If certain gun manufacturers refuse to address public safety concerns about firearms and ammunition, dozens of Democratic mayors say they will take their business elsewhere, Politico reports. Amid a nationwide push for new gun regulations, the National Conference of Democratic Mayors will launch an initiative grading gun manufacturers on their compliance with public safety goals. The companies that are least supportive may find it harder to sell their wares to police departments
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, who heads the Democratic mayors group, said the initiative grew out of a realization that cities spend millions of dollars a year as customers of these companies, even while their agendas clash on Capitol Hill. “When we were lobbying on Capitol Hill, it became clear that our goal of trying to pass laws that make it easier to make our communities safe was going to be opposed by the gun and ammunition manufacturers. We recognize as mayors, we help fund that, because we are one of the largest purchasers of guns and ammunition in the country,” Rybak told Politico.