SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Savannah Mayor Van Johnson issued a statement Tuesday responding to Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr’s brief filed on Monday.

“The Attorney General has consistently shown a lack of interest in assisting cities like Savannah in tackling the deadly effects of illegal and stolen firearms,” Mayor Johnson remarked. “Instead of using his constitutional power to help safeguard our communities, he has opted to take adversarial stances against the very citizens he is sworn to protect.”

Johnson stated, “In Savannah, we believe it is not only possible but crucial to uphold the Second Amendment while protecting second graders and teenagers. Public safety is not a political issue; it is a collective responsibility. We are eager to present our case in court and to stand resolutely for the safety and welfare of all Savannah residents.”

Carr’s brief supported a lawsuit filed against Savannah’s firearm regulation ordinance.

Carr responded, “Regardless of how much the mayor disagrees with our laws, he cannot openly infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of our citizens. Progressive politics are not a justification for government overreach.”