Bloomberg-funded advocates organize ‘Urgent Gun Safety Presidential Forum’

Three advocacy groups funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg have organized an instant “Urgent Gun Safety Presidential Forum,” set for Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa. The event has already attracted a half dozen Democratic hopefuls who include Sens. Bernard Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar.

Attendees also include former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro; and Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington — with more expected.

The host groups include Everytown For Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action — which all grew out of Mayors Against Guns, founded and funded by Mr. Bloomberg in 2006.

The forum will feature representatives and volunteers from the trio of organizations plus survivors of gun violence.

“They will gather in Des Moines to learn about each candidate’s action plans to address gun violence in the wake of the recent mass shootings and the daily gun violence that kills 100 people every day and wounds hundreds more,” the organizers said in a statement.

“There has never been a more urgent time for 2020 candidates to tell Americans exactly how they will address gun violence,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Americans need to focus on the role the next president and our other elected officials will play in determining the safety of our children.”

“There is not a parent left in America who isn’t terrified that their child could be next,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, who says her group “will be out in force to support candidates we know will prioritize public safety.”