Petaluma Mayor Signs Letter Urging Obama to Tighten Gun Laws

Petaluma Mayor David Glass is one of more than 700 mayors across the country who have signed a letter urging President Barack Obama to pass legislation tightening gun laws.

The letter was sent Wednesday by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a national bipartisan coalition started by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino in 2006.

In the letter, the group calls on President Obama to renew the federal assault weapons ban, require every buyer to pass a criminal background check and use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) data to go after gun owners with a criminal history. It also urges legislation to close gun sales through private sellers, such as at gun shows.

“I believe in the Second Amendment and that what they are asking for is for common sense legislation,” Glass said. “I don’t know if any legislation stops violence, but you gotta turn the stone somewhere. Some people get their jollies by going shooting, but nobody needs an assault gun to go hunting.”

Glass joins mayors from at least a dozen Bay Area cities including Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Oakland, Pacifica, San Jose, San Leandro and Martinez.

To read the full letter sent by Bloomberg and Menino, click the attachment in the documents above. 

Then tell us, are you in favor of tightening gun laws? Share your thoughts in the comments below.