an open letter from 225 mayors to congress about …...mayor scott slifka west hartford, connecticut...

Mayor Samuel L. JonesMobile, AlAbAMA

Mayor Patrick HaysNorth little rock, ArkANsAs

Mayor Todd CampbellburbANk, cAliforNiA

Mayor Daniel E. FurtadocAMpbell, cAliforNiA

Mayor Cheryl CoxchulA VistA, cAliforNiA

Mayor Kris WangcupertiNo, cAliforNiA

Mayor Robert WassermanfreMoNt, cAliforNiA

Mayor Gary PlassheAldsburg, cAliforNiA

Mayor Beth KromirViNe, cAliforNiA

Mayor H. Manuel OrtizirwiNdAle, cAliforNiA

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosalos ANgeles, cAliforNiA

Mayor Ron DellumsoAklANd, cAliforNiA

Mayor Pamela TorliattpetAluMA, cAliforNiA

Mayor Jennifer HostermanpleAsANtoN, cAliforNiA

Mayor Gayle McLaughlinrichMoNd, cAliforNiA

Mayor Heather FargosAcrAMeNto, cAliforNiA

Mayor Patrick J. MorrissAN berNArdiNo, cAliforNiA

Mayor Jerry SanderssAN diego, cAliforNiA

Mayor Gavin NewsomsAN frANcisco, cAliforNiA

Mayor Chuck ReedsAN Jose, cAliforNiA

Mayor Miguel PulidosANtA ANA, cAliforNiA

Mayor Marty BlumsANtA bArbArA, cAliforNiA

Mayor Joseph D. Serrano, Sr.sANtA fe spriNgs, cAliforNiA

Mayor Bob BlanchardsANtA rosA, cAliforNiA

Mayor Paul MillersiMi VAlley, cAliforNiA

Mayor Edward ChavezstocktoN, cAliforNiA

Mayor Otto O. LeesuNNyVAle, cAliforNiA

Mayor Christopher Cabaldonwest sAcrAMeNto, cAliforNiA

Mayor Morris VanceVistA, cAliforNiA

Mayor John HickenlooperdeNVer, colorAdo

Mayor John Fabrizibridgeport, coNNecticut

Mayor Eddie PerezhArtford, coNNecticut

Mayor John DeStefanoNew hAVeN, coNNecticut

Mayor Richard A. MocciaNorwAlk, coNNecticut

Mayor Dannel P. MalloystAMford, coNNecticut

Mayor Scott Slifkawest hArtford, coNNecticut

Mayor Adrian FentywAshiNgtoN, dc

Mayor Vance A. Funk, IIINewArk, delAwAre

Mayor James M. BakerwilMiNgtoN, delAwAre

Mayor Scott J. BrookcorAl spriNgs, floridA

Mayor Joy CooperhAllANdAle beAch, floridA

Mayor Julio RobainahiAleAh, floridA

Mayor Mara Giuliantihollywood, floridA

Mayor Manuel DiazMiAMi, floridA

Mayor Kevin BurnsNorth MiAMi, floridA

Mayor Frank C. OrtispeMbroke piNes, floridA

Mayor Patricia Christensenport st lucie, floridA

Mayor John Marks, IIItAllAhAssee, floridA

Mayor Beth TalabiscotAMArAc, floridA

Mayor Heidi DavisonAtheNs-clArke couNty, georgiA

Mayor Shirley FranklinAtlANtA, georgiA

Mayor Jack EllisMAcoN, georgiA

Mayor Jere Woodroswell, georgiA

Mayor Otis JohnsonsAVANNAh, georgiA

Mayor Mufi HannemannhoNolulu, hAwAii

Mayor Richard DaleychicAgo, illiNois

Mayor Lorraine MortoneVANstoN, illiNois

Mayor Rita MullinspAlAtiNe, illiNois

Mayor John A. SpringQuiNcy, illiNois

Mayor Lawrence J. Morrisseyrockford, illiNois

Mayor Richard H. HydewAukegAN, illiNois

Mayor James BrainardcArMel, iNdiANA

Mayor Graham Richardfort wAyNe, iNdiANA

Mayor Stephen Lueckesouth beNd, iNdiANA

Mayor Kay HallorancedAr rApids, iowA

Mayor Edwin WinborndAVeNport, iowA

Mayor T.M. Franklin Cowniedes MoiNes, iowA

Mayor Elaine WalkerbowliNg greeN, keNtucky

Mayor Butch CallerycoViNgtoN, keNtucky

Mayor Jerry AbramsonlouisVille, keNtucky

Mayor Thomas L. GuidugliNewport, keNtucky

Mayor Melvin “Kip” HoldenbAtoN rouge, louisiANA

Mayor Ray NaginNew orleANs, louisiANA

Mayor Cedric B. GlovershreVeport, louisiANA

