Our nation needs to step up fight against illegal guns

This article by Jamel Holley and Colleen Mahr originally appeared in the Star Ledger. To read the full article, click here.

The time is now to tackle the issue of illegal gun trafficking. With senseless tragedies in Aurora, Colo., and now Oak Creek, Wis., a national conversation has been taken up on gun violence and common-sense changes to save lives.

We can respect the second Amendment and still repair our nation's broken gun laws.

There are 700 mayors across the United States who have joinrf a bipartisan coalition to combat gun violence, called Mayors Against Illegal Guns. the coalition includes 60 mayors from New Jersey - about 9 percent of the mayors in the state, representing 2.5 million people.