KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mayor Sly James and KCPD Chief Rick Smith are teaming up to push for gun laws in Missouri.
"We don't have the ability to require a background check. We don't have the ability to tell people if your gun is stolen out of your car or your home or you lose it, that you have to report it to the police. We don't have the ability to do any of that stuff," James said. "Potential gun owners should be required to get a permit, to receive training and to handle a gun and to secure it from theft or from some child finding it and blowing their head off or hurting some other kid."
“People want a quick fix to a chronic problem.”
-@MayorSlyJames on solutions for stopping gun violence in KC. @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/YzmvEnp1sA
— Dia Wall (@DiaWall) August 6, 2018
In regards to investigating the shootings, Smith said his department has, "Had to call people up. We had to change rotations. We're out of people."
Both are calling on Missouri lawmakers to pass gun legislation.
"We need our lawmakers in Jefferson City to understand we need some real, sustainable solutions to the slow-motion mass murder that's taking place in Kansas City and St. Louis," James shared.
James said this, "Isn't about the Second Amendment. I want to be clear about this."
Both @MayorSlyJames & @kcpolice Chief Rick Smith echoing they aren’t anti-gun, but want “sensible gun laws” in place.
“Illegal use of firearms is killing the people in this city.”
-Rick Smith@41actionnews pic.twitter.com/9i6FdSsX7I— Dia Wall (@DiaWall) August 6, 2018
Dennis Parchman grew up in the area hardest hit by the recent violence. When asked about the mayor and police chief's push he said, "Hey, I'm all for it. Whatever they feel like they need to do to get the violence down. But at the same sense, I mean, we had that before and there still were killings. People still going to get guns. You just got to get into the community."
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