Everytown, New York Moms Demand Action, Applaud Governor Cuomo on Announcement of Funding for Lifesaving Programs to Prevent Gun Violence, Signing of Innovative Gun Safety Bill

Moms Demand Action Drove Thousands of Emails and Calls in Support of Landmark Legislation Opening New Pathways to Holding Bad Actors Within the Gun Industry Accountable in New York

The New York chapter of Moms Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statements applauding Governor Andrew Cuomo for signing a first of its kind bill aimed at holding bad actors in the gun industry accountable, as well as the announcement of a suite of summer gun violence prevention strategies aimed at addressing the devastating uptick in gun violence in New York. 

The suite included funding plans to fund $138.7 million for violence intervention and prevention programs, including street outreach and hospital-based violence intervention programs, as well as summer youth employment programs. The Governor also announced new strategies to address firearm trafficking, including creating a dedicated anti-trafficking task force within the State Police, alongside neighboring states in the States for Gun Safety coalition, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, to coordinate efforts to stem the flow of illegal guns into cities across New York. Today’s announcement also included a declaration of a first-ever disaster emergency, classifying gun violence as a public health crisis, allowing the state to expedite money and resources immediately to communities to begin fighting gun violence.

“For too long, irresponsible actors in the gun industry have been making record profits all while gun violence in our communities hits record levels,” said Nick Suplina, Managing Director of Law & Policy at Everytown for Gun Safety. “The signing of this bill marks the start of a new chapter in the gun safety movement, one where the gun industry can be held accountable for dangerous actions that contribute to gun violence. We are extremely pleased that Governor Cuomo has reaffirmed today that gun safety is a top priority in the state, not only with the signing of this bill, but also with his announcement of crucial funding for community violence intervention.”

“New York’s gun violence crisis is multi-faceted and in need of serious action,” said Diane Rinaldo, a volunteer with the New York chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We are very pleased that Governor Cuomo is continuing his commitment to gun safety with the announcement of these vital initiatives and the signing of this innovative bill, further cementing New York’s status as a leader in the gun violence prevention movement.”

In the leadup to today’s announcement and bill signing, the New York State Legislature passed a set of important bills to address the gun violence epidemic. One of the bills, which was signed today by the Governor, S7196/A6762B, is a first-in-the-nation piece of legislation that allows victims of gun violence and other state authorities to file suit against bad actors in the gun industry for their unlawful or unreasonable conduct that results in harm to New Yorkers and their communities. This landmark legislation will open up a long-foreclosed path to accountability for an industry that for years has allowed bad actors to operate with impunity and jeopardize New Yorkers’ safety. Moms Demand Action volunteers drove 18,158 emails and 1,030 calls to lawmakers in support of the bill.

Two other bills awaiting signature — S.14A, known as the Jose Webster Untraceable Firearms Act, and S.13A, known as the Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act — would comprehensively regulate ghost guns by prohibiting the possession and sale of unserialized, untraceable firearms and of unfinished frames and receivers.