AP Poll Guns

In this Jan. 19, 2016 file photo, handguns are displayed at the Smith & Wesson booth at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas. The Amherst Select Board voted to sign on to the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Statement of Principles.

(John Locher/ AP File )

AMHERST -- The Select Board this week voted to sign onto the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Statement of Principles.

Without a mayor, the Select Board is the highest elected town office and can enroll in the program.

The Board of Health sent a letter to the Select Board in April asking members to sign on.

The health board, according to its request letter, is concerned about the "role of guns in accidental shootings by young children having access to improperly stored guns, guns and domestic violence and intentional and unintentional self-inflicted gun wounds by troubled adults."

The vote was 4-1 to sign on to Statement of Principles as presented by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a program of Everytown for Gun Safety.

Chairwoman Alisa Brewer voted against it. "I have misgivings about joining organizations," she said.

The Select Board had put off voting earlier and member Douglas Slaughter took on the task of gathering information.

Town Manager Paul Bockelman said two people spoke against joining, including a Hadley resident, and one supported it. The board also received letters of support and against it as well, including one from a Connecticut man.

Principles include: