Local governments and police departments buy a lot of guns. That’s no secret. Together with the U.S. military, municipalities account for nearly have the $11.7 billion firearms market.

Consequently, one can argue that they wield some power or have some leverage over firearms manufacturers. Typically, that purchasing power those municipalities has is used to get a good deal on guns. Buy in bulk, pay less for each gun.

But what if instead of using that purchasing power to get a better deal, municipalities used that to push gun manufacturers to adopt certain standards and business practices as well as develop new technologies.

Well, that’s the essential premise behind a pro-gun control group calling itself ‘Do not stand idly by,’ a coalition of mayors, faith leaders and police officials that want to strong arm gun companies into changing the way they do business.

“We want to use the power of the market place. The power of the free market,” New Rochelle Mayor, Noam Bramson told CBS New York.

“We’re saying to Glock, embrace new technology to make guns smart. That only the persons legally responsible to use that gun can use it,” New Rochelle Police Commissioner, Pat Carroll added.

Thus far, 59 jurisdictions have joined the cause and asked Glock, Beretta, Ruger and several other manufacturers to release distribution records, and bring “child proof, theft-proof guns” and other technologies to the market.

The agenda of ‘Do Not Stand Idly by’