The city of Sacramento regulates handguns and ammunition, and the city council is willing to go to court to continue that role.

It voted 7-2 recently to join other cities arguing in support of the city of Chicago, whose gun control ordinance is under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mayor Kevin Johnson and Councilman Robbie Waters were opposed, however. Johnson, through an aide, called the effort "poorly drawn and not reflective of our challenges here in Sacramento."

"We should focus our time and energies on issues within our jurisdiction," Johnson was quoted as saying.

On March 2, the court will hear oral arguments in the case of McDonald v. Chicago, a case sponsored by the Second Amendment Foundation and the Illinois State Rifle Association.

That case is filed on behalf of Chicago residents, including Otis McDonald, a retiree seeking to rid his neighborhood of drug dealers and who wants to have a handgun in his home.

Sacramento's brief — in conjunction with other cities — is expected to argue that state and local governments are exercising one of their core police powers by regulating possession and use of firearms.

Other cities invited to join in the friend of the court brief include Baltimore, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Trenton, N.J.

Read more at SacBee.com