Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson is joining up with more than 500 mayors nationwide in support of legislation that could change gun laws in our country.

The mayor made his announcement today outside the Savannah Civic Center. Standing with him were mothers who have lost their children to gun violence, officers who have been shot at in the line of duty, and community leaders that just want a change.

"Statistics shows Georgia is one of the main suppliers, and one of the top ten states that export guns that are used in illegal activity in other states. We don't want that type of reputation in the state of Georgia.  Since Savannah is on Interstate 95, which is one of the strong pipelines for these illegal guns, I feel as the Mayor of Savannah I have an obligation to stand up and say let's plug that loophole," Johnson said.

Johnson said there has to be accountability. "We have guns shows and legitimate citizens come and they can withstand the background check but then they go and sell that gun to a thug, who then uses it in a burglary that may go wrong, or they get into a drug turf dispute and they shoot up the neighborhood and innocent people may be killed. We have to try to stop that," he said.

Johnson said this legislation can do just that and without infringing on people's 2^nd Amendment rights.

Two Savannah-Chatham Metro Police officers spoke out in favor of the new legislation. 2011 is being called the deadliest year for law enforcement, and unfortunately, Officer Chris Tucker and Officer Jason Pagliaro are all too familiar with the change.

"I've seen some pretty heated combat and it doesn't compare to things you see here in the streets of Savannah. I just don't understand it," Tucker siad.

Last July, Tucker nearly lost his life after a suspect he was chasing turned around and opened fire. The only thing that saved Tucker's life was his Taser on his belt that stopped the bullet.

Pagliaro has a similar story. In January, he was trying to pull over a car, when someone opened fire. The only reason he's alive is because of the Plexiglass in the back seat. 

"My heart stopped," said Pagliaro about when he saw his car for the first time after the shooting. "I didn't realize how close it came. I knew the bullet hit the back of the windshield. I did not know that one literally stopped behind my head."

It's a day Pagliaro's wife will never forget. Pam Pagliaro said, "You take for granted when they walk out the door because they come home every single night, but then that morning happens and you question everything."

Officers have now upped their training. They are adapting to this new style of criminals. And they say this legislation would help not only keep them safe, but the community as a whole. "If they are willing to do this to a police officer, they are willing to take a shot at anybody else and it just has to stop," said Officer Pagliaro.

So far this year Savannah-Chatham Metro Police have taken more than 200 illegal guns off the streets. In addition, almost 150 have been reported stolen.

To learn more about the legislation log onto: http://www.fixgunchecks.org/