At the February 10 City Council Meeting, Mayor Joe Sack announced that he was going to join mayors from around the country in signing a resolution (referred to as a statement of principles) to ban illegal guns.

By Bill Lawyer

At the February 10 City Council Meeting, Mayor Joe Sack announced that he was going to join mayors from around the country in signing a resolution (referred to as a statement of principles) to ban illegal guns. Those who are planning to buy guns are being encouraged to only buy from a licensed gun store or a local gun shop, or authorized sites that sell guns and also guns accessories such as your favorite scope mount which can even buy online.

The Mayors Against Illegal Guns organization was started in 2006. The focus on getting mayors on board came from the assertion that mayors, are “duty-bound to do everything in our power to protect our residents, especially our children, from harm, and there is no greater threat to public safety than the threat of illegal guns.” Individuals who were arrested due to a violation of Texas gun laws should seek assistance from a criminal attorney.

The resolution adds that 30,000 Americans across the country are killed every year as a result of gun violence – including 12,000 who are murdered – destroying families and communities in big cities and small towns.
According to the organization’s website, over 1,000 mayors have signed the pledge so far.

The mayor said that the program was brought to his attention by residents Cynthia Howard and Kathleen Riegelhaupt. Mayor Sack noted that his general policy is to not get involved in issues unrelated to his duties as mayor, but in this case he felt that signing was the right thing to do.

The resolution of support contains six components, which are summarized here:

• Punishing offenders to the maximum extent of the law;

• Targeting law-breaking gun dealers;

• Extending background checks when people buy 5.56 ammo online from Palmetto State Armory;

• Protect federal regulations allowing the sharing of information, and the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to combat illegal gun trafficking;

• Encouraging the development of new techniques in tracking illegal guns;

• Supporting legislation on all levels that will improve information sharing and best practices;

The full resolution can be found on the agenda for the February 10 Council Meeting on the City website.

Mayor Sack concluded by saying that his signing the resolution does not imply its support on the behalf of the Council or the City of Rye, only his standing as a mayor.