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Saying that there's a gun violence problem not just in Stamford but also all across America, Martin said it's time to take action.
"It is just too easy for too many people to get guns, and we need to put an end to this," he said.
Martin delivered his remarks wearing an orange tie to recognize National Wear Orange Day, which is part of a nationwide movement to honor lives cut short by gun violence and a call to action to prevent gun violence deaths.
One solution to the problem is universal background checks on gun buyers, which he said the majority of Americans support.
“The first and most most obvious thing is when almost 90 percent of the American people support universal background checks, and we still don’t have universal background checks,” Martin said. “We’ve got to change that.”
Though Martin said gun violence is down this year compared with 2015 year-to-date, he said there is still serious crime and gun violence in Stamford.
The city has seen several high-profile shootings. In 2015, a woman was shot to death in Lione Park, and more recently, police are investigating a shooting in the parking lot of La Quinta Inn over the weekend.
City police have seized nearly 130 handguns year-to-date, not including shotguns and assault weapons. Some weapons seized by police were on display during the event.
Officials said those who are not supposed to attain guns still do so through various ways. Some ask romantic partners for weapons. Others obtain weapons through burglaries or procure them in the South, where it is easier to buy guns, officials said.
To combat the problem, the city has stepped up foot patrols. Martin also previously announced that “blue light” emergency call towers would be installed several city parks, including Lione Park.
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