The pistol frequently holstered on the hip of Butler's new mayor has caught the attention of more than just city residents.

Mayor Tom Donaldson, who often carries his .45-caliber Magnum on his side, is the focus of a recent National Rifle Association video promoting gun rights.

The more than 8-minute video attributed Donaldson's support for gun rights to his election victory in November.

“What you're seeing is people standing up for what they believe in,” said Ginny Simone, who made the video for NRANews.com and the website's YouTube channel.

That website is contracted by the NRA to make videos on guns. Simone said she has been covering the NRA for two decades.

NRA took interest in the city's election because former Mayor Maggie Stock was a member of the coalition Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

The movement was started by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino in 2006 to keep illegal guns out of dangerous hands.

The NRA, which says the group threatens the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, mailed a flier and made automated phone calls to NRA members in the city last year campaigning votes for Donaldson.

Donaldson, who is not a member of the NRA, said he appreciated the support from the organization.

“They put their own money in it,” he said. “It's very much appreciated. It got me some votes.”

Donaldson said many residents mentioned the NRA's endorsement when he was campaigning.

“I didn't even know they were making calls at first,” he said. “But several people brought it up to me when I was going door-to-door.”

Simone, who is based in Washington, D.C., said she thought gun rights was a major issue for many Butler residents.

“Tom didn't expect this to be an issue, but (Stock) made it an issue when she signed up for the list,” she said. “The people said they want a mayor that will listen to us.”

Stock called the video “one sided” and said gun rights had nothing to do with the election.

“The mayor of a Third- Class city does not have the ability to change the Constitution of the United States,” she said, adding she never had any intention making any gun control changes in the city.

Stock added she does not think the coalition is trying to violate gun rights either.

“It's Mayors Against Illegal Guns,” she said. “It's a bipartisan group that promotes background checks that the majority of gun owners support. The mayor of the Third-Class city oversees police. The coalition is in the interest of public safety.”

Donaldson said he thinks residents need to be able to protect themselves.

“Sometimes the police are 15 minutes away,” he said.

While Donaldson said gun rights was an important factor with many residents, he wouldn't comment on what impact it had on the election.

“I think everything I did and anything others did combined to help me win,” he said.

Stock said while some residents were against her joining the coalition, others praised her for it.

“Many people thanked me for being a member,” she said.

Donaldson also wouldn't comment on whether he thought Stock had any intention of trying to limit gun rights in the city.

“I won't speculate on that,” he said.

Simone said the NRA backed 24 mayors across the country who were running against “Bloomsberg mayors.”

She said 23 of them were elected in November.

But Donaldson was one of only two of those mayors to have a video made about his victory. The other is in Lakeland, Fla.

Donaldson said he was asked to be the feature of the video due to his background as a police officer.

“There are a lot police officers that don't want people to have guns,” he said. “I'm a firm believer you should stay out of my holster.”

Donaldson, who is a supervisor for a mail delivery company, had been a police officer for Jackson and Franklin townships and for Eau Claire.

The NRANews crew spent a couple days in the city filming the video.

The video features Donaldson and U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, speaking in the mayor's home about the role gun rights had in the election. The video also features Butler residents at the American Legion speaking on behalf of gun rights.

Donaldson said he was happy to make the video and thinks it will be good for the city.

“This will get attention on Butler, and I want to do anything I can to bring positive attention to the city,” he said, adding he has seen feedback from across the country on the video.

Donaldson said he knows not everyone will agree with his opinion, but thinks he is in the majority with city residents.

“More people care about their 2nd Amendment rights in this area than not,” he said.

To view the video, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTkjfLYCOOw.