Kinston mayor among 214 mayors calling for Senate action on gun safety

An Eastern Carolina mayor is one of 214 mayors from across the country who are urging the U.S. Senate to return to Washington and act on gun safety legislation.

Kinston Mayor Don Hardy signed the letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. The mayors wrote, "Our nation can no longer wait for our federal government to take the actions necessary to prevent people who should not have access to firearms from being able to purchase them."

The mayors want the Senate to take action after two back-to-back shootings this weekend that left 31 people dead.

The mayors urged the Senate to vote on two House-passed bills expanding background checks for gun sales that passed that chamber earlier this year. It was signed by El Paso, Texas, Mayor Dee Margo, Dayton, Ohio, Mayor Nan Whaley and others where mass shootings have occurred, including Orlando and Parkland, Florida, Pittsburgh and Annapolis, Maryland.

Other North Carolina mayors to sign the letter include Steve Schewel of Durham, Lydia Lavelle of Carrboro, Pam Hemminger of Chapel Hill, and Nancy Vaughan of Greensboro.