Peachtree City Mayor Kim Learnard is listed among more than 40 — mostly Democrat — mayors across Georgia who are pressing for more controls on the sale and possession of guns in Georgia.

Mayor Learnard is listed as supporting new and tougher laws in five areas, the likely most controversial is one aimed at tighter controls on certain semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

The five are:

“• Continued enhancement of behavioral health supports and funding.

“• A level playing field for background checks that includes all purchases or transfers.

“• Mechanisms that identify and prevent potential purchases by those who have been demonstrated to be at risk for illegal activity with guns.

“• A focus on the specific weapons that are demonstrated to create rapid destruction through high capacity or rapid fire action.

“• Requirements for safe storage of guns.”

The Citizen has emailed Mayor Learnard and members of the Peachtree City Council the following questions:

I have received an email copy of a letter from “Mayors of Georgia cities” to Gov. Kemp and the General Assembly that urges legislation be passed that would significantly increase regulations on privately owned guns in Georgia.

You are listed as signing the letter: “Mayor Kim Learnard, Peachtree City”

Among the five areas of new legal requirements being supported include this one:

• A focus on the specific weapons that are demonstrated to create rapid destruction through high capacity or rapid fire action.

The letter (copied as an attachment) is specifically from mayors of Georgia municipalities.

First, did you indeed sign the letter copied below, and do you indeed support the items being sought as listed in the letter?

If you did sign the letter, please answer some questions for publication:

1. How was this an appropriate action of the mayor of Peachtree City, thereby representing an official position of Peachtree City, its government and its 38,000-plus citizens, as opposed to your signature as a private individual representing only your private, personal viewpoint?

2. How many of the City Council knew in advance about your official signature?

3. How many of the city’s population do you think your position accurately represents?

4. Will you be affixing your official signature as mayor of Peachtree City to any other controversial state and national policy and cultural debates?

5. If so, how do you justify using your official position to make broad statements that by implication represent the political and cultural positions of your constituents?

Any statement you would care to make in defense of your unprecedented action will be published without editing.

The letter from the more than 40 mayors is reproduced below:

September 1, 2023

Governor Kemp and members of the Georgia General Assembly,

We write you today as Mayors of Georgia cities who are urging you to act to reduce the increasing gun violence that impacts the communities that we serve.

Many of us are parents and grandparents, and our professional backgrounds include the fields of business, finance, law, religious ministry, education and agriculture.

We believe that there is no single act that will immediately end the epidemic of homicides, suicides and gun injuries that scar our communities.

However, just as decades of progress have led to cleaner air, healthier drinking water and safer roadways, you have in your authority the ability to diminish gun violence.

We currently live with the reality that gun violence has become the number one killer of children, and in which Georgia has become a top exporter of illegal weapons.

We come to you with this request because our residents rely upon us to be the front line of efforts to enhance their quality of life.

Specifically, we seek:

• Continued enhancement of behavioral health supports and funding.

• A level playing field for background checks that includes all purchases or transfers.

• Mechanisms that identify and prevent potential purchases by those who have been demonstrated to be at risk for illegal activity with guns.

• A focus on the specific weapons that are demonstrated to create rapid destruction through high capacity or rapid fire action.

• Requirements for safe storage of guns.

Sincerely,

Mayor Buddy Duke, Adel

Mayor Ben Davis, Alapaha

Mayor Kaye Riley, Argyle

Mayor Kelly Girtz, Athens-Clarke County

Mayor Travis Wimbush, Blakely

Mayor John Ernst, Brookhaven

Mayor Betty Cason, Carrolton

Mayor Brian Mock, Chamblee

Mayor Bianca Motley Broom, College Park

Mayor JoAnne Taylor, Dahlonega

Mayor David Pennington, Dalton

Mayor Patti Garrett, Decatur

Mayor Joseph Geierman, Doraville

Mayor Lynn Deutsch, Dunwoody

Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham, East Point

Mayor Buddy Pittman, Eastman

Mayor John Reid, Eatonton

Mayor Aprill Adside-Smith, Gordon

Mayor Charlene Glover, Greenville

Mayor Russ Dean, Guyton

Mayor Liz Ordiales, Hiawassee

Mayor Carlos Duffy, Jackson

Mayor Linda Wilkes-Davis, Keysville

Mayor Fred Perriman, Madison

Mayor Al Lane, Marshallville

Mayor Lavern Clancy, Midway

Mayor Mary Parham-Coplan, Milledgeville

Mayor Tamon Frost, Nicholls

Mayor Kim Learnard, Peachtree City

Mayor Arline Chapman, Porterdale

Mayor Chris Stacy, Riceboro

Mayor Donita Bowen, Santa Claus

Mayor Van Johnson, Savannah

Mayor Blue Cole, Sharpsburg

Mayor Barbara Bender, Snellville

Mayor David Keener, Social Circle

Mayor Allen Haywood, Sparta

Mayor Jonathan McCollar, Statesboro

Mayor Joyce Denson, Toomsboro

Mayor Vince Williams, Union City

Mayor Tom Dickson, Varnell

Mayor Dodd Ferrelle, Winterville

Mayor Andrea Gibby, Young Harris