The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments today challenging the constitutionality of Chicago’s handgun laws.

A 1982 ordinance prohibits the sale and possession of handguns in the city. Guns-rights advocates say that’s a violation of the Second Amendment.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley was joined by politicians, religious leaders and other community members in defending the city’s gun laws yesterday.

DALEY: You’re talking about a society you think would learn, learn from the value of life. How many lives have we lost? How many young people have seen their brothers or sisters or classmates killed or seriously injured? That has an emotional effect upon everyone.

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis says decades of hard work at reducing violent crime would be lost if the handgun ban is overturned.

Daley says “reasonable, common sense” gun laws protect citizens. He says cities and states should be able to decide how to best protect themselves.