A Detroit councilwoman formally asked the city's legal department Tuesday to examine the feasibility of restricting or monitoring rifles and semi-automatic firearms at Detroit hotels that face public spaces like Hart Plaza.

Councilwoman Janee' Ayers told the Free Press Monday night that her decision to potentially explore bringing forth legislation was prompted by the Las Vegas shooting that left more than 50 people dead late Sunday.

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The Sunday night tragedy unfolded when Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old resident of Mesquite, Nev., opened fire from a Mandalay Bay hotel room, 32 floors above a packed, outdoor concert in Las Vegas, killing dozens and wounding hundreds more, and prompting chaos as the panicked crowd scrambled for cover. In the memo obtained by the Free Press, Ayers said she wants to explore restricting or monitoring rifles and semi-automatic weapons via registering them upon check-in at the hotels.

The memo was sent to the city's Corporation Counsel Melvin Butch Hollowell and Legislative Policy Division and referred to the Public Health and Safety Standing Committee.

Ayers said she's received a large amount of feedback, some negative, within the past 24 hours of announcing her plan to explore council's options.

"People used all types of words to describe this," Ayers said during council's Tuesday session. "Did she think about it, is it grandstanding ... is it a knee jerk reaction. It is a reaction and it's a reaction that we have not been getting on any level of government.

"When I thought about it, I thought about Sandy Hook and I thought about Orlando and I thought about South Carolina. ...It shouldn't be where massacres and mass shootings are commonplace."

Hart Plaza was the scene of a shooting in 2004 when nine people were shot while attending the annual Detroit fireworks celebration. And one of two people shot during this year's fireworks event was near Hart Plaza. Ayers said with the number of big events in the city such as the Jazz Fest or the Techno Fest, Detroit could find itself in a "vulnerable position."

But if Ayers were to actually bring forth an ordinance, she would face opposition.

Just last week, the Michigan House approved a measure that would require municipalities to align their gun ordinances to state law. According to the Associated Press, it would make Michigan only the fourth state to penalize local governments for not complying. If approved by the Senate, it would effectively kill any measure a local government tried to enact that is harsher than state law.

The legislation was passed 69-39 and would let residents sue to enforce the pre-emption law or file a complaint with Michigan's attorney general. According to the Associated Press, a judge would have to order the municipality to stop enforcing the ordinance and to amend or repeal it, leaving municipalities on the hook to pay damages, costs and attorney fees to those challenging their rules.

Attorney James J. Makowski, who has represented several open carry advocates, said Monday he believes it would be illegal under state law and would be impossible for the city to enact. Makowski also said he doesn't believe it would prevent a tragedy.

"Legally they cannot do it because state law prevents them from regulating firearms in any way," Makowski said. "... I would probably file a lawsuit against the city should they try to pass it."

In light of the Las Vegas tragedy, Councilwoman Mary Sheffield proposed sponsoring a resolution, attacking the issue on a federal level to urge Congress to enact "common sense gun reform."

"At some point, Congress needs to act," Sheffield said.

Contact Katrease Stafford: kstafford@freepress.com or 313-223-4759.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.