Mayors Strongly Support Common Sense About Kids And Guns

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The United States Conference of Mayors is pleased to participate in the new Common Sense About Kids and Guns effort. By joining this public awareness campaign, mayors nationwide are sending a united message that gun owners must keep guns away from kids, and all parents must educate their children about the dangers of guns

In commenting on this new initiative, Mayor Wellington E. Webb of Denver, President of The U.S. Conference of Mayors, said, "In light of the alarming national statistics regarding intentional and accidental youth shootings, as well as youth suicides, it is essential that we unite in an effort to encourage gun owners to unload and lock their weapons, and lock and store ammunition separately so that children cannot gain access. We must also help educate all parents of the need to speak with their children about the dangers of guns."

Mayor Webb added, "With more than 200 million guns in the United States, the issue of gun safety and parental responsibility must be a top national priority. We cannot continue to lose an average of 12 young people a day due to gunshot wounds."

Under the leadership of Mayor Webb and the co-chairs of the Conference's Gun Violence Task Force, Mayors Joseph P. Ganim of Bridgeport and Clarence Harmon of St. Louis, The United States Conference of Mayors will help carry this important message to its members and the American people, and looks forward to a strong partnership with Common Sense About Kids and Guns.

For more than 30 years, The U.S. Conference of Mayors has supported comprehensive efforts -- including legislative reforms, strong enforcement of gun laws and public education -- to reduce gun violence. The Conference's efforts are targeted to keeping guns away from kids and criminals.

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The U. S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are about 1,100 such cities in the country today. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.

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