New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

For Immediate Release                                                     Contact: Andy Pelosi 212-674-3710

(New York City). New York City High School students joined New York political leaders and gun violence prevention advocates in speaking out today against gun violence and about the need for better protection against illegal guns. The students, representing Martin Luther King, Jr., Benjamin Cardozo, and Murry Bergtraum high schools also presented the elected officials with several thousand signed pledges against gun violence, part of a nationwide campaign where students agree not to bring guns to school or use them to settle disputes. The news conference took place on the steps of Manhattan City Hall at 3:30 pm.

The problem of illegal guns flooding New York City was demonstrated on January 15 when two students were shot at Martin Luther King, Jr., High School in Manhattan. The investigation determined that the young person accused in the shooting had acquired an illegal handgun (a Lorcin .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol). Federal law enforcement officials were able to trace the gun to a batch of 1,033 similar pistols that were illegally sold in the NY metropolitan area from 1988 to 1993 by a former Connecticut gun dealer.

U.S. Representatives Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney, Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields and City Council members David Yassky and James Davis all spoke at the news conference and stressed the importance of passing federal legislation to close the gun show loophole and crack down on unscrupulous gun dealers, measures that will reduce the flow of illegal guns into New York. City Councilmember Yassky, commenting on the Martin Luther King, Jr., H.S. incident stated, "The looming question is, how the teenager got a gun in the first place? Somewhere, a network of street dealers sold a semi-automatic to a troubled teen. This case won't be solved until those responsible are in prison."

Although New York has strong gun laws, guns sold in other states with laxer gun laws continue to enter New York illegally. According to a report released in November 2000, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 80% of the crime guns traced in New York City in 1999 were originally bought in specific southern states. "We need to protect our youth by cutting off the supply of these deadly weapons before they reach our city and state," stated Andy Pelosi of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence. Edie Smith of the Manhattan chapter of the Million Mom March, said "Criminals, and terrorists know they can get guns, no questions asked at gun shows in many states. To protect New York children, we need federal legislation to close this gun show loophole."

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