Posted Sunday, Sep. 27, 2009

By RICHARD WARD

Special to the Star-Telegram

Here’s a simple idea: You can be for the rights of law-abiding gun owners but also for common-sense policies to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

That idea has brought together a bipartisan group of more than 400 mayors from all over the country as the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition. I’m a veteran, a gun owner, a hunter and a member of the National Rifle Association — and I’m the mayor of Hurst and a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Unfortunately, the NRA has spent the past month attempting to bully mayors, including me, to drop out of this effort to have a consensus discussion about guns. They have sent hundreds of thousands of misleading postcards stating this coalition is "anti-gun" and is seeking to "regulate gun shows out of existence," along with several other untruths and misleading statements.

It’s time to set the record straight.

I have not received a request directly from the NRA asking me to resign from MAIG. I have heard from many NRA members.

I fully support the rights of law-abiding citizens under the Second Amendment. What I don’t support is criminals getting their hands on guns. The coalition is for enforcing existing gun laws, increasing penalties for gun criminals and closing gaps in the gun background check system.

We are for providing police officers with access to the data they need to prevent the flow of illegal guns into our communities. None of these efforts have posed any threat to the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

There is nothing "anti-gun" about this agenda. The only people who should be worried about the coalition are the criminals.

For example, our coalition of mayors supports requiring background checks for all gun sales at gun shows. Allowing unlicensed sellers to skip background checks creates an easy way for criminals to buy guns. Some states have closed this "gun show loophole," and gun shows continue to be held in those states.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has cited gun shows as a top source of illegal guns being trafficked into Mexico, fueling the crisis in border violence. We have supported an increase in the ATF budget so that they can have more funds to fight the unlawful transfer of guns across borders.

Who else supports closing the gun show loophole? According to a bipartisan poll done in 2008, 87 percent of Americans and 83 percent of gun owners support this move.

I joined the coalition because my highest responsibility is to protect the public safety of Hurst residents. I would never be part of an organization that aims to take away my Second Amendment rights, nor the rights of anyone in Texas.

I have worked hard to do a good job as mayor for the last five years. The coalition to which I belong is not going to take any law-abiding person’s guns. Why would anyone believe the negative statements that have been made about their mayor when he has worked so long and hard and has kept the best interest of Hurst residents at heart?

I have no hidden agenda.

I’ve talked with many gun owners who agree that supporting gun rights and fighting gun crime are consistent goals. The NRA ought to listen to them. The NRA ought to be applauding mayors for trying to build consensus on the gun issue — and the NRA should join us in our efforts.

Richard Ward is mayor of Hurst. 817-788-7044 ward.richard@charter.net