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Mayor Bill de Blasio Joins Mayors Against Illegal Guns

January 30, 2014

CONTACT: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov, (212) 788-2958

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio today joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the national bipartisan coalition of mayors across the United States fighting for commonsense gun laws that will save lives by keeping illegal guns out of dangerous hands.

Mayor de Blasio pledged that his administration will aggressively pursue measures both locally and in Washington to combat gun trafficking and illegal gun sales. The mayor committed to working with New York City’s congressional delegation to advance new laws increasing penalties for straw purchases of guns, and increasing coordination between state and federal authorities to keep guns out of the hands of people with severe mental illness and those convicted of domestic violence.

“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.

“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 Mayors Against Illegal Guns Co-Founder Michael R. 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. I look forward to working with him to change our nation’s laws so we can get illegal guns off our streets."

Members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns include Democrats, Republicans and Independents in big cities and small towns alike. While their backgrounds may differ, on the issue of gun violence and public safety, they are united. The coalition recently announced that it has joined forces with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America – solidifying a nationwide movement of Americans working together to end gun violence.

Every day, 33 Americans are killed by guns – Mayor de Blasio and his fellow coalition members are not willing to stand idly by. Mayors Against Illegal Guns has advocated for stronger gun laws in states and localities that are already keeping guns from dangerous hands. For example, in Colorado, a new background check requirement has already blocked 100 sales to prohibited purchasers since the law went into effect last July. 

The coalition has also called on Washington to take meaningful action to address the issue of gun violence in America, and they will continue to do so until progress is made. This includes:

  • Requiring every gun buyer to pass a criminal background check.
  • Submitting records of prohibited purchasers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
  • Making gun trafficking a federal crime.
  • Passing stronger laws that keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and protect victims of domestic violence.