COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR RESOLUTION NO. 080807

Expressing the Councils support of the Mayors participation in the national coalition of Mayors against Illegal Guns and its pledge to work to find innovative new ways to meet the challenge of illegal guns within our community.

WHEREAS, each year 30,000 Americans are killed as a result of gun violence destroying families in big and small communities; and

WHEREAS, as local government officials, the Mayor and Council must take all lawful steps necessary to protect our residents, especially our children, from harm; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That the Council expresses its support of the Mayors participation in the national coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Section 2. That the Mayor and Council pledge to work with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, state, county and federal law enforcement authorities, and especially the residents of Kansas City, to advance the following principles:

(a)                Punish - to the maximum extent of the law - criminals who possess, use and traffic in illegal guns;

(b)               Target and hold accountable irresponsible gun dealers who break the law by knowingly selling guns to straw purchasers;

(c)                Oppose all federal efforts to restrict local law enforcement agencies right to access, use, and share trace data that is so essential to effective enforcement, or to interfere with the ability of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to combat illegal gun trafficking;

(d)               Work to develop and use technologies that aid in the detection and tracing of illegal guns;

(e)                Support all local, state and federal legislation that targets illegal guns; coordinate legislative, enforcement and litigation strategies; and share information and best practices; and

(f)                 Invite other cities to join us in the national effort.

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