De Blasio Joins Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Pledges Aggressive Action
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has joined the pro-gun control group started by his predecessor.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns was started by Michael Bloomberg and former Boston Mayor Tom Menino in 2006.
The national bipartisan coalition includes mayors from 43 states pushing for "commonsense gun laws."
De Blasio pledged to aggressively work locally and on the national level to combat illegal gun sales and gun trafficking.
"We are taking every step within our power to protect our people, and we need our leaders in Washington and other states across the country to do the same. Mayor Bloomberg took on this fight when few others would, and today we are safer for it. He built a national movement for commonsense gun control - one I am proud to join. We are going to force this issue on the national stage to protect New Yorkers from the illegal guns flooding into our city," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
LINK: Mayors Against Illegal Guns
According to the group, 33 people are killed by guns in the U.S. every day.
"Mayors are on the front lines of preventing gun violence in their communities and they know better than anybody else the daily toll of gun violence in our cities and towns," said Bloomberg. "As a New Yorker, it is particularly meaningful to me that Mayor de Blasio is joining our effort to curb gun violence. As Mayor, he understands that commonsense gun laws are vital to that success - but gun violence is a national problem that must be addressed by our leaders in Washington. Mayor de Blasio and the other new mayors who join our coalition strengthen our efforts to end the bloodshed."
Mayors Against Illegal Guns has called on Congress to pass a measure requiring universal background checks for all gun purchases and to make drug trafficking a federal crime.
The coalition has also urged federal lawmakers to pass stronger laws to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns was very vocal in the aftermath of the Newtown shooting and the subsequent push for universal background checks and other gun control measures.
Bloomberg also took on the issue of gun trafficking, online gun sales and straw purchases, noting that most guns used in crimes in New York City come from out of state.
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