Obama promises mayors he’ll use executive actions to combat gun violence

{mosads}Democrats in the Senate were unable to garner enough votes for such a push in April, earning just 54 of the 60 necessary votes for cloture. But White House press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday that the president “remains committed to taking the action that we can.”

“We continue to work on those issues, and we continue to engage with stakeholders around the country, including mayors, on this issue because it is of great concern to them, as it is to this administration,” he added.

Among those attending the session were Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, N.J., the Democratic candidate for his state’s open U.S. Senate seat; Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray; New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu; Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake; Mayor Sly James of Kansas City, Mo.; and Kasim Reed of Atlanta.

According to the White House, Obama also “applauded the mayors for their local efforts to combat violence, solicited their input about proven methods, and pledged his Administration’s partnership.”

“The President reiterated that government alone can never fill the void that causes a child to turn to violence, but that we all have a responsibility to do our part to create safe communities and save lives,” the statement said.