JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The mayors of Missouri’s two largest cities teamed up on Monday against bills in the legislature that aim to nullify some federal gun laws.

“This gun nullification legislation is absurd, embarrassing, and reckless,” said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. Mayor Sly James, of Kansas City, added, “the concept that nullifying federal gun laws makes our cities safer is absurd.”

The two mayors said bills being considered by the legislature that would aim to limit federal involvement in enforcing federal gun rules in the state would harm collaborative efforts between cities and federal law enforcement agents. They pointed to U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan, who joined them on Monday in Jefferson City.

Callahan, a federal law enforcement agent, himself, said whether or not cities choose to work with federal authorities is a policy choice made by local law enforcement organizations. He said the bill would harm the ability of local governments to make that choice.

“It would effectively terminate the ability of state and local officials to work on task forces and team up with federal officials on violent crimes,” he said. “The federal gun laws are our tools in combating urban gang violence.”

Nullification legislation similar to a bill vetoed by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon is moving in both chambers of the legislature.