(WBEN) - More action is being taken from community leaders across the nation to step up gun violence prevention and implement a federal assault weapons ban.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown joined New York City Mayor Eric Adams, as well as other mayors impacted by recent mass shootings across the country on Thursday to call on the new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, to introduce a bill to ban assault weapons, and take it to the floor for a vote.
Mayor Adams says a total of 60 mayors across the U.S. have joined the initiative with a letter to Rep. Johnson calling to introduce this key piece of legislation to ensure the safety of residents in all communities.
"Congress must act to get weapons of war off our streets, and they must act now," said Mayor Adams in a virtual press conference on Thursday. "Mr. Speaker, you have said that your political beliefs are bound in the pages of the Bible and the words of Jesus. Jesus' words of love, faith and non-violence should inspire you now to do the right thing, to save lives and to protect the innocent. I believe in the power of prayer, but when it comes to guns, we need to power a political will too. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. You have the power, Mr. Speaker. Use it to protect American lives, and keep this nation a place where our families, our friends and our children can live in safety and freedom."
Adams says assault weapons have stolen the public's sense of safety in places where people of all ages should feel safe. He and others feel the solution that has been a proven method to reduce mass shootings in America is a federal assault weapons ban.
"We Congress to act, to ensure we have funding to support proven interventions, to make sure there's background checks on all gun sales, a national Red Flag Law, and yes, a ban on assault weapons. The President has been consistent and clear that this is a critically important part of the solution, because he knows it can be effective," said Rob Wilcox, Deputy Director of the newly created White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. "When President Biden was a senator, he helped pass and lead the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, and that law was effective and it saved lives. It expired in 2004, and we've seen the devastation that has occurred in its wake. Because choices in the boardrooms made weapons of the battlefield accessible in our communities, and end up in the hands of people who shouldn't have them."
While speaking on Thursday as part of the virtual press conference, Mayor Brown referenced the Tops mass shooting on May 14, 2022 and the recent shooting on the I-190 back on Oct. 26 as instances where gun violence has grown to epidemic proportions.
"So far in 2023, America has had, at least, 531 mass shootings. Innocent lives are being lost," said Mayor Brown. "Young people, all people should not be shot and killed when they're working and doing the right thing, serving the needs and interests of their communities.
"I am proud to sign on to this request for Congress to pass an assault weapons ban. ... I implore Americans from all across the country to allow their voices to be heard on this issue. This is affecting all communities - urban, suburban and rural."
Also speaking during Thursday's call included Highland Park, Ill. Mayor Nancy Rotering and Monterey Park, Calif. Mayor Jose Sanchez. They, too, expressed their concerns with gun violence and mass shootings that continue to affect more-and-more communities.
"When communities are affected, the people whose lives have been impacted, whose lives have been changed, reach out to their member of Congress and put pressure on their member of Congress to speak up and do something. Because, sadly, horrifically, this keeps happening in America and all kinds of communities - urban suburban, and rural - Americans are going to continue to lift their voices up and say to their lawmakers that an assault weapons ban needs to be passed," Mayor Brown said.