Mayor Nicholas Mavodones, Jr.portlANd, MAiNe

Mayor Ellen MoyerANNApolis, MArylANd

Mayor Sheila DixonbAltiMore, MArylANd

Mayor Thomas MeninobostoN, MAssAchusetts

Mayor James E. HarringtonbrocktoN, MAssAchusetts

Mayor Kenneth E. ReevescAMbridge, MAssAchusetts

Mayor Jim FiorentinihAVerhill, MAssAchusetts

Mayor Michael J. Sullivanholyoke, MAssAchusetts

Mayor Clare HigginsNorthAMptoN, MAssAchusetts

Mayor Joseph A. CurtatonesoMerVille, MAssAchusetts

Mayor Charles V. RyanspriNgfield, MAssAchusetts

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrickdetroit, MichigAN

Mayor Steve LampibrooklyN pArk, MiNNesotA

Mayor Gary F. Van EyllchAskA, MiNNesotA

Mayor Herb W. Bergsonduluth, MiNNesotA

Mayor R.T. RybakMiNNeApolis, MiNNesotA

Mayor Rob MartyMouNds View, MiNNesotA

Mayor Chris ColemansAiNt pAul, MiNNesotA

Mayor Mark SchiffmanwAcoNiA, MiNNesotA

Mayor Andrew G. HumpreywAyzAtA, MiNNesotA

Mayor Johnny DuPreehAttiesburg, Mississippi

Mayor Frank MeltonJAcksoN, Mississippi

Mayor Phillip WestNAtchez, Mississippi

Mayor Matthew J. AvarapAscAgoulA, Mississippi

Mayor Francis Slayst. louis, Missouri

Mayor Ron TussingbilliNgs, MoNtANA

Mayor Colleen SengliNcolN, NebrAskA

Mayor Mike FaheyoMAhA, NebrAskA

Mayor Kevin G. SandersAsbury pArk, New Jersey

Mayor Joseph V. Doria, Jr.bAyoNNe, New Jersey

Mayor Jason J. Varanoberkeley towNship, New Jersey

Mayor Gwendolyn A. FaisoncAMdeN, New Jersey

Mayor Sophie Heymannborough of closter, New Jersey

Mayor Carol FostercorbiN city, New Jersey

Mayor James CarrolldeMArest, New Jersey

Mayor Chester RilanddowNe towNship, New Jersey

Mayor Joseph R. SmitheAst NewArk, New Jersey

Mayor Robert L. BowsereAst orANge, New Jersey

Mayor J. Christian BollwageelizAbeth, New Jersey

Mayor David Delle DonnagutteNberg, New Jersey

Mayor Beth Ann HavenhAddoN heights, New Jersey

Mayor Glen D. GilmorehAMiltoN, New Jersey

Mayor James C. DiNardohAzlet towNship, New Jersey

Mayor Meryl FrankhighlANd pArk, New Jersey

Mayor Wayne SmithirViNgtoN, New Jersey

Mayor Jerramiah HealyJersey city, New Jersey

Mayor Gregg DavidkeNilworth, New Jersey

Mayor Brian A. ReidlAcey towNship, New Jersey

Mayor Frank W. MinorlogAN towNship, New Jersey

Mayor Mary C. GarvinloNgport, New Jersey

Mayor Walt Craiglower towNship, New Jersey

Mayor Michael FressolaMANchester towNship, New Jersey

Mayor Frank M. NorthMerchANtVille, New Jersey

Mayor James A. Gallosborough of Milford, New Jersey

Mayor Donald CresitelloMorristowN, New Jersey

Mayor David ScapicchioMouNt oliVe, New Jersey

Mayor James Manning, Jr.NeptuNe towNship, New Jersey

Mayor Cory BookerNewArk, New Jersey

Mayor Peter C. MassaNorth ArliNgtoN, New Jersey

Mayor Randy GeorgeNorth hAledoN, New Jersey

Mayor Janice G. AllenNorth plAiNfield, New Jersey

Mayor Harry MooreoldMANs towNship, New Jersey

Mayor Michael LutherpArsippANy-troy hills, New Jersey

Mayor Samuel RiverapAssAic, New Jersey

Mayor Jose TorrespAtersoN, New Jersey

Mayor Harry L. Wyantphillipsburg, New Jersey

Mayor Gary Gibersonport republic, New Jersey

Mayor Mohamed Khairullahprospect pArk, New Jersey

Mayor Pasquale Mennaborough of red bANk, New Jersey

Mayor Earl GagesAleM, New Jersey

Mayor Emilia Sicilianoshrewsbury, New Jersey

