban guns and killers will find another way. A bomb, a stick of dynamite, a tank of poisonous gas. Bloomberg and others want to disarm us, taking away one, perhaps most effective means of defending ourselves against the likes of Lanza.

If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Look at states that allow concealed carry. Gun crime is way down in those states. Read the book More Guns, Less Crime by John Lott.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

One thing all these tragic deaths unfortunately have in common is the high tech weaponry that are used to kill innocent people, so to begin with lets pass gun control laws that will ban the use of these deadly weapons that are meant only for warfare.

Felix Bay Ridge

What happened with the other catastrophes that have taken place?
Now everyone of the politicians want to take on these problems all at once. Much of these problems start in the home with the parents and or guardians. Children need a lot of attention and can not be pushed aside or ignored.

This Bloomberg is in the middle of everything. What! He has nothing else to do but get on this train. There are to many illegal guns and that’s the problem not the legal weapons. To many people that have metal problems of one kind or another have been made by an ex governor Pataki out patients to save money. Shorter sentences for inmates to save money.

One can go on and on because all of these causes are to numerous to mention and take care of because this is like a falling bridge and when when it collapses then we worry about it.

All of you politicians have done a very good job ruining this city just for their own selfishness.

I can speak because most of my family lived in up-state New York and I know what I am talking about when I speak of weapons of all kind.

Fire arms, rifles, bow and arrows, knives and you name it.

Now you speak of people gathering that have lost family to weapons and I can tell you that with my families background a first cousin of mine was in the Navy and he was murdered at age 17 and I and the family still choke and fill up with tears for him. A kid well over 6ft tall serving his country and died like that. So I'm not being difficult nor am I being heartless but my uncles all were sportsman and also they did fend for food. The way he was found was he was left on a ball field in Florida where he was stationed for 16 hours and came back home to us in a glass coffin.

In closing although I could go on and on but I have yet to see this Bloomberg stand up to us face to face without someone else behind him.

He has no guts. He talks and nothing comes out.

Thank you,

maxxiee
mp

Well first off, who manufactures automatic weapons and WHY are they permitted to be sold to the average citizen, for what purpose would someone like myself require the need to own such a weapon? That's where gun reform legislation needs to be addressed. The government seems to know how to make it mandatory for companies to provide health care to employees or what size soft drink you're allowed to purchase, but they can't make it mandatory for gun manufacturers to limit the sale of automatic weapons to ONLY the government for the sole use by military or police! LUDICROUS!

Terry
Hamilton Beach, Queens

illegal guns are the a major part of problem 10 years minimum would help, also there is no need for more than a 9 shot clip. If you are found with a clip with more than 9 shots should be a 10 year also. and i am a republican pro 2nd amendment .

In this case it is the mother's fault also she should have had all guns locked up

tom
Richmondtown

My feelings about gun control are summed up in this article below from CNN. On the very same day in China, a man walked into an elementary school and attacked children but because he had no access to a gun, he used a knife. 22 children were attacked, 2 had serious injuries and there were no fatalities. There is no reason for anyone besides law enforcement or the military to have assault weapons.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/15/world/asia/china-us-school-attack/index.html?iref=allsearch

Thanks,
Ted from LES

We are well overdue in re-evaluating the Second Amendment, especially regarding the manufacturing and sales! for God sake!, of weapons that are not intended for hunting or protection but for military offense.

Until we come to terms with this reality, innocents will continue perishing to trigger-happy maniacal anti socials and their exponential network provided by the media.

Rafael
Bushwick, Brooklyn

The same day in China 22 elementary children were attacked and slashed with a knife welding attacker.

U.S. media attention to both atrocities would surely have switched the knee jerk reaction conversation from the ownership of knives to searching for what we can do to help the potential perpetrators and save the children.

Wes
Lower East Side
10002

America needs to repent

Jachin

GUN LAWS. MS. LANZA FOLLOWED THE LAW FOR PURCHASING THE WEAPONS AND AMMO USED IN THE SANDY HOOK SHOOTINGS.

THE GUN LAWS ALSO WORKED WHEN HER SON ATTEMPTED TO PURCHASE HIS OWN GUNS. HE WAS REBUFFED WHEN HE DID NOT WANT TO FOLLOW THE WAITING PERIOD.
GUN LAWS WORKED IN BOTH CIRCUMSTANCES. I FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE A LIMIT IN THE AMOUNT OF AMMO ONE COULD PURCHASE.

