PRESS ADVISORY
Monday, the mayors of Missouri’s two largest cities will join together in a strong show of unity against House Bill 1439, a bill that would undermine the safety of urban neighborhoods.
“It’s time to realize that reducing crime in cities takes the help of everyone at the federal, state, and local level. This bill would destroy those partnerships and does nothing to make our neighborhoods safe,” said Kansas City Mayor Sly James. “Mayor Slay and I cannot afford to engage in political ideological games. We have to deliver services to our residents and figure out a way to end the bloodshed in our cities. I hope that enough leaders step up in the Legislature and make an effort to understand the damage this superfluous legislation does in urban areas like our cities. Maybe then, we could focus on things that would actually do some good – like expanding Medicaid and early childhood education opportunities for all children.”
“Reducing crime, especially violent crime, is vitally important to the health and future of our City. But, we cannot do it alone. Last summer, the City partnered with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Attorney to take 159 dangerous criminals and 267 guns off the streets of our City,” said City of St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. “If this bill had been in effect, ATF and the U.S. Attorney would have been committing a crime. That is ludicrous. A vote in favor of House Bill 1439 is a vote to criminalize the efforts of law enforcement. It’s absurd and embarrassing. I stand with the police; not criminals, drug dealers, felons and other miscreants.”
WHO: Kansas City Mayor Sly James and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay
WHAT: Joint press conference to oppose House Bill 1439
WHEN: Monday, April 28th, 2014 at 2:30 pm
WHERE: Capitol Rotunda, Jefferson City, Missouri
