Brooklyn Democratic State Senators Kevin Parker, Roxanne J. Persaud, Martin Malavé Dilan and Daniel Squadron joined the Senate’s Democratic Conference today in rolling out a series of bills as part of comprehensive anti-gun legislation.
The measures are in direct response against President Trump’s pro-gun administration, which the conference says amounts to actually rolling the clock back on common sense gun restrictions and protections.
“New York can do more to reduce the threat of gun violence. The package of bills put forth by the Conference, including my bill to curb gun access for hate crime offenders, is crucial to better protecting communities across the state,” said Senate Democratic Policy Group Chair Squadron (D-Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan)
Specifically, Squadron’s proposed bill, S.5569, will prohibit someone convicted of a hate crime from buying or owning a gun.
Parker’s proposal, S.5829, would prohibit the possession or manufacture of any firearm, rifle, or shotgun which is undetectable by an X-Ray machine, metal detector, or magnetometer.
“My colleagues and I in the Senate will not allow the usual suspects to hinder us from passing progressive legislation around the issue of gun safety. The Senate Democrats anti-gun violence package will help to decrease gun violence across our State, while holding gun holders accountable. We will do all we can to ensure that the safety of all New Yorkers is central to any laws we enact,” said Parker (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope).
Persaud’s proposed bill, S.4363, would create a center for research into firearm-related violence.
“To fight the gun violence epidemic that our communities are facing, we must address the root cause. Gun violence is preventable; it is imperative that we stand together to eliminate this threat to our families, our communities and our nation as a whole. The common sense legislation which we have introduced will combat this menace to our society. This is a crisis and we must act now,” said Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown).
Dilan (D-Williamsburg, Bushwick) said people on both sides of the gun safety debate have reached common ground in light of recent tragedies throughout the nation.
“No one debates the merits of limiting access to certain weapons, or to some people in certain circumstances. Trump’s rhetoric on gun safety is dangerous and self-serving and in no way serves the interests of the American people or the communities adversely impacted by gun violence,” he said.
Senate Democrats are hoping this package of legislation will help to keep New Yorkers safe and increase anti-violence safety across Brooklyn.
According to the NYC Crime Statistics, so far this year there has only been 32 murders in Brooklyn about the same amount at this time last year.
Across the nation, there has been 91 mass shootings, defined as four or more gunshot victims not including the shooter by the FBI, in 2017 alone. This year’s numbers are currently 36 percent higher than 2015, which saw 67 mass shootings in the first 100 days of the year, and 38 percent higher than 2014’s figures.
