After a violence filled holiday weekend, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken unprecedented action to stop the shootings. Likening the new push to limit death by guns to a public health crisis, Cuomo plans to start tackling the epidemic of violence just like he did Covid-19. Consider these headlines:
- NYPD: 26 SHOT OVER JULY 4 WEEKEND IN NYC..
- 14 SHOT IN BUFFALO..
- 5 SHOT IN SYRACUSE..
- 3 SHOT ON LONG ISLAND..
- 2 SHOT, KILLED IN UTICA, INCLUDING A 14 YEAR-OLD. 15 YEAR-OLD CHARGED..
- 16 YEAR-OLD SHOT, KILLED IN ROCHESTER..
In the last two years gun related violence has soared in NY cities, with Buffalo and New York City seeing the largest increases. Our very reliable and accomplished law enforcement sources all make it very simple why they believe the violence is surging. As one officer explains:
“Between the pressure put on police to avoid any confrontation, bail reform making it almost pointless to arrest people, and the non-stop anti-police rhetoric, its impossible for police to do the job. We now have to stand back and stand down to certain criminal elements because its a lose-lose scenario if we intervene! Without that daily intervention and presence by police, violent crime comes fast in urban populations.”
Police officers have always had the unpleasant task of chasing and capturing those who are fleeing the law. Not so much anymore, the chase itself is often avoided for another day or other means of delivering justice.
“We used to have officers willing to chase down guys with guns and make traffic stops to catch the guys possessing(weapons). And now, even if we take the guns: The suspect is literally allowed to walk away and go get a new one pending his court date months from now.”
Governor Cuomo’s Gun Violence Disaster Emergency Strategy is multi-faceted:
—– > Issues Executive Order Declaring Gun Violence a Disaster Emergency, Requiring DCJS to Gather and to Share Incident-Level Data from Local Police Departments on Gun Violence
—– > Creates Office of Gun Violence Prevention to Coordinate Efforts and Direct Resources to Emerging Gun Violence Hot Spots
—– > Invests $138.7 Million in Intervention, Prevention and Jobs Programs to Engage At-Risk Youth and Get Young People Off the Streets
—–> Creates New State Police Gun Trafficking Interdiction Unit to Stop the Flow of Illegal Guns into the State
—– > Partners with John Jay College of Criminal Justice to Strengthen Police-Community Relations
Read the Full Press Release From Governor Cuomo
