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Proposed bill would allow cities like St. Louis to enact tougher gun laws

The Local Public Health and Safety Protection Act would allow city leaders to make tougher gun laws without the approval of state legislators.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Democratic U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay as he introduced a new bill Friday, called the Local Health and Safety Protection Act, aimed at reducing gun violence in urban areas such as his hometown of St. Louis. 

The legislation would allow high crime cities to pass their own gun laws without approval from state lawmakers. 

Since June 26th, the city has had 89 homicides compared to 83 this time last year. Five children were among the victims in June. 

Democratic St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, anti-violence activists and top executives with BJC Healthcare and St. Louis Children's Hospital stood alongside Clay at a news conference to show support for his proposal.

Rep. Clay said: "We have a different issue to address in this community because of the accessibility because of the accidents that occur on a daily basis.” 

St. Louis Children’s Hospital is where trauma doctors see first-hand the effects of gun violence. This year, more than 40 children were treated for critical gunshot wounds. 

More than 80 percent of them were under the age of 15. 

Doctor Alexis Elward is the Chief Medical Officer at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. "Our trauma team has told me that our gunshot wound numbers are three to four times higher than those seen in level one trauma centers in cities of similar sizes," Doctor Elward said. 

Mayor Krewson said gun violence is the most critical issue in St. Louis, and a one-size-fits-all approach hasn't been working.  

"We need this in St. Louis." Mayor Krewson said, adding that if the bill were to pass, her top priority would be to require a permit to carry a gun.

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