Giuliani's gun rules had nothing to do with it. Those muggers weren't licensed, nor could they buy a gun anywhere else. Do you realize that? Rudy took the guns away from the law abiding citizens. Sure, you can have a gun, if your the mayor's good buddy. Otherwise no. Did the muggers use semi-auto rifles? No they didn't. Are citizen's allowed effective self defence against muggers? No!
"I understand in the rural areas of the country gun laws seem nonsensical "
This is ridiculous. It doesn't matter where you live. Do you think your law abiding fellows are out to get ya? You have no idea how many people have guns and live in the city. They're never noticed. All those other States that have conceal carry laws aren't shoot 'em ups ville, like your claim would suggest. They are city areas, and if a law abiding gun owner shoots someone, it's a mugger, rapist, robber, home invader, ect.
"I believe in the second amendment."
No you don't. You think "shall not be infringed", means infringe at will.
The point of gun control is to keep guns in the hands of law abiding citizens, who like you said pose no threat to society, and to keep them out of the hands of criminals, thugs, gangs, etc. The way to do that is to make sure you have standards so law abiding citizens can purchase them and to get illegal guns off of the streets.
As much as I disagree with Bloomberg and I think he is going too far, but I don't know how any conservative regardless of how pro 2nd amendment they are could oppose ridding the streets of illegal weapons.