Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto was among a bipartisan group of mayors who met in Washington, D.C. on Monday to discuss gun control. Members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors met with White House domestic policy advisors to press the Trump administration on the issue. Specifically, the group wants universal background check legislation signed into law.
“Mayors are pragmatic and we will work with anyone who will help us achieve our desired goal,” said Bryan Barnett, USCM president and the mayor of Rochester Hills, Mich. “We are on the front lines of this tragedy, and each mass shooting is a solemn reminder that this could happen in any city, large or small, urban or rural.”
Barnett described the meeting as “incredibly positive,” without addressing specifics.
“[Trump officials] didn’t commit to anything, but they didn’t say no,” Barnett said.
The White House has been reluctant to support gun-control measures, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he won't bring up a bill without the president's support. When reporters asked Barnett what is stopping the Trump administration from supporting background check legislation, Barnett demurred.
“The conversation was robust,” Barnett said. “I’m confident that they clearly heard what our focus was. They responded that they agreed that background checks are certainly on the table, that it’s certainly part of the suite of solutions that are being discussed.”
In February, the U.S. House passed universal background-check legislation which would require a background check for every gun purchased.
Peduto was joined by other mayors who serve cities affected by mass shootings including Parkland, Florida and Dayton, Ohio.
