NEW YORKERS AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE
Working to Reduce Gun-Related Violence Since 1993
For Immediate Release
January 12, 2006
Advocates Praise Assembly Gun Violence Prevention Measures and Call on
Senate to Act
New York, New York, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV), New
York's leading state-wide grassroots gun violence prevention
organization joined Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Council Speaker
Christine Quinn, Patrolman’s Benevolent Association President Patrick
Lynch, Eric Adams of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement, other elected
officials, and representatives of the Million Mom March and the Brady
Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in calling on the New York State
Senate to follow the Assembly’s lead and take action on the gun
violence prevention measures passed by the Assembly on January 9, 2006.
Jackie Kuhls, Executive Director of NYAGV, praised the New York State
Assembly for passing a comprehensive package of bills that will:
prevent illegal guns from reaching the streets; protect law
enforcement; and keep guns out of prohibited hands. The State Senate
voted down an amendment on Monday that called for action on these
bills. Kuhls said, “The State Senate has shown great interest in
punishing criminals after someone has been killed or injured, now will
they join the Assembly and pass legislation to PREVENT such tragedies
and keep law enforcement officers safe?”
Among the measures passed by the Assembly is a bill requiring gun
dealers to adopt responsible business practices. In upstate New York,
over 60% of crime guns were originally purchased in New York State.
Nationally, over 50% of crime guns are traced to a few corrupt and/or
sloppy dealers. Taken together, this information indicates that it is
possible to make a significant reduction in the number of illegal guns
on our streets by holding dealers accountable for the guns in their
possession.
Another bill passed on Monday requires law enforcement throughout the
state to submit all crime scene ballistic evidence to state databases
for tracing and analysis. In order to thwart gun trafficking networks,
law enforcement must have complete data on recovered crime guns and
ballistic evidence. Analysis of such information exposes gun
trafficking networks and provides case leads. This data is now
collected only sporadically in the State of New York. Kuhls added,
“The State can and must be smarter about using evidence to guide police
action, particularly as it pertains to such dangerous work as
apprehension of gun traffickers.”
Edie Smith, Chair of the New York Million Mom March and NYAGV Board
member said, I hope the Senate will join the Assembly in passing
measures to protect New Yorkers by preventing guns from getting in the
wrong hands to begin with. Punishment of offenders is important but
prevention is essential to save lives."
Dr. Sheldon Teperman, trauma surgeon and NYAGV Board member noted, “I
see the devastation caused by illegal guns, on my operating table and
on the faces of grieving family members. This is a public health
crisis and I applaud the Assembly for taking steps to prevent tragedy.
It’s time for the Senate to act as well."
Contact: Jackie Kuhls 917-587-4108
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence 3W 29th St. Suite 1007 New York, NY
10001 212-679-2345