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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