Bloomberg Plans $50-Million Network to Push Gun Control

Media mogul Michael Bloomberg will pump $50-million into building a grass-roots advocacy network on gun violence that he hopes will challenge the National Rifle Association’s political clout, The New York Times reports.

The effort marks the billionaire philanthropist’s first major political initiative since his 12-year tenure as New York’s mayor ended Jan. 1. He outlined plans to bring gun-control groups he already finances under a new umbrella organization, Everytown for Gun Safety, and to focus less on advertising than on field operations to mobilize like-minded voters, particularly women and mothers.

The $50-million investment would be 2½ times what the NRA has spent annually in recent years on political activities. Mr. Bloomberg said gun-control backers need to take a lesson from the gun-rights group and punish politicians who do not support their agenda on firearms, even if their views align on other issues. “We’ve got to make them afraid of us,” he said.