Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor's Misfire

When Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor accepted the invitation of liberal Republican New York City Mayor Michael (RINO) Bloomberg to attend his summit on illegal guns (or his illegal summit on gun control, as some put it) and consort with Bloomberg and other gun control advocates, she gave any future political opponents all the ammunition they need. Taylor, a Democrat who defeated incumbent Republican Bill LaFortune earlier this year, portrayed the Gracie Mansion event as being all about crime control and getting illegal guns off the streets. Partially true. There was a lot of talk about illegal guns and criminals, but the underlying theme was gun control. Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo briefed the mayors on the status of New York City's litigation against gun manufacturers; in essence, the city is trying to end the manufacture of firearms, a pretty basic gun control measure. It is opposed by the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America and just about every other group that defends the 2nd Amendment. The mayors also were briefed on efforts in Jersey City, NJ, where a gun buyback program (a favorite PR tool of the gun control crowd) resulted in "900 potentially dangerous weapons off the streets...." What the briefer didn't say is that these were legally-owned firearms; none of them came from criminals. The mayor of Philadelphia bragged about that city's efforts to restrict the "availability of firearms." Again, basic gun-grabber code for gun control. Taylor put the best spin she could on the summit, saying, "Crime has no place in our city. The Tulsa Police Department has developed a plan consisting of immediate tactics and longer term strategies. I am anxious to learn how other cities have been successful in combating violent crime and to share what has been successful in Tulsa. Only by uniting across America can we solve the problem." Her spin was matched by the compliant Tulsa World, a liberal publication that treats Taylor with kid gloves and joined her in describing the summit as being about crime and criminals. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, a classic liberal, told the attendees a story about a sixth grade class in which 9 out of 10 pupils knew where they could find a gun. He didn't say how they knew, or if the guns were in their own homes, but his point was clear: There are too many guns out there. Again, the classic gun control mantra. Bloomberg himself has, WCBS Radio in New York reported, "zeroed in on gun control as a priority for his second term. Bloomberg recently testified before Congress with harsh words against a bill that would prevent authorities from being able to share gun trace data with local governments. Some municipalities had used the information to launch lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers." Again, the classic liberal position that if gun manufacturers and gun dealers can be shut down, or scared out of business, gun control is a done deal. Taylor's judgment in consorting with Bloomberg and the other gun control advocates struck some Oklahoma Democratic insiders and political consultants as odd. "What a poor choice for a woman with obvious statewide ambitions," said one well-known and respected Democratic campaign consultant who works for several of the state's top elected officials upon learning of her participation. "I heard about that," said another Democrat consultant with the promise of anonymity. "I was stunned. I don't know what she was thinking." What Taylor may not know is that she and the 14 other mayors who attended the summit are now under the constant scrutiny of numerous conservative groups opposed to any form of gun control, especially attempts by Bloomberg and others to shut down the American firearms industry. Her participation, and the event, is a regular (hot) topic of discussion on the NRA's Internet and Sirius Satellite Radio show, "Cam and Company" that airs to a wide national audience weeknights from 8 to 11 p.m. CDT. Should Taylor seek higher elective office in gun-friendly Oklahoma (where polls historically have shown opposition to gun control), she might study the 1994 Jim Inhofe-Dave McCurdy U. S. Senate race in which Inhofe battered McCurdy on the issue and carried heavily Democratic areas as a result. Smart Democrats today embrace the 2nd Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms; current examples are Congressman Dan Boren, D-2nd District, and Governor Brad Henry, campaigning for reelection this year with the endorsement of the Oklahoma Rifle Association.

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