Mitch Landrieu (D.), the mayor of New Orleans, suggested during an appearance on MSNBC's "MTP Daily" that the United States should treat gun violence in the same manner that it handles infectious diseases like Ebola.
Landrieu, who has been floated as a potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, appeared on Chuck Todd's show Wednesday to discuss his new book. Toward the end of the interview, the mayor was asked about his thoughts on gun control in the wake of the February school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The shooting, which left 17 dead, has reignited the national conversation around how to adequately respond to gun violence.
Todd pointed out that as a Southern Democrat, Landrieu was in a contradictory position between his party, which has long advocated for gun control, and his state, which is one of the most pro-gun in the nation.
"This is something that divides Democrats and Southern Democrats from the rest of the party," Todd said. "What would you tell the national party on how to handle the gun issue?"
The mayor stated that he understood the importance of the Second Amendment and the role it played in the life and culture of the South; however, he also expressed his support for limiting gun rights.
"The Second Amendment is important and I recognize an individual's right to own guns," Landrieu said. "I'm from the South, as you know. Hunting is a part of our life ... but it is clearly true that every constitutional right is available for limited and responsible restrictions."
Landrieu said he believes most Americans agree that not everyone "needs every kind of gun" and that a stronger emphasize needs to be placed on gun safety.
"It is clearly true, and I think most Americans would agree, that not every American needs every kind of gun all of the time to do anything that they want," the mayor said. "I think that one of the things we have to do is not disrespect individuals who want to own guns, but really appeal to them to make sure – and they get this already – that you have to handle a gun responsibly."
Landrieu elaborated that he was in favor of strengthening background checks, "outlawing bump stocks," and "limiting who" has access to "assault weapons or weapons of war." He further stated that he believed the majority of Americans agreed with him and that a bipartisan consensus in support of some gun control measures existed.
The mayor also expressed his support for the survivors of the Parkland shooting who were organizing, along with the help of gun control groups like Everytown for Gun Safety, the upcoming "March for Our Lives" rally.
"I am really proud of the young men and women," Landrieu said. "The level of violence on the streets of America relating to guns is just incredible and it is something we have to deal with."
When asked if there was a specific policy prescription he would offer to the gun violence conversation, Landrieu pointed to the need for further research on the topic.
"One of the things we don't even do in this country, which is just nonsensical, is we don't do research on gun violence, so we don't know as much as we should," Landrieu said. "The first thing we ought to start doing is doing research like we would research a virus like Ebola."
"We have to treat gun violence like a public health threat and a public safety threat," Landrieu added.
Landrieu, who also serves as president of the United States Conference of Mayors, suggested the federal government pay attention to how cities across the country are tackling gun violence.
Landrieu's record addressing gun violence and crime in New Orleans has been mixed across his two terms as mayor, the second of which ends in May. In September of 2016, Landrieu signed new gun restrictions into law in an effort to curb gun violence in his city. Under Landrieu's tenure, the city has struggled to curb its murder rate, which in 2017 saw more murders per capita than all but two other U.S. cities, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association Violent Crimes Survey. The murder rate in New Orleans was lower than only Baltimore and St. Louis, and it was higher than cities such as Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit.