Detroit councilwoman's rifle ban proposal draws criticism in wake of Las Vegas shooting

DETROIT (WJBK) - The Las Vegas shooting tragedy has prompted a Detroit city councilwoman to propose a ban on rifles in Detroit hotels, but Janee Ayers's critics say she is using the situation for political gain.

"I don't believe her. I think it was political gain," said Mary Waters, a former state rep. "Period."

Waters is slamming her opponent for Detroit City Council at-large Janee Ayers Tuesday after reading her proposal to ban rifles from Detroit hotels.

"Of course, all of our hearts go out to what happened in Nevada," Waters said. "We want to make sure we are doing things for the right reason."

As the nation still reels from the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history,  Waters is accusing Ayers of using that massacre to further her career.

"(She's using it) to get her name out there," Waters said. "And that's wrong, this is not the time to do that."

A spokesperson for Ayers told FOX 2 in a statement: "Keeping Detroiters and visitors to Detroit safe, is part of what I do as a councilwoman every single day. I believe my service to Detroiters requires me to press issues and ideas, no matter how difficult that are in our citizens' best interests."

"It was an opportunity to grandstand, that's what she did," said Waters.

FOX 2: "What if she says this is your opportunity to grandstand?"

"It's my opportunity to check her," Water said.

Waters adds that Ayers shouldn't be speaking on a topic she can't do anything about.

"She has no authority," Waters said. "None. There's not much she's going to be able to do. Those kinds of things handled on the state and federal level."

Meanwhile, Ayers responded: "As the Vice Chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee and in my work with Homeland Security, I will speak out on any issue I think is critical to making Detroit safer. It's called leadership."

"There are a lot of things she could've spoke out on," Waters said. "And she didn't do that."