Conference of Mayors, Representing 1,295 U.S. Cities, Calls for Stricter Gun Laws Following Sikh Temple Shooting

Following Sunday's horrific shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Michael Nutter, Philadelphia mayor and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, released a statement Monday and argued the tragedy signaled the need for stricter gun laws in the U.S. that would help "prevent senseless tragedies."

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official "nonpartisan" organization of cities with populations greater than 30,000. There are currently 1,295 cities in the organization and each one is represented by its mayor.

It is unclear whether Nutter reached out to other mayors in the U.S. Conference of Mayors before calling for gun control on behalf of the entire organization. However, according to its website, the group has generally supported stricter gun regulations.

The Philadelphia mayor released the following statement:

"Once again our attention is focused on an inexplicable act of violence by a gunman who has killed at least six people and injured several more, including a police officer."

"The nation's mayors express their outrage at yet another mass shooting and send their condolences to the victims, their families, and their community. Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi is in our thoughts and prayers today as he helps his city cope with this tragedy."

"This shooting occurred as people prepared for a morning worship service in the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek. While we don't yet have information about the shooter's motives, the weapons used, or how he obtained them, we do know that once again guns have been used in a mass killing of innocent people."

"Just 17 days have passed since the tragic shooting in Aurora.  The U.S. Conference of Mayors repeats its call for reasonable changes in our gun laws and regulations that could help to prevent senseless tragedies such as the one that has shocked Oak Creek and the nation."

Nutter issued a very similar statement after the shooting in Aurora, Colo., where police say James Holmes, 23, opened fire at a movie theater during a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" last month.

"While questions about his motives and about how he obtained his weapons will be answered in the hours and days ahead, the fact remains that once again guns have been used in a mass killing of innocent people," Nutter said in the statement.

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• POLICE: SIKH TEMPLE SHOOTING BEING HANDLED AS ‘DOMESTIC TERRORISM,’ FBI TAKING OVER INVESTIGATION
• ‘HATE BREEDS HATE’: TWITTER USERS BLAME MICHELE BACHMANN FOR ATTACK ON SIKH TEMPLE
• OBAMA, ROMNEY RELEASE STATEMENTS FOLLOWING SIKH TEMPLE SHOOTING

(h/t: Joe "Pags" Pagliarulo)