Philadelphia mayor on gun violence: ‘I’m waiting for something bad to happen all the time’
In response to the shooting of two police officers on July 4, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney conveyed deep frustration with gun laws and his inability as mayor to protect his constituents from violence. "If I had the ability to take care of guns, I would. But the Legislature won't let us. The U.S. Congress won't let us. The governor does the best he can. Our attorney general does the best he can. But this is a gun country. It's crazy,” said Kenney. “I'm waiting for something bad to happen all the time. So, I'll be happy when I'm not here, when I'm not the mayor, and I can enjoy things again,” he added.
Video Transcript
- Can you talk about your resolve? People are asking, what's the mayor doing about this?
JIM KENNEY: If I had the ability to take care of guns, I would. But the legislature won't let us, the US Congress won't let us. The governor does the best he can. Our attorney general does the best he can. But this is a gun country. It's crazy. We're the most armed country in world history, and we're one of the least safest. So, you know, until Americans decide that they want to give up the guns, and give up the opportunity to get guns, we're going to have this problem.
There's not an event or a day where I don't lay on my back, and look at the ceiling, and wonder-- worry about stuff. So everything we have in the city over the last seven years, I worry about. I don't enjoy 4th of July. I don't enjoy the Democratic National Convention. I didn't enjoy the NFL draft. I'm waiting for something bad to happen all the time. So it's-- I'll be happy when I'm not here, when I'm not mayor, and I can enjoy some stuff.
- You're looking forward to not being mayor?
JIM KENNEY: Yeah.
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