Biden, Bloomberg Lead Charge To Shame Congress On Gun Control
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There was an emotional plea for gun control Thursday from relatives of the Newtown massacre victims.
Standing with Vice President Joe Biden and Mayor Michael Bloomberg at City Hall they said they're ashamed of Congress for caving to the gun lobby, CBS 2's Marcia Kramer reported.
Biden On Gun Control: 'Think About Newtown'
Don't you remember the heartbreak of the Newton massacre? That was the message delivered to Washington lawmakers by parents who lost their children on that bleak morning 97 days ago.
"Quite honestly, I'm really ashamed to see that Congress doesn't have the guts to stand up and make a change and put out a ban on these type of weapons," Neil Heslin said.
Heslin's son, Jesse Lewis, was murdered at Newtown and he is furious that Senate Democrats have dropped the assault weapons ban from the gun control package they plan to consider next month.
"No child deserves to be murdered or brutally slaughtered the way these children were," Heslin said.
Watch: Full Biden, Bloomberg News Conference On Gun Control
Lynn McDonnell said that after her 7-year-old daughter, Grace, was murdered there was a sense that Newtown would be a "tipping point" that would finally result in changes.
"For those of you who are inclined for whatever reason, are inclined to do very little in support of gun control, we ask you to try to gain your new perspective by thinking about the unthinkable, which is, unfortunately, our reality," McDonnell said.
The Newtown families joined Mayor Bloomberg and Vice President Biden at a City Hall press conference to pressure Washington.
Biden attacked lawmakers for caving to the gun lobby on assault weapons.
"It must be awful being in public office and concluding that even though you might believe that you should take action that you can't take action because of the political consequences you face. What a heck of a way of make a living," Biden said.
Biden Talks Gun Control In New York City
Biden is up against lawmakers like Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.
"Why would we want to make an otherwise law-abiding citizen into a criminal if they want to use these weapons to defend themselves and their families?" Cornyn said on March 14.
"I'm not going to try to put something on the floor that won't succeed. I want something that will succeed," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (D-Nev.) said.
The National Rifle Association campaigned against a ban, and many Republican lawmakers also opposed it.
Mayor Bloomberg urged voters to call their representatives in Washington and tell them that if they do not support gun control they will vote for someone else, no matter who they are or their party affiliation.
He said Congress has to get some courage and it's up to Americans to give it to them.
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