Wellesley Police Chief Stars in National Ad

Mayors Against Illegal Guns recently released an ad featuring a number of law enforcement professionals, including Wellesley Police Chief Terrence Cunningham. 

Chief Cunningham spoke in Washington earlier in the year with the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence to call on congress to put an end to gun violence. He also met with the President on the same subject.

He issued the following statement with the ad:

Background checks are not only a preventative measure to stop criminals from obtaining deadly weapons – they’re also a critical law enforcement tool that help us solve crimes and keep our streets safe. Police officers across the country are risking their lives every day to protect our communities from the dangers of gun violence. We need our elected officials in Washington to do their part by passing this sensible reform.

The ad will air on cable nationally, and in the Washington area. The campaign is also focusing on areas where representatives have not yet signed on to support background checks, namely: Phoenix, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Norfolk, Virginia; and Atlanta, Georgia. 

See the full press release on the Wellesley Police Department website.

The ad is part of a national effort to call on Congress to put background checks for all gun sales. Mayors Against Illegal Guns say that about 40 percent of gun sales nationwide are performed by "private sellers" which do not require background checks.

"Our police officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our neighborhoods and our families," said Mayors Against Illegal Guns Co-Chair and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino in a press release. "They are gun owners, hunters, supporters of the Second Amendment, and NRA members. And they agree that background checks on all gun purchases is a commonsense measure that will keep guns out of the wrong hands, help them do their jobs, and make our communities safer."

See the Wellesley Police's efforts in a global law enforcement Tweet-a-thon all day Friday.