For Immediate Release                                                                                                                         Contact: Andy Pelosi (212) 679-2345

April 19, 2005 

(New York, NY): Noting that six years ago tomorrow two armed students planned and executed a massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, Andy Pelosi, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV), the statewide gun violence prevention group said: "April 20^th is always a sad day for NYAGV and students and parents across the country. Sad because we mourn the loss of students and a teacher that horrible spring day in Colorado, as we also mourn the loss of so many other students and teachers in places like Jonesboro, Pearl, Paducah and, a month ago, Red Lake, Minnesota. But, sad also because so little has been done to keep guns out of the hands of young people intent on death and mayhem."

Pelosi pointed to the expiration of the federal Assault Weapons Ban last September and the expansion in many states of laws allowing the concealed carrying of handguns in public as examples of the country’s failure to act to reduce gun violence. He said: "It has even become legal in some states to carry concealed handguns in schools, of all places. How backward can you be?"

Pelosi continued: "Despite all of the carnage in our schools, all the grief and shock among families, neighborhoods and communities, still the gun lobby wants more guns in more places, including schools. Yes, the gun lobby’s twisted response to the Red Lake and preceding school shootings was to call for teachers to be armed, as if more guns will result in less gun violence. It’s an absurd and dangerous notion and has no place in New York’s schools."

Jackie Kuhls, NYAGV policy director said: "President Bush and the current Congress have worked shamelessly for the craven interests of the gun lobby and industry and against the welfare of the youth of our country. They have made sure guns are readily available to young people by refusing to close the gun show loophole, allowing the Assault Weapons Ban to expire and destroying gun background check information before law enforcement can complete comprehensive checks. Meanwhile we mourn the loss of thousands of youth each year."

Between 1999 – 2002, 9,000 young people (ages 0 –18) have been killed in this country by guns.

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence is New York State’s leading grassroots organization committed to reducing gun violence in our communities through advocacy and education. www.nyagv.org

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