2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumSanders Takes A Swipe At O'Mally On Gun Control: Baltimore Isn't Very Safe
en. Bernie Sanders checked after Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley touted his record gun control in the state, reminding the governor that Baltimore is hardly one of the safest cities in America.
OMalley was responding to a question about his record on gun control during Saturdays Democratic presidential debate, saying he passed comprehensive gun safety legislation that included provisions mandating background checks and a ban on assault weapons.
We got it done in my state by leading with principle, and thats what we need to do as a country, the Maryland governor finished.
Sanders cut in to check OMalleys framing on the reforms, saying: With all due respect, I think its fair to say Baltimore is not now one of the safest cities in America.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bernie-sanders-martin-omalley-baltimore
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)I admit it. We need broad sweeping cultural reforms. A single person can't accomplish that. No matter how much legislation they pass to limit the damage of guns.
Freddie Stubbs
(29,853 posts)O'Malley record as governor is fair gain.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)That was still kinda mean though.
nc4bo
(17,651 posts)dsc
(52,166 posts)and right out of the NRA playbook. It is the biggest reason I have a problem with Sanders, his gun record is admittedly not all the NRA wants but his rhetoric is just about all the NRA wants.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)DemocratSinceBirth
(99,714 posts)EOM
Freddie Stubbs
(29,853 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)But even if he gets ALL of O'Malley's votes and ALL of the "undecided" votes, I think it's not going to be enough to win the nomination.
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)dsc
(52,166 posts)just like the NRA does.
Freddie Stubbs
(29,853 posts)workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)The NRA loves that, no doubt.
Music to their ears. SMH
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Baltimore doesn't stand a chance when people from overwhelmingly white communities decide guns aren't their problem. It is one of the most selfish and irresponsible positions anyone today can take. Sanders made it clear, the problem with guns are in inner cities, not his rural state. What he doesn't get is that when these places determine the problem isn't theirs, yet their guns make it into inner cities, they are actually promoting the violence. Truly low on Sanders part here.
elleng
(131,141 posts)bigtree
(86,005 posts)...again.
This is a familiar argument he's making to Marylanders. It's standard conservative fare in my state to point to crime in Baltimore as proof that one of the most strict gun safety bills in the nation enacted under Gov. O'Malley hasn't made a difference.
But, it's sophistry for gun safety legislation opponents (as Sanders has been in the past) to point to state difficulties achieving results when there's a virtual sieve of guns flowing into these states which have enacted reforms from neighboring states which haven't. That's why O'Malley and others have been fighting for national legislation and a uniform policy of gun control.
As for O'Malley's tenure and crime record as Mayor of Baltimore (which ended over a decade ago)...
Fact Check:
One of O'Malley's favorite stump speech lines is about the drop in crime rates in Baltimore when he was the city's mayor. Frequently in speeches, interviews and even his Reddit Ask Me Anything Q&A, he touts that for a 10-year period after he became mayor, the city achieved the "biggest reduction" in crimes (which he sometimes specifies as Part 1 crimes) in any major city in America.
O'Malley served as mayor of Baltimore from 1999 through 2006, and was Maryland governor from 2007 to 2015.
O'Malley is referring to 1999-2009 data from the FBI, which tracks crimes reported to law enforcement agencies. Part 1 crimes are serious crimes that are likely to be reported to police, and are divided into violent and property crimes. These crimes include criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, arson and motor vehicle theft.
At The Fact Checker, we often are critical of politicians bragging about successes during their term such as job gains and drops in crime that can result from numerous factors out of their control. But O'Malley uses a specific measurement of FBI data, and his claim about Part 1 crime rates from 1999-2009 check out. It is to his credit that he references this wonky measurement most of the time in his statements, when most politicians would be tempted to drop that caveat.
FBI data confirm his calculation. The overall crime rate (the number of crimes per 100,000 people) fell by 48 percent during that decade, more than any other large police agency in the country. Specifically for violent crimes, the Baltimore City Police Department saw the third highest drop (behind Los Angeles and New York City) during the period.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)MOAR GUNZ??
sophistry for gun safety legislation opponents (as Sanders has been in the past) to point to state difficulties achieving results when there's a virtual sieve of guns flowing into these states which have enacted reforms from neighboring states which haven't. That's why O'Malley and others have been fighting for national legislation and a uniform policy of gun control!
Darb
(2,807 posts)What gives? It is easy to support rural gun owners without using douchebagger NRA dishonest talking points.
Come on, Bern.
elleng
(131,141 posts)and a uniform policy of gun control, GOT IT???
Vattel
(9,289 posts)Bernie is not advocating for more guns. That is obvious. Those up thread suggesting that he is are sliming him.