More than 200 U.S. mayors urged Congress to stop pandering to the gun lobby

More than 200 U.S. mayors urged Congress to stop pandering to the gun lobby and repeal an amendment that they say makes it harder for police to trace illegal firearms carried between states. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent mentioned as a possible presidential contender, helped lead the uphill bid to eliminate the amendment ahead of a vote on it this week by the House Appropriations Committee.

The Mayors Against Illegal Guns group, which says it has more than 225 mayors representing 50 million constituents, wants Congress to strike down the Tiahrt Amendment, a measure attached to a law enforcement funding bill every year since 2003. The amendment, which imposes confidentiality limits on firearms trace data compiled by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is named for Rep. Todd Tiahrt, the Kansas Republican who first sponsored it.