Mayor Joins Others in Rally to Reduce Gun Violence

Story updated 8:45PM Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Pictured, left to right: Mrs. Kim Odom, mother of a gun violence victim, Mayor McGlynn and Senator Warren. Courtesy photo.

On Wednesday, August 28th, Mayor Michael J. McGlynn joined Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, Mayor Thomas Menino and members of the State’s congressional delegation, local families of gun violence victims, law enforcement and faith leaders for a rally at Faneuil Hall as part of the “No More Names: National Drive to Reduce Gun Violence” – a 25-state national bus tour over a period of 100 days aimed at urging America’s leaders to support common-sense gun policies.

Mayor McGlynn supports comprehensive background checks, and is urging Congress to take another look at bipartisan background checks legislation that would help keep guns out of the wrong hands. They also took this opportunity to express their thanks to Mayor Menino, national co-chair of the Mayor’s Against Illegal Guns since 2006, for his leadership in helping to reduce gun violence in Boston and across the country. Mayor McGlynn is a member of the Mayor’s Against Illegal Guns, a bi-partisan coalition of over 1,000 mayors and 1.5 million grassroots supporters nationwide, continuing to raise awareness about the issue of gun violence in America.

Participants came together Wednesday to voice their support for comprehensive background checks, and they will urge Congress to take another look at bipartisan background checks legislation that would help keep guns out of the wrong hands.

It remains far too easy for criminals, domestic abusers, the seriously mentally ill, and other dangerous individuals – people who know they can’t pass a background check – to skirt the law and obtain guns by purchasing them online or at gun shows, where background checks are not required under federal law. Bipartisan legislation sponsored by NRA A-rated Senators Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey – and supported by a majority of U.S. senators, including Senator Warren – would have closed this dangerous loophole by extending background checks to cover private gun sales in commercial settings. But in April, a minority of senators voted to block this common-sense measure.

The rally was organized by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a bipartisan coalition of more than 1,000 mayors and 1.5 million grassroots supporters nationwide – including 30 members and more than 51,000 supporters in Massachusetts. Every day, 33 Americans are murdered with guns in this country. “No More Names: National Drive to Reduce Gun Violence” is part of Mayors Against Illegal Guns’ ongoing, national effort to continue raising awareness to the issue of gun violence in America – and most importantly, to urge elected officials to prioritize the safety of the people they represent.

– Information from Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Mayor McGlynn’s office