Philly mayor uses tragic murder of police officer to push gun control: 'If you don't back gun control ... you don't back the blue'

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney (D) contended Tuesday that supporting gun control is a prerequisite for supporting law enforcement officers.

At a press conference addressing the fatal shooting of Temple University police officer Christopher Fitzgerald, Kenney used the moment to push a narrative that suggested lenient gun laws were responsible for Fitzgerald's murder.

"You can say you back the blue but if you don't back gun control and gun availability, you don't back the blue," Kenney said.

"We owe it to them to do everything we can to stop this nonsense and stop this tragedy," he declared.

"It is simply too easy to access weapons in our state and in our region. And that turns too many confrontations into fatal encounters, like an argument over a parking space," he also said. "We are fighting an uphill battle and it doesn't have to be this way. I will continue to call on state lawmakers for sensible gun reforms that will protect our city's residents, including the brave men and women who have taken an oath to protect the peace."

Fitzgerald was gunned down on Saturday when he attempted to stop several teenagers, wearing dark cloths and masks, in an area recently plagued by robberies and carjackings. A chase ensued, and at some point, one of the teenagers shot Fitzgerald.

Police later arrested 18-year-old Miles Pfeffer for the murder.

LIVE: Philadelphia officials give update on Temple officer's shooting death, investigationwww.youtube.com

Anything else?

Kenney has a history of using tragic incidents to push gun control.

After two police officers were shot during Independence Day celebrations last year, Kenney said America needs to adopt Canada's gun control laws.

"It was a laid-back, chill day. Weather was beautiful. Concert was beautiful," Kenney said after the incident. "But we live in America and we have the Second Amendment and we have the Supreme Court of the United States telling everybody they can carry a gun wherever they want. It's like Dodge City."

"I was in Canada two weeks ago; never thought about a gun. The only people I knew who had guns in Canada were police officers," he continued.

"That's the way it should be here," Kenney demanded.

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