Politics & Government

Newton Mayor Responds to President Obama's Gun Control Proposal

Mayor Setti Warren is a member of the Mayor's Against Illegal Guns, which is co-chaired by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Tom Menino.

Shortly after President Barack Obama laid out his gun control plan yesterday, Newton Mayor Setti Warren joined fellow mayors in commending the president for proposing a "comprehensive" package to reduce gun violence.

"I want to thank President Obama for putting forth a comprehensive plan to end the bloodshed in our country, and I join mayors across the country in calling on Congress to act now," Warren said in his statement.

Warren went on in his statement to urge Congress to act quickly on gun control, as "American lives are at stake."

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Warren is one of 800 members of the Mayor's Against Illegal Guns group, which is co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Tom Menino. 

The group works with local, state and national officials to come up with best practices and policies on how to help law enforcement target illegal guns, according to the group's website.

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In a statement sent yesterday, 30 members of the mayors group responded to the president's proposal. Warren's full statement is as follows: 

"We are fortunate that we have a low level of crime in my city. But until we get strong, common-sense gun laws at the national level, even the safest communities are vulnerable to the tragic consequences of gun violence. I want to thank President Obama for putting forth a comprehensive plan to end the bloodshed in our country, and I join mayors across the country in calling on Congress to act now. American lives are at stake."

Earlier this week, on the one-month anniversary of the Newtown, Conn. shooting, the Mayor's Against Illegal Guns released a new national television ad demanding Washington to take action on gun control.

Obama's proposal outlines initiatives such as universal background checks for gun sales, banning armor-piercing ammunition, strengthening the assault weapon ban and limiting ammunition magazines, among others. The plan also includes a list of 23 executive actions, which do not need approval from Congress. 


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