NYAGV

 MORE CAN BE DONE TO PROTECT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES FROM GUNS (5/15/01)
 

Last year the Governor and state legislature passed landmark gun measures. New Yorkers Against Gun Violence 5th Annual Sensible Gun Legislation day will stress four priorities for this year. The items focus on stemming the flood of illegal guns into our communities and reducing access to guns in the home through safe storage.

Gun trafficking and unsafe storage in the home make guns far too accessible to young people and others who should not have them. These guns all too often cause tragedies in our schools and neighborhoods. 

Today New Yorkers Against Gun Violence calls on the Governor and the legislature to continue the work they started last year and focus on four priorities:

· The 2001 budget must include full funding for the new gun interdiction programs passed last year.

· Legislative changes are needed to make it easier to prosecute gun traffickers in our courts.

· The purchasing power of the State can be used to make gun manufacturers more responsible for how their deadly products are distributed. Legislation should require law enforcement agencies to buy guns only from manufacturers that agree to the Smith and Wesson Code of Conduct.

· Finally, for the past 7 years the Assembly has passed a Safe Storage bill only to see it die in Senate committee. This year we are fortunate to have two excellent Safe Storage bills in the Assembly. It’s time for both houses to pass this important gun safety measure combining the best features of each bill.

Andy Pelosi, Executive Director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, said, “80% of the crime guns in New York City and 65% of the crime guns from the rest of the State come from states with lax laws. New York State cannot change these laws, but we can aggressively go after the gun traffickers who peddle their deadly wares here. If we were talking about the West Nile Virus we would be going after every mosquito! Guns killed 1,109 New Yorkers in 1998 and injured thousands more. Illegal guns are far more deadly than mosquitoes. Let’s fully fund the new gun interdiction programs.”

Al Valentin spoke emotionally about the destruction to his family wrought by an illegal gun in the hands of a teenager.

Comptroller McCall spoke about the necessity of strengthening our laws. Asssemblyman Koon talked about his bill, which would make it easier to prosecute gun traffickers. Senators Gentile and Breslin spoke about other measures to reduce the flow of illegal guns and require gun manufacturers to responsibly market their products.
 

Families also spoke about incidents that involved the careless use and storage of firearms. Edie Smith told the tragic story of her 14-year-old niece killed in her own backyard by a bullet shot into the air more than a mile away.  Michael and Mary Steber and Richard Wooding spoke of young sons lost because of guns stored carelessly in other people’s homes. Assemblyman Weisenberg described his years of work to pass a safe storage bill and Assemblymember Amy Paulin discussed a new safe storage bill she introduced this year, which is similar to one she helped to pass in Westchester County. Senator Schneiderman spoke of the efforts in the Senate to pass similar legislation.

Speakers: 
 

Alfredo Valentin, Bronx, NY - This New Yorkers Against Gun Violence board member’s 17 year old son, Derek, was killed with an illegal 25-caliber handgun.

Edie Smith, New York City - Her 14-year-old niece, Shannon, was killed in her own backyard by a bullet shot into the air more than a mile away.

Michael Steber, Liverpool, New York - His son, Mike 14, was killed when another 14 year old showed off his father’s automatic pistol with one round left in the chamber.
 

Richard Wooding, Duanesburg, N.Y. - His son, Roarke 10, was killed by a 14 year old, with a gun misplaced by a Conservation Officer, who stored it in a bread box.

Students Murry Bergtraum High School (NY, NY) students will speak of personal experiences with gun violence.

Hon. Carl McCall, New York State Comptroller

*Legislators who have worked on sensible gun measures.
 

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