Mayor Barry H. Zagnitborough of spotswood, New Jersey

Mayor Douglas PalmertreNtoN, New Jersey

Mayor Betty SimmonsVictory gArdeNs, New Jersey

Mayor Shing-Fu Hsuehwest wiNdsor, New Jersey

Mayor John E. McCormacwoodbridge, New Jersey

Mayor David CosssANtA fe, New Mexico

Mayor Gerald JenningsAlbANy, New york

Mayor Byron BrownbuffAlo, New york

Mayor Ernest D. DavisMt. VerNoN, New york

Mayor Noam BramsonNew rochelle, New york

Mayor Michael BloombergNew york, New york

Mayor Robert Duffyrochester, New york

Mayor Matthew J. DriscollsyrAcuse, New york

Mayor Philip AmiconeyoNkers, New york

Mayor Terry BellamyAsheVille, North cAroliNA

Mayor Kevin FoychApel hill, North cAroliNA

Mayor Bill BelldurhAM, North cAroliNA

Mayor Keith A. HollidaygreeNsboro, North cAroliNA

Mayor Charles MeekerrAleigh, North cAroliNA

Mayor Dennis WalakerfArgo, North dAkotA

Mayor Dan PillowAddystoN, ohio

Mayor Donald PlusquellicAkroN, ohio

Mayor Joseph HarperArliNgtoN heights, ohio

Mayor Mark MalloryciNciNNAti, ohio

Mayor Frank JacksoncleVelANd, ohio

Mayor Danny StacycleVes, ohio

Mayor Michael ColemancoluMbus, ohio

Mayor Rhine McLindAytoN, ohio

Mayor Theodore ShannonfAirfAx, ohio

Mayor Jim Lawlerforest pArk, ohio

Mayor Joseph C. HubbardgleNdAle, ohio

Mayor Alan Zaffirogolf MANor, ohio

Mayor Daniel GieringerhArrisoN, ohio

Mayor Deborah SeayliNcolN heights, ohio

Mayor Jim BrownlocklANd, ohio

Mayor Lydia J. ReidMANsfield, ohio

Mayor Michael O. CiaravinoMAple heights, ohio

Mayor Thomas E. O’GradyNorth olMsted, ohio

Mayor Judith RawsonshAker heights, ohio

Mayor John SmithsilVertoN, ohio

Mayor Marcia L. FudgewArreNsVille heights, ohio

Mayor Barry PorterwyoMiNg, ohio

Mayor Jay WilliamsyouNgstowN, ohio

Mayor Kathy TaylortulsA, oklAhoMA

Mayor Rob DrakebeAVertoN, oregoN

Mayor Ed PawlowskiAlleNtowN, peNNsylVANiA

Mayor John B. CallahanbethleheM, peNNsylVANiA

Mayor Helen ThomasdArby, peNNsylVANiA

Mayor Joseph Sinnotterie, peNNsylVANiA

Mayor J. Richard GraylANcAster, peNNsylVANiA

Mayor John StreetphilAdelphiA, peNNsylVANiA

Mayor Luke Ravenstahlpittsburgh, peNNsylVANiA

Mayor Tom McMahonreAdiNg, peNNsylVANiA

Mayor F. Raymond Shayupper dArby, peNNsylVANiA

Mayor John S. Brenneryork, peNNsylVANiA

Mayor David CicillineproVideNce, rhode islANd

Mayor Joseph RileychArlestoN, south cAroliNA

Mayor Dave Munsonsioux fAlls, south dAkotA

Mayor A C Whartonshelby couNty, teNNessee

Mayor Bill HaslamkNoxVille, teNNessee

Mayor Will WynnAustiN, texAs

Mayor Laura MillerdAllAs, texAs

Mayor Bill WhitehoustoN, texAs

Mayor Richard Wardhurst, texAs

Mayor Rocky AndersonsAlt lAke city, utAh

Mayor Bob KissburliNgtoN, VerMoNt

Mayor William B. EuilleAlexANdriA, VirgiNiA

Mayor Paul D. FraimNorfolk, VirgiNiA

Mayor Annie M. Mickenspetersburg, VirgiNiA

Mayor James W. Holley IIIportsMouth, VirgiNiA

Mayor L. Douglas WilderrichMoNd, VirgiNiA

Mayor Peter B. LewisAuburN, wAshiNgtoN

Mayor Greg NickelsseAttle, wAshiNgtoN

Mayor Bill BaarsmatAcoMA, wAshiNgtoN

Mayor John M. AntaramiankeNoshA, wiscoNsiN

Mayor Dave CieslewiczMAdisoN, wiscoNsiN

Mayor Tom BarrettMilwAukee, wiscoNsiN

Mayor Gary BeckerrAciNe, wiscoNsiN

Mayor Larry NelsonwAukeshA, wiscoNsiN

Mayor Theresa M. EstnesswAuwAtosA, wiscoNsiN

