COLUMBUS, Ohio — City mayors across the U.S. convened at The United States Conference of Mayors 91st Annual Meeting.

The meeting was held in Columbus, Ohio this year. Leaders from across the country spoke about various issues in their communities. A topic that was discussed in a press conference and panel discussion was gun violence across the country. 

Gun violence resonates more than ever in the aftermath of at least 20 mass shootings that took place over Memorial Day weekend, resulting in 16 fatalities and over 80 injuries, according to The Gun Violence Archive.

What You Need To Know

  • The United States Conference of Mayors is held each year

  • Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther labeled gun violence as a public health crisis
  • Several mayors across the country are calling for more education around firearms 

Mayor Andrew Ginther of Columbus labeled gun violence as a public health crisis. His city has been proactive, implementing measures such as a citywide ban on bump stocks last year and mandating the safe storage of guns.

Columbus is also actively working with several organizations advocating for gun reform, including "Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children" and "Moms Demand Action."

"We know that we have to have a comprehensive approach, a holistic approach, offering resources, programming, camps, jobs, internships to young people to help prevent them from heading down the wrong path," stated Ginther. 

Ginther was not the only city leader vocal about addressing gun violence. Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City, Missouri, shared his struggle in introducing new initiatives due to resistance from the legislature.

"Let mayors stand up for their cities. Let mayors actually do the work so that we can tell those grieving families this isn't happening again," Lucas said. 

In Carmel, Indiana, Mayor Jim Brainard called for uniform background checks across all 50 states. He also expressed concern about gun laws related to larger rifles.

"I think we need to look at the magazines. You know, nobody needs automatic weapons," said Brainard. "We need to think about that as a society." 

Two mayors from California agreed that the key to addressing gun violence lies in engaging with people who have experienced it firsthand.

Alex Walker-Griffin of Hercules highlighted the city's partnership with schools and nonprofits to provide safe afterschool programs for kids. On the other hand, Mayor Albert Vera of Culver City stressed the importance of educating the community about safe gun storage.

At the conference, city leaders from every state brought forth their unique ideas and shared their experiences, demonstrating a unified commitment to improving public safety. The discussions and shared experiences indicated that the battle against gun violence extends beyond city and state borders, requiring collective action and commitment.