Phoenix Mayor Stanton speaks on recent gun control issues

On Wednesday, KTAR’s Mac and Gaydos spoke with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton on the issues of gun control and Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s posses.

Arpaio wishes to put armed posses outside of local schools and plans to host a training event with actor Steven Seagal this weekend to prepare and educate interested volunteers.

“The idea that you have armed posses outside of schools is not something that I support,” Stanton stressed. “But, I do support more attempt to get resource officers in schools not just from a safety perspective but also because the incredible benefit that those resource officers provide to children in terms of education and in terms of a trusting relationship.”

While Arpaio favors more protection in and around schools, Stanton stated that he had a much different concern regarding the national gun crisis.

“We can’t just do nothing, but we’ve got to be smart about it,” said Stanton. “In my opinion, being smart about it involves not a single approach or a one-size-fits-all one things gonna solve the worlds problems we have to be smart about it and that why a more com approach which includes by the way one of the most difficult issues our so has to approach how do we better manage the mental health system.”

Although Stanton admitted that fixing the mental health care system won’t be an easy task, he remains a firm believer that it’s a necessary action when dealing with the country’s gun issue.