Presidential contender Michael Bloomberg (D) has made gun control a significant part of his campaign, and his plan has received some blowback from gun rights advocates.
Jack Wilson — the security guard who stopped a shooting at a West Freeway Church of Christ in Texas on December 29 — said at a church on Sunday that under Bloomberg’s plan, there would have been an “extremely more severe” outcome as a result of the shooting, according to The Dallas Morning News.
“If we were operating under Bloomberg’s position, we wouldn’t have had any guns in there,” Wilson said, adding, “The outcome would have been extremely more severe than it was.”
In response to Wilson’s comments, Bloomberg’s campaign said that the shooter would not have had a gun in the first place.
“Mr. Wilson certainly acted bravely, but the killer had a history of violence and mental health issues, and under Mike’s plan, he would never (have) had a gun.”
Bloomberg’s gun control policy expands background checks, implements “red flag screenings,” and requires prospective gun owners to get a permit in an effort to prevent criminals and individuals with histories of violence and mental health issues from obtaining firearms.
He previously defended his proposal, noting that people have to register to vote even though that is a constitutional right.
“Now I know critics will say that Americans shouldn’t need a permit to exercise their constitutional rights. But voting is a constitutional right, and we require people to register to protect the rights of all citizens, and this exactly the same idea because a criminal with a gun can destroy our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
But Wilson discounted the idea that the so-called red flag laws would prevent individuals with malicious intent from getting a gun, “If somebody wants a gun, they can get it whenever they want, red flag laws or not.”
Shortly after the shooting in Texas, Bloomberg argued that it’s the job of law enforcement to carry firearms and protect the public — not private citizens.
“It’s the job of law enforcement to have guns and to decide when to shoot,” Bloomberg said. “You just do not want the average citizen carrying a gun in a crowded place.”
Wilson was recently awarded the Governor’s Medal of Courage by Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) for responding to and stopping the gunman at West Freeway Church of Christ, as IJR has previously reported.
