Cuomo says Jeb Bush’s pro-gun tweet plays to unfounded fears

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Wednesday that Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush’s pro-gun tweet that has become social media fodder internationally is a “disservice to everyone.”

Under Bush’s Twitter handle, a picture was posted of a dark semi-automatic pistol engraved with “Gov. Jeb Bush” on the slide over the barrel and the simple tweet: “America.” In less than 24 hours it had prompted more than 21,000 retweets. Bush was governor of Florida.

“Too much of the politics is about a race to the bottom and playing on peoples’ fears,” said Cuomo, who has been a surrogate for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid. “What are you saying? You are really playing to peoples’ fears in the worst sense … nobody is saying people shouldn’t be allowed to carry a gun.”

Cuomo brought New York its most restrictive gun control measure in his SAFE Act, which included a further ban on assault weapons and more registration. It was strongly opposed by Republicans in polls. Cuomo called them “extremists.”

“I am a gun owner,” Cuomo said after a press event in Harlem to support his proposal for paid family leave. “It is a false fear that they raise to motivate their voting public and I think it does a disservice to everyone … I don’t think it works politically.”

By Michael Gormley

michael.gormley@newsday.com@GormleyAlbany

Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.