For the last few years, Congress has been undermining police work by quietly refusing to allow police and prosecutors access to crucial crime-fighting information. We urge you to put an end to this stealth attack on law enforcement, known as the Tiahrt Amendment.

As Mayors, our highest responsibility is protecting public safety, and that begins with giving our police officers the tools they need to do their jobs. And they need those tools now more than ever: violent crime is on the rise across the nation, and in both big cities and small towns, police officers face the increasingly dangerous problem of criminals with easy access to illegal guns.

To crack down on illegal gun trafficking rings and keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals, police officers need information called “trace data.” When a gun is recovered at a crime scene, police can trace its serial number to learn who bought and sold that one gun. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has aggregate trace data for all guns recovered at crime scenes – yet for the last few years, Congress has prevented police and prosecutors from seeing it.

This means that police can’t find out which dealers most frequently sell guns used in crimes (a sign the dealer is breaking federal law), or which people most frequently buy guns used in crimes (a sign the buyer is illegally trafficking guns and selling to criminals). It forces police to investigate gun crime one shooting at a time instead of attacking it at its source.

Why is Congress blocking police officers from this data? Allegedly, to protect the anonymity of undercover officers, but there is not a single instance to support this claim, as even the ATF has admitted. The real reason, of course, is special interest politics. As Congressman Tiahrt himself told the Washington Post in 2003: “I wanted to make sure I was fulfilling the needs of my friends who are firearms dealers.”

Access to trace data has nothing to do with the Second Amendment, the rights of hunters and sportsmen or the rights of gun dealers – the vast majority of whom run honest businesses and obey the law. It is about law enforcement, plain and simple.

A nationwide, bi-partisan coalition of mayors is strongly opposing re-authorization of the Tiahrt Amendment, and we are being joined by 10 national police organizations – including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, and Major Cities Chiefs Association – and 23 state and regional police organizations, including the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police and the Texas Association of Chiefs of Police, as well as the American Hunters and Shooters Association.

America can’t afford a Congress that is soft on crime. This new Congress has a chance to stand up – and stand with us – in the fight for public safety by ending the Tiahrt Amendment. Will you?

Sincerely, Mayors Against Illegal Guns

An Open Letter from 225 Mayors to Congress About Illegal Guns

Get the facts: www.ProtectPolice.org • www.MayorsAgainstIllegalGuns.org

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid, and Minority Leaders McConnell and Boehner:

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