Kansas City mayor appointed to national Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, along with St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, have been appointed as co-chairs of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a coalition of current and former U.S. mayors advocating for local gun safety reforms and violence prevention efforts.

The two Missouri mayors are among 10 newly appointed co-chairs of the nonpartisan group, which includes over 1,000 members and is a part of Everytown for Gun Safety. Co-chairs, during their two year tenure, serve as leaders of the group and advise members on policies.

“Gun violence is the central issue challenging mayors’ cities,” Lucas said in a news release announcing his appointment. “I look forward to working with mayors and thought leaders across the country on ensuring that we cure once and for all the epidemic of gun violence on our streets.”

In 2021, Kansas City suffered 157 homicides, the second highest rate in the city’s recorded history. About 87% involved a firearm, according to Kansas City Police Department data.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns was founded in 2006 by New York City’s then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and then-Boston Mayor Tom Menino to address a lack of national action on gun violence and empower local leaders to advocate for state and federal change.

“Addressing gun violence and making our neighborhoods safer requires an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Jones said in the release. “I’m proud to join fellow mayors across the county and continue working to advance solutions to gun violence as a co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.”

Lucas first joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns in 2019 and Jones joined shortly after she was elected in 2021.

This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 1:03 PM.