Remarks by Speaker Sheldon Silver

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence Press Conference/Rally

ESP, Well of the L.O.B.
Wednesday, May 2, 2006

Thank you, Jackie (Kuhls).

Let me once again express my gratitude to the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and all of your supporters for establishing "Sensible Gun Legislation Day."

Of course, it's hard to have sensible gun policy in a state where the governor thinks stem cells are more of a threat to our communities than assault weapons.

It's hard to have sensible gun policy in a state where we require that young children be secured in car seats when we are driving, where we require them to wear helmets when they ride their bicycles, where we require lifeguards to be on duty when they swim in a public pool, BUT we don't require their parents to lock up their firearms!

It's time that this State had leadership that was beholden to the people, and not to the National Rifle Association!

On behalf of the New York State Assembly, let me take a moment to express our gratitude to:

• The New Yorkers Against Gun Violence;
• The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
• The Million Mom March;
• The One Hundred Black Law Enforcement Officers Who Care;
• And to ALL of the affiliated organizations who are supporting our gun-violence-prevention package and fighting for sensible gun policy across this state and across our nation.

You are heroes in our eyes, and we are proud to call you our partners in this struggle that truly comes down to life and death.

We in the Assembly Majority know that the Governor won't lead. We're not even asking our colleagues in the Senate to lead. Frankly, we've already done the hard work.

We've passed legislation to establish stricter standards for gun dealers and to increase penalties for gun traffickers, with the leadership of Assembly Member Amy Paulin.

We've passed legislation expanding the New York's ballistic DNA system, and legislation banning armor-piercing bullets, with the leadership of Assembly Member David Koon.

We've passed The Children's Weapon Accident Prevention Act, with the leadership of Assembly Member Harvey Weisenberg.

We've passed legislation making it a Class A misdemeanor to sell guns without childproof features, with the leadership of Assembly Member Steve Englebright.

We've passed legislation closing the loophole that allows a convicted, violent felon to obtain a firearms license and possess a gun, with the leadership of Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz.

We've passed legislation to ban assault weapons, with the leadership of Assembly Member John Lavelle.

We've passed legislation banning .50-caliber weapons, with the leadership of Assembly Member Pat Eddington.

We've passed legislation to prevent the victims of domestic violence from becoming the victims of gun violence, with the leadership of Assembly Member Danny O'Donnell.

All we are asking now, is for our colleagues in the Senate to join us in conference committee and together, let's hammer out an agreement that will better protect our communities and the police officers who defend us. Then, we can pass the legislation we need and all the Governor will have to do is sign the bills into law.

It's just that simple.

We know it can work.

Back in December of 2005, the Governor and the Legislature toughened the penalties for assaulting a police officer and we toughened the penalties for gun trafficking. Then, in typical, shortsighted fashion, victory was declared by the Governor as if our work was complete.

Although significant, these actions represent only a first step towards the complete job we still need to do. Though we closed the front door on gun trafficking, right now in Albany, the NRA is keeping the back door wide open to illegal guns.

Clearly, we need action from the President and from Congress; action to get illegal guns out of our communities. Unfortunately, because the radical gun lobby has greater sway in Washington than does our safety, no federal law exists requiring national firearms registration.

Worse yet, a "stealth" amendment in a federal budget bill actually prohibits U.S. law-enforcement agencies from sharing gun-tracing information. Meanwhile, out-of-state gun sellers are flooding our neighborhoods with illegal firearms.

Earlier this year, a 25-year-old Brooklyn man opened fire on two New York City police officers with an "Uzi-type" assault weapon. The weapon had been sold in Atlanta in the early 1980s, and had never been reported stolen.

Let me ask you. In this hyper-secure, post-September-Eleventh era, how can a 25-year-old be walking the streets of Brooklyn armed with an Uzi machine gun?

This is a perfect illustration of what's wrong with the gun debate.

It's hard to talk sensibly about guns when political figures use violent crimes as a springboard to jump up on their soap boxes and pitch their demands for tougher punishments. Unfortunately, the media spotlight is always ready to broadcast those sound bites.

Where, I ask you, are the headlines and the editorials demanding action to keep our law enforcement officers from being attacked in the first place?

Why, for example, is there no urgency to ban "cop-killer" bullets?

How can we care enough to provide law enforcement officers with bullet-proof vests, and be careless enough to allow the legal sale of armor-piercing, "cop-killer" bullets?

Where is the moral outrage? Perhaps, before we ban the weapons, we ought to ban the hypocrisy!

Fortunately for all New Yorkers, in 243 days there will be - as they say on television these days - an extreme makeover in the policies and attitudes coming out of the Governor's Office.

While it's enjoyable to think about January 1st, 2007, we cannot relent in our efforts to reduce gun violence in this State. Together, we must make every one of the next 243 days count, because innocent lives are at stake.

We need sensible gun legislation in this State.

Today and everyday, let's keep up the pressure on the Senate and let's keep up the pressure on the Governor.

Putting an end to gun violence is a legacy all New Yorkers can take pride in.

Let me close by once again thanking you for being here. Thank you, for all of the good work that you are doing, and thank you for caring enough to stand up for all of the New Yorkers who share our mission.

G-d bless you.