Mayor Dwight C. Jones is the latest of more than 340 mayors nationwide to join the bipartisan coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. The Mayor signed on to the coalition during a recent meeting with New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

“Protecting the citizens of Richmond is a responsibility that I take very seriously,” said Mayor Jones. “Preventing criminals from illegally obtaining and using guns is an important step toward building a first class city.”

Mayors Against Illegal Guns is dedicated to making America’s cities safer by cracking down on illegal guns. Every year, 30,000 Americans are killed as a result of gun violence, destroying families and harming communities.

The coalition initially began after Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a summit in New York City to discuss strategies for stopping the flow of illegal guns into America’s cities. The mayors drafted and signed a statement of principles to guide their efforts.

Since then, the coalition’s bipartisan ranks have grown to more than 340 mayors representing more than 55 million Americans. The coalition’s statement of principles has been endorsed by major national organizations such as the US Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities.

The coalition offers several services to help mayors in their fight against illegal guns, including updates on model local legislation and relevant bills as they are considered in state capitals and in Washington. Successful strategies are highlighted from across the country and mayors are connected to field experts who can aid in the development of new initiatives. The coalition’s website is www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org.

Contact: Tammy Hawley, (804) 646-3110