Big City Mayors, Furious About Mass Shootings, Fear Sweeping Gun Limits Are Out Of Reach

“In areas where the mayor has no control,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler, a Democrat from Texas. He added that it was difficult for a voter asking for new laws to say, "I agree with you and I want to change them, but I can't control them." is not sufficient."

Mayor of Rochester, Maine. . Like banning guns from the library or creating a week-long wait to buy a gun. There is no indication that they do.

Republicans who oppose more gun control often point to places like Illinois where guns are strictly regulated but murders remain widespread as evidence that the new restrictions won't significantly reduce violence. Instead, many have called for investments in mental health programs, increased funding for law enforcement, and increased security in schools. Democrats say they missed the point.

"We're not having the same conversation," said Satya Rhodes Conway, the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, who wants tougher gun laws. Half of the conversation is devoted to: "How can we continue to let people die unnecessarily?" And half the story is: "I need my gun, it's my constitutional right." We didn't even talk about it at the same table.

Ms. Rhodes Conway was among several mayors who said they were constantly preparing for nightly mass shootings in their hometown.

For Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny, it happened Saturday night in Reno during a routine phone check-in with an aide. He said more than a dozen people were shot dead at a popular rally over the weekend and three died.

Kenny, who was due to leave the Nevada convention on Sunday night, said he was looking for an opportunity to catch the earlier flight or even fly into the San Francisco airport, but there weren't any good options for getting home early. "She says that?' What? "The boss. Kenny spoke about his initial reaction to the shooting. "I cant go out".

Jimmy Kimmel during the Uld, Texas elementary school shooting