April 23, 2007

The United States Conference of Mayors President Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer released the following statement in response to the Virginia Tech University shooting:

“The nation’s mayors express their deepest sympathy for the victims, parents, families, teachers and friends of those killed yesterday at Virginia Tech University.“April 16, 2007 is a national day of tragedy. Just as our country and our people united to address the reality of terrorism after the attacks of 9-11, we must unite now to address the reality of gun violence that continues to ravage cities, suburbs and rural areas alike.“We need a common'sense approach to guns in America. We must keep illegal guns off our streets and away from children and criminals. We must allow the police to do their jobs and trace illegal guns. We must close the gunshow loopholes, which allow guns to be sold without background checks. And we must prohibit the sale of military'style assault weapons.

“At a time when crime is on the rise in our nation’s cities, mayors and police chiefs urge the federal government to stand with us to make our cities safer by restoring programs that have proven effective in the fight against crime.

“Congress and the President must act now. This cannot and must not be an issue of political grandstanding. Common sense action is possible. Our great nation has always risen to the major challenges it faces. Our leaders must rise now and act in the memory of those who have died, and all that mourn.”