New York City Mayor Eric Adams is leading a national effort to prevent gun violence.

The mayor drafted and signed a letter urging Congress to pass an assault weapons ban.

Adams was joined in a meeting on Thursday by White House officials and 62 mayors from other cities and demonstrated the significance of gun control, especially in heavily populated cities like New York City.

"When you allow someone with a mental health illness to have access to these assault rifles, it can create a great deal of danger, particularly in an area like New York City that's densely populated with 8.3 million people, so it's extremely alarming," the mayor said.

Today's announcement included mayors of cities like Buffalo and Highland Park, Illinois which both experienced mass shootings with the use of assault weapons.