Here's What Marty Walsh Said About Guns Today in Washington, D.C.

Boston's mayor went to Washington, D.C., Tuesday to talk gun violence, and talk up President Barack Obama's leadership on the issue.

Marty Walsh was one of several leaders who spoke during the anti-gun violence summit, including Vice President Joe Biden. He was joined in Washington by state's attorney general Maura Healey and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans.

A transcript of Walsh's remarks, edited for length, appear below, provided by the mayor's office:

"Gun violence is one of the defining challenges of our time--- it is a scourge devastating both children and adults. All of us in this room are taking action, on many levels, to stop gun violence. We have success to show for it. In Boston, we've seen homicides drop more than half since the mid-90s (1995, 98 homicides vs. 2015, 40)

But we know that even one gun-related death is too many---We must do more. We can't afford not to. As city and state leaders, we are looking for national leadership on this issue.

I commend President Obama for his Executive Actions on Gun Control. As leaders ourselves, we must also take our own Executive Actions to address gun violence. We need a coordinated approach, across all levels. For instance, in Boston, we know gun violence isn't just a Boston problem-it's a New England problem. 70% of Boston's crime guns come from other states-states with weaker gun laws.

So we convened Regional Gun Summits. We've organized regional and coordinated responses, reaching out to over 80 cities. At our most recent gun summit, we announced a pilot program with national non-profit, Arms With Ethics. They'll work closely with our law enforcement to create customized projects to prevent illegal flow and use of guns.

We're reaching out to our residents & responsible gun owners --- something that hasn't been done before. We've gotten positive feedback. It's clear they want to be part of the solution, too.

We're taking many more steps on a local level: We're analyzing traced guns for research purposes. We have a successful gun buyback program. We also instituted a citywide ban on replica handguns: a move that will save many children's lives. We're educating women about the danger of holding guns for their partners.

We know that gun violence is very complicated. It overlaps with other community problems: like illegal drug use, domestic violence, and mental illness. We need to make sure all of our systems and agencies are talking to one another and working together. And we need to make sure every level of government is working together.

I want to applaud the governor and state legislators for the action you've all taken to combat gun violence in your own states. I urge you to keep collaborating with your mayors as well. We are on the frontlines of this problem. And all of us share the responsibility to end gun violence. Only together can we make that happen. Thank you."

For context on Tuesday's summit, here is a look at the national firearm murder rate:

Firearm Murder Rate in the United States | HealthGrove

>> Photo credit U.S. Department of the Interior via Flickr / Creative Commons