St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker joined President Biden at the White House on Monday to celebrate the passage of the Safer Communities Act. It's the first major federal gun safety law passed in nearly 26 years. The gun safety measure did receive some Republican support, which Mayor Jones mentioned during a news conference following the event.
"Keeping our children and families safe should be a bipartisan issue. But sadly that's in short supply nowadays," she said. "That's why I am so happy to see Senator Roy Blunt provide a critical vote to get this legislation across the finish line."
Jones said she also believes the Second Amendment has been taken out of context.
"I'm not saying that we need to take everybody's weapon away. I'm never saying that," she said. "But the Second Amendment does not give you unfettered access to weapons."
Jones said the Missouri legislature's loosening of gun laws has tied the city's hands in getting illegal guns off the streets. 3,000 illegal guns have been confiscated so far this year in St. Louis.
The mayor also voiced her support for reenacting the assault weapons ban and approving the Biden administration's nominee for Director of the ATF, Steven Dettlebach. It's been seven years since the ATF had a Senate-confirmed director, according to Every Town for Gun Safety.
