Posted by Press-Register Staff September 14, 2009 9:00 AM

The National Rifle Association is criticizing Mobile Mayor Sam Jones for joining a national group of city leaders who are trying to eliminate illegal firearms.

Jones is one of more than 400 mayors -- including six from Alabama -- who are part of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition that was founded by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Earlier this year, Jones launched a program called Bulletproof Mobile that gives cash rewards to anonymous tipsters who help police seize illegal guns.

The NRA pamphlet describes the mayoral coalition as an anti-gun group and asks its members to "call, e-mail and write Mayor Jones today and ask him to support law-abiding gun owners by publicly disassociating himself with Michael Bloomberg and 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns.'"

Jones said that would not happen.

"There is no way I can support illegal guns on our streets," he said. "That is why I have joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns. This has become a serious problem in Mobile, especially with our young people. Illegal guns are being sold to teenagers on the street and in gun shops, and we're seeing the result of it through senseless murders and other criminal activity."

Jones said he legally owns a firearm.

"MAIG is not about my right to own a gun," he said. "It's is about illegal guns being sold and distributed on the street and in our communities."