GUN SHOW RULES NEED TO BE BETTER REVISED, AND OUT OF STATE PURCHASES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.

RETINA SCANS SHOULD BE THE ONLY SECURE WAY OF SAFEGUARDING WEAPONS IN FIREARM SAFES.

TO HELL WITH MEANINGLESS GUN LAWS. COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS INSTEAD.

JOE, BAY TERRACE

No, I don't expect gun reform this year. If JFK's assassination and the attempt on Reagan's life didn't change things, why should this?I don't understand it but that's the way of things.

Penny from Midwood Brooklyn

A nation mourns after the alleged shooter Adam Lanza shot and killed 27 people, twenty of them children whose only wish was what they would get for Christmas. Sandy Hook elementary in Newtown, Connecticut have experience horror that they could not believe would be happening in their own town. In my opinion I feel this was a most senseless killing by a deranged young man who was the personification of pure evil. And yet I wonder didn't anyone see this coming. Those interviewed said he was a most trouble individual whom some said they were afraid of him. The question many of us are asking how do guns capable of killing 27 people get into the hands of demented individuals. Parents should not have to worry about sending their children to school and wonder will they return in coffins. President Obama has said after this event both political parties must address this issue. I grieve today with the families of those killed and pray they will be comforted and find the strength to go on. Remember this too: Evil thrives when good people do nothing.

Freddy-Glen Oaks Village

Bloomberg is milking this tragedy for all he is worth, same as he did with Sandy. I don't detect much genuine sympathy for the victims in his grandstanding, though.

Frances
East Village

Sell bullets at $5,000 each. It's going to cost a lot of money for someone to risk shooting someone at 5 grand a shot. Better be worth the money.

Edwin

The politicians that allowed the Assault Weapon gun ban to expire have the blood of those children from Newtown on their hands. Every politician who opposed the ban needs to be exposed!

Ralph

I am heartbroken and deeply saddened over this horrible massacre, all these little, beautiful , innocent children, forever gone, all those unopened Christmas presents at the bottom of the tree, all these kids that will not go home anymore. Like Elvis once sang: "It's a blue, blue Christmas for me "

Carmen, Bay Ridge

1. Finally overcome the greatest lobbying effort in our history sponsored by the NRA.
2. Find a member of the NRA willing to be your first voice and explain why people really, really need a military assault rifle - not just "they have a right to that"
3. Use education to deliver the notion to our children that we must love one another or die....did Adam Lanza's mom teach him that when she took him to target practice?

Gil in Hell's Kitchen

What are we so angry about, hateful toward and afraid of as a society that we feel we need to be armed with a gun? We hide behind the right to bare arms, but in reality there is nothing brave in owning a gun. We are destroying ourselves. Human beings are the most destructive, depraved animals on the planet. We feel the enemy is out there, but the enemy is within. If this does not bring reform what else would it take?

Alvonia
South Ozone Park

Ordinary people do not need assault riffles. They should be used only by law enforcement, for hunting or in times of war.

Joann

I am concern about after the Connecticut Mass Shooting that the politician wants now to take action. This has been discussed in the past and nothing has been done. My question is what is a parent doing when handing a gun to a child and teaching them how to shoot at any given age.

I feel that if guns is going to be allow in the home with permits, The person purchasing a firearm should be mentally evaluated including people and children who reside with them

Sandr

I urge American family rise up to the training of children in the fear of God and curtail children liberty by monitoring their sense of reasoning.

demasterroyalguards

I believe that the Mother is the blame. Guns should not be at home. Why not require guns be securely locked at a location/facility and the only way to take out is with ID for a certain amount of time only.

Nina

I was just thinking..when you take your kids to school..and the door closes you feel like...okay now I can go to work go home or take care of my business because my kids are safe!. They are in" the right place a place where they are going to have fun, learn do positive things." Sadly..that is not the case anymore. Another thing that I was thinking is that everytime I saw a homeless or someone looking like that I was scared and start running thinking they will do something bad to me, but never thought a skinny anorexic evil individual will do something like that, ..the homeless will not have the means to buy all those weapons.The truth is i have many things to say, i have no connection with those poor families but i tell you........t.his weekend was the worst weekend in my entire life.

Juarez