MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE SPANO ANNOUNCE LAUNCH OF NEW NATIONAL COALITION: COUNTY EXECUTIVES AGAINST ILLEGAL GUNS

New Group Pledges to Work at the County Level to Keep Guns Out of the Hands of Criminals

Group is Announced One Week Before Members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns Gather in Washington for 2008 National Summit

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Westchester County, New York County Executive Andy Spano today announced the formation of a new coalition of County Executives Against Illegal Guns. The new group, which at its formation has 15 chief elected county officials as members, will work closely with the bi-partisan coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the bi-partisan coalition of State Legislators Against Illegal Guns on shared goals. The county executives have pledged to enlist their colleagues in county seats across the country in an effort to identify common sense policies that will help to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. County Executive Spano, a founding co-chair of the group, is joined by three co-chairs, County Mayor Iliff McMahan, Jr., Cocke County, Tennessee; County Executive Kathleen Falk, Dane County, Wisconsin; and County Executive Jack Johnson, Prince George’s County, Maryland.

“There is nothing more important for us than keeping our residents and communities safe. Something has to be done  – and done now – to get illegal guns out of the hands of criminals,” said County Executive Spano. “This coalition has pledged to work together to explore all options for common sense legislation at the state and federal levels to target illegal guns. We will also explore common sense initiatives and share strategies that can be implemented at the county level to protect our families and neighborhoods. I welcome Mayor Bloomberg’s leadership on this, and look forward to working with him and my fellow county executives to creatively and effectively address this problem at all levels.”

“I am glad that County Executives are now enlisting in the fight against illegal guns,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, now almost 300 strong, was formed with only 15 members in April 2006. Now, two years later, 15 county executives have formed their own group, and I look forward to working with them on common sense gun policies. Next Monday, when Mayors Against Illegal Guns convenes its National Summit in Washington, DC, I will make a point that the county executives have reinforced: the illegal gun issue has nothing to do with the Second Amendment and everything to do with keeping our communities safe.”

Like the two-year old group of Mayors Against Illegal Guns and State Legislators Against Illegal Guns – formed last month to wage the fight against illegal guns in statehouses – the new coalition of county executives recognizes that, while there are no one-size-fits-all solutions for our nation’s counties, there are opportunities to share information, resources and best-practices. The coalition, organized around a shared Statement of Principles, will work at the county level to develop legislation and enforcement efforts to prevent guns from falling into the hands of criminals. The County Executives Against Illegal Guns Statement of Principles is at the bottom of this release. 

“Illegal guns have caused so much devastation in communities throughout America. The time has come for all of us across the country to redouble our efforts in getting illegal guns off of our streets and out of the hands of violent criminals,” said County Executive Jack Johnson of Prince George’s County, Maryland. “We must act together to ensure our neighborhoods are safer for our children, our families and our friends so they may worship, work, play and learn in a safer environment.”

“Here in the Great Smoky Mountains of Southern Appalachia, we are so very proud of our heritage and our natural resources,” said County Mayor Iliff McMahan, Jr. of Cocke County, Tennessee. “Even though our traditions are unique to our area of the country, I believe the common thread that weaves through the fabric of our nation is one of raising our families in a safe and vibrant society. Supporting the County Executives Against Illegal Guns coalition will foster peace of mind to law abiding Americans, and hold those legally responsible who chose to perpetuate violence in our society by dealing in illegal firearms.  This coalition of county leaders creates a common bond that makes it essential that all counties work together, in partnership, to help secure the peace and justice we all desire.   Our common bond is grounded in our citizens, community and nation, and our families deserve nothing less.”

“Over the past two years Mayor Bloomberg and I have welcomed mayors from across the nation to join our coalition to get illegal guns off of our streets,” said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “This new coalition of county executives emboldens our efforts to make our communities safer. I welcome the county executives and encourage them to recruit more of their colleagues to get on board as we keep this issue in the forefront of the dialogue on public safety.”  

In addition to the four founding co-chairs, the following County Executives have joined County Executives Against Illegal Guns:

• County Executive Robert Bondi – Putnam County, New York
• County Executive Chris Coons – New Castle County, Delaware
• County Executive Barbara Fiala – Broome County, New York
• County Judge Carlos Garcia – Frio, Texas
• Parish President Bill Hubbard – St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
• County Executive Peter Kremen – Whatcom County, Washington
• Borough President Marty Markowitz – Brooklyn, New York
• County Executive Anthony Picente – Oneida County, New York
• County Mayor Willie Spencer  – Hardemon County, Tennessee
• County Executive Herd Sullivan – White Co, Tennessee
• County Mayor J. Allen Watson – Monroe Co, Tennessee 
   

COUNTY EXECUTIVES AGAINST ILLEGAL HANDGUNSSTATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

Whereas: 30,000 Americans across the country are killed every year as a result of gun violence, destroying families and communities in large and small counties; and

Whereas: As county executives, we are duty-bound to do everything in our power to protect our residents, especially our children, from harm and illegal guns represent a serious threat to public safety;

Now, therefore, we resolve to work together to find innovative new ways to advance the following principles:

• Punish – to the maximum extent of the law – criminals who possess, use, and traffic in illegal guns.
  
  
• Target and hold accountable irresponsible gun dealers who break state and federal laws, including those who sell guns to straw purchasers. Promote measures that responsible gun retailers can adopt to minimize the risk of guns ending up in the hands of criminals.
  
  
• Oppose all federal efforts to restrict cities’, counties’, and states’ right to access, use, and share trace data that is so essential to effective enforcement, or to interfere with the ability of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to combat illegal gun trafficking.
  
  
• Support common-sense legislation that keeps guns out of the hands of criminals, including terrorists. Ensure that all gun sales involve background checks that access all the available information about persons prohibited under state and federal law from buying guns, such as those with mental illness.
  
  
• Work to develop and use technologies that aid in the detection and apprehension of illegal gun criminals and traffickers, including efforts to share regional information.
  
  
• Pursue local, state, and federal legislation that targets illegal guns; coordinate criminal, administrative, and civil enforcement, and share information and best practices.
  
  
• Invite other county executives to join us in this new national effort.