STATEMENT OF MAYORS MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND THOMAS M. MENINO ON COMPETING U.S. SENATE BILLS TO OVERRIDE STATE LAWS ON CONCEALED, LOADED GUNS

Mayors Bloomberg and Menino, co-chairs of the bipartisan Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition, today released the following statement on the pending introduction of two competing Senate bills that would gut state authority to set basic eligibility requirements for people who want to carry concealed, loaded guns in public.  

Under current law, some states refuse to grant concealed carry permits to people convicted of violent crimes, to people younger than 21, or to applicants who haven't completed basic gun safety training.  Other states have lax requirements, or none at all. These bills would override those local decisions and force states to allow non-residents to carry concealed, loaded guns in public even if they would not qualify for a permit under local law.

Both bills are strongly opposed by police, prosecutors, domestic violence experts and more than 625 Republican, Democratic and Independent Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Statement of co-chair New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

"Millions of Americans are looking for work, but some senators think catering to the Washington gun lobby is a good use of time and taxpayer money. These bills are more extreme versions of a measure the Senate had the good sense to reject in 2009. They are opposed by police, prosecutors, domestic violence opponents, faith leaders and more than 625 mayors of all political stripes.  And they are opposed by actual gun owners - 82 percent of whom believe the states, not Washington, should decide who can carry hidden guns in public places."

Statement of co-chair Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino

"We hear a lot about states' rights from Congress, until some special interest calls a different tune.  Our mayors understand that state legislatures and police go to great lengths to set the right rules for carrying concealed, loaded guns in public. Congress has no business gutting local laws because the Washington gun lobby ordered them to ignore states' rights, police, prosecutors, mayors and even gun owners - all of whom would probably rather have their senators working to create jobs."

For more information on proposed federal mandates on concealed carry, see www.ourlivesourlaws.org and www.maig.org.