New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

PRESS RELEASE

In wake of shooting death of 10-year-old girl in the Bronx, advocates and victims demand action to counter flood of illegal guns

With the start of school today the safety of young people

throughout the city is at issue

(Bronx, NY) As New York City public school children began their first day of classes, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV), the Patterson Volunteer Committee and the Million Mom March joined with community leaders and the family of 10-year-old Naiesha Pearson to denounce the tragic shooting death of Naiesha and to renew the call for elected officials at all levels of government to re-commit themselves to getting guns off the streets.

In 2003, nearly 40 percent of the people killed by guns in New York City were under the age of 25. Illegal guns are responsible for a large portion of the gun violence in New York City with 90 percent of crime guns coming from out of state – states with lax gun laws.

Wallace Hasan, Chairman of the Patterson Volunteer Committee – a Bronx based organization said, “People with illegal guns are killing our children. The illegal gun problem needs to be the first order of business, every day, on the New York City Council’s agenda until it is resolved.”

Andy Pelosi, Executive Director of NYAGV remarked, “We want to first extend our sympathies to Naiesha’s family for their horrific loss. Unfortunately, the story of Naiesha’s death is not an uncommon one where nearly 200 young people are killed every year in our city. We cannot as a society continue to allow the scourge of illegal guns to terrorize our young people, but most importantly, we cannot become anesthetized to the violence.”

Jackie Kuhls, Public Policy Director of NYAGV noted that existing resources are not being fully used by law enforcement to cut off the source of illegal guns. "In 2000, New York established a crime gun database and a ballistic imaging database as tools for law enforcement. Officials in the Governor's office have not been able to answer questions as to whether these databases are being used to identify gun traffickers such as those who exploit Interstate 95 aka 'the iron pipeline'. In addition, Governor Pataki, and the State Senate have refused to negotiate with the State Assembly over a comprehensive approach that would both increase the number of gun trafficking prosecutions and reduce the number of guns that slip into the illegal market through lax business practices by some gun dealers. They please the gun lobby by ensuring gridlock and inaction while guns flood our streets and place children like Naiesha at risk."

Pelosi closed by saying, “Several months ago the New York City Council and the Mayor demonstrated that they cared about taking illegal guns off the street by enacting the Gun Industry Responsibility Act, which holds the gun industry liable when their reckless sales practices result in injury or death of a New Yorker. This was an important first step, especially in light of the federal government’s abdication of its role in reducing gun violence. Without action by the Governor and the Legislature to curb illegal guns the cycle of violence will continue.”