Theater Shooting Prompts Mayor Reed to Discuss Gun Control

With the anniversary of the "" approaching next week and the recent theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., gun control is once again on the minds of elected officials in Atlanta.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said Monday in an interview on 90.1 FM Public Radio that the mass killing in Colorado should force the nation’s leaders to take another look at whether or not stricter gun control laws are needed.

Although he is not yet ready to endorse specific measures, Reed said “We definitely need to make sure it's a  part of the national conversation again. I don't think that we're doing enough or talking enough about it."  

What steps, if any, do you feel should be taken in regards to gun control across the nation in light of recent events?

In regards to the Buckhead shooting, which itself made national and international headlines, Reed said it factored into his feelings following the theater shooting on July 20.

"And I remember that shooting, the day trader shooting, I remember it; I was here. And that's why I immediately increased police support at our theaters (following the Aurora shooting), as did the Mayor of Los Angeles, and as did the Mayor of New York, and we spoke about it recently."

Thirteen years ago next week, day trader Mark Barton killed nine people and wounded 13 others at two trading firm offices in Buckhead. Barton had already killed his wife and two children at the time of the shooting.

In last Friday's theater shooting in Colorado, James Holmes, 24, killed 12 people and wounded 58 others when he opened fire at a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises."