New
Yorkers Against Gun Violence
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andy Pelosi (212)
679-2345
June 16, 2005
Advocates Call on Senate to Take Action Before End of Session
Cite Broad Support From Law Enforcement for Passage of Tougher
State Assault Weapons Ban
60 Police Chiefs and County Sheriffs Support A State
Assault Weapons Ban that closes loopholes
(New York, NY): 60
local Police Chiefs and County Sheriffs from around New York State are
supporting legislation introduced by Senator Frank Padavan (R-Queens) that
would strengthen New York State’s current Assault Weapons.
A letter listing Police Officers and Sheriffs who have signed on asking
for a strong and effective ban has been delivered to Governor Pataki and all
members of the New York State Senate. The New York State Assembly passed a
similar measure on May 24th.
New
York State’s Assault Weapons Ban (modeled on the expired federal ban)
prohibits the manufacture, transfer, and possession of 19 specific
semiautomatic assault weapons, such as AK-47s, AR15s, MAC-10s, TEC-9s and UZIs.
However, the gun industry, beginning in 1994 began to evade the law by
making minor cosmetic changes to assault guns, renaming them, and marketing
them as “post-ban” models. Such
copycat assault weapons are
functionally identical to those banned by current NY law, which is why
Police Chiefs and Sheriffs have called for strengthening New York’s ban, to
close loopholes allowing such craven industry practices.
Copycat
guns are abundant in New York, as represented by the 690 copycat assault
weapons traced to crime scenes in New York State between 1995 and 2000
(according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives). This
past February in Ulster, NY, a 24-year old man armed with a Hesse Model 47
assault rifle (a copy cat version of the banned AK-47 assault weapon) injured
two people during a mall shooting. The
shooter was able to squeeze off approximately 60 rounds before being subdued.
Similarly, just two weeks ago in Syracuse, two assault weapons that are
currently legal under New York law were purchased illegally from a gun dealer
and then stolen by criminals.
Andy
Pelosi, Executive Director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence said,
"Assault weapons pose a particular threat to law enforcement.
According to FBI data, one in five law enforcement officers killed in
the line of duty during a recent five-year period were killed with an assault
weapon.” Pelosi continued,
We
applaud the New York State Assembly for taking a stand for the safety of New
Yorkers and law enforcement and now call on the State Senate to pass Senator
Padavan’s bill (S.5504) before they head home for the year.”
Joyce
Gorycki, NYAGV Board member and whose husband, James Gorycki, was killed
during the Long Island Railroad massacre in 1993, said, “The firepower of
assault weapons makes sense on the battlefield, but is simply inappropriate in
civil society. New York State
should be leading the way in drawing the line against legal civilian ownership
of these weapons of war."
Jackie Kuhls, NYAGV Public Policy Director
said, “Last September, President Bush and Congress abdicated their
responsibility to the people of this country, including law enforcement
officers, by not passing a strong and effective federal assault weapons ban.
The New York State Senate, along with the Governor, should stand with
law enforcement as the Assembly has and pass a meaningful assault weapons ban
that closes the loopholes in the current state law.
About
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence is the leading
grassroots organization in New York State committed to reducing gun violence
in our communities through advocacy and education. www.nyagv.org
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