ST. LOUIS - Mayors of Missouri's four largest cities, including St. Louis mayor Tishaura Jones, recently sent a letter to Governor-Elect Mike Kehoe, urging him to prioritize efforts to combat youth gun violence.

Springfield (Mo.) Mayor Ken McClure led the letter, which was also co-signed by Jones, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe.

The letter cites alarming trends in youth-related shootings across the entire state, noting that 21 reported shootings last year in Springfield involved suspects who were 18 or under. It also mentioned that 15 children have lost lives to gun violence in Kansas City.

As of early November, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reports of 52 juvenile shooting victims in the 2024 calendar year.

“While juvenile shooting incidents and juvenile shooting victims continue to decrease in the City of St. Louis, Mayor Jones is hopeful that this letter will help underscore to the governor-elect the importance of working with local officials and passing common-sense legislation at the state level that establishes a prohibition of juveniles possessing a handgun," said Conner Kerrigan, a spokesperson for the St. Louis Mayor's Office.

The letter advocates for changing state law to align with federal regulations that prohibit minors from possessing handguns. The mayors also call for an improved system with reporting on weapons-related incidents in schools and the creation of a public database to inform parents of youth gun violence.

The mayors expressed a willingness to collaborate with Kehoe and local law enforcement on solutions to reduce crime and improve public safety.

"We hope that, as you convene your cabinet and your advisors, you will consider us willing partners and active collaborators to address public safety, and specifically, youth violence," the letter concludes.

Kehoe has served as Missouri's lieutenant governor in 2018 after predecessor Mike Parson assumed governorship following the resignation of Eric Greitens. He will again succeed Parson in January as the state's 58th governor.

Prior to then, Kehoe had a background in legislative roles in Missouri, spending seven years of experience in the Missouri Senate, three as a majority leader.

After claiming victory in the Nov. 5 election, Kehoe reiterated that some of his top priorities were to crack down on crime, back law enforcement, strengthen public education, expand school choice options, and support tax cuts.

A copy of the letter sent to Kehoe is attached in the slideshow below: