Gun-control activist David Hogg found himself in the headlines again this week after taking a swipe at a CNN commentator during a live discussion on the New York City mayoral race.
Appearing on CNN Newsroom, Hogg, president of the political group Leaders We Deserve, clashed with Senior Political Commentator Scott Jennings over the rise of Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old Democratic socialist who has just been elected New York City’s next mayor.
“People Are Tired of Being Lectured by Men with Rolexes”
During the exchange, Hogg praised Mamdani’s grassroots strategy and threw a jab at Jennings in the process.
“There’s a lot to be learned from this race,” Hogg said. “One of the things Zohran did is go to voters and ask, ‘What do you want to see?’”
“People are tired of being lectured by men with Rolexes on CNN about affordability in this country,” he added. “That’s the real reason he’s resonating right now.”
Jennings, a Kentucky-based Republican strategist and CNN regular, didn’t respond directly to the comment, but the exchange quickly lit up social media.
A New Mayor, Same Old Message on Guns
Mamdani, who will be the first Muslim, first South Asian, and youngest New York City mayor in more than a century, has made his position on gun ownership clear long before his victory speech.
In a 2022 post on X (formerly Twitter), Mamdani wrote bluntly:
“We need to ban all guns.”
We need to ban all guns.
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) May 24, 2022
That message, paired with his Democratic Socialist platform, drew strong opposition from Second Amendment supporters throughout the campaign.
Nonetheless, Mamdani celebrated Tuesday night, telling supporters in Brooklyn,
“My friends, tonight we have toppled a political dynasty.”
According to the Associated Press, Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Analysis: The Optics vs. The Policy
Hogg’s defense of Mamdani and his attack on Jennings highlight a broader divide: class rhetoric versus constitutional rights.
Mamdani’s “ban all guns” stance may appeal to progressive voters in New York. But it clashes head-on with national trends favoring concealed carry, state-level constitutional carry laws, and the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision reaffirming public carry rights.
For gun owners outside the five boroughs, the political contrast couldn’t be sharper: while Hogg mocks “men with Rolexes,” New Yorkers just elected a mayor who’s openly committed to erasing the right to own a firearm.
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! ***
Read the full article here
