Westport's Jim Marpe Takes Aim At Illegal Guns

WESTPORT, Conn. – Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe signed off on a Statement of Principles supporting Mayors throughout the country determined to crack down on the use of illegal guns.

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe, a Republican, signed a statement of principles aimed at cracking down on illegal firearms.
Photo Credit: *Vanessa Inzitari*

Joe Jenkins

06/16/2017 4:10 a.m.

"During the past year, I have been working with Police Chief Foti Koskinas to address the challenges that face our police force," Marpe said in a statement. "The reactions to the situation in Ferguson, Mo. and similar situations; the targeted shootings of police officers in Dallas, Texas; the ongoing and increasingly random incidents of mass shootings such as that which occurred one year ago at Pulse in Orlando, to name only a few."

The Mayors Against Illegal Guns Statement of Principles was established in 2006. Its mission is to combat illegal gun trafficking; punish those who use, possess and traffic illegal guns; and support legislation that targets illegal firearms.

Marpe said a luncheon in early May prompted him to take action and sign the statement.

"Further discussions with Chief Koskinas regarding the challenges Westport faces because of illegal firearms, along with a discussion just last week with fellow area First Selectmen who had signed the pledge, convinced me with more certainty that these are a set of principles that I must support," Marpe said.

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