The Remarks Of Speaker Sheldon Silver

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence Annual Legislative Day

Empire State Plaza, Well Of The Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY
Monday, April 14, 2008 [12:30 P.M.]

{As Prepared For Delivery}

Let me also take a moment to once again welcome the members of "REACTION," from Brooklyn's High School of Public Service. We are also grateful to have with us, students from Brooklyn's Grand Street Campus High School, and representatives from the Westchester County Youth Council.

It is important that you are here, because young people are the key to changing the culture of gun violence that permeates every corner of our state and our nation.

I know that I speak for all New Yorkers when I say, we hope that you are successful in your lobbying efforts today.

With every shooting that is reported by the media, two thoughts consistently come to mind.

First and foremost, I am reminded of how fortunate I am never to have lost a son or a daughter or a grandchild to gun violence. Some of you here this morning, I know, have not been so fortunate, and my heart - and the hearts of my Assembly Majority colleagues - go out to you.

That you are here in Albany this morning to advocate for sensible gun control so that no parent has to endure what you are enduring, is human nature at its finest.

The second thought that comes to mind is this:

How did we get to the point in America when parents are frightened to send their children to school and when our children are actually practicing drills just in case a gunman enters their school?

I remember February 9th of 2004, when a student at Columbia High School in East Greenbush, just across the Hudson River from here, brought a twelve-gauge shotgun to school and wounded a teacher.

A member of my staff had a daughter in that high school when the shooting occurred.

I remember the panic and the sense of helplessness she felt as she waited for the news that her daughter was safe.

I think about the parents who buried their sons and daughters following this year's Valentine's Day massacre at Northern Illinois University.

I think about the heartbreak of Virginia Tech; the one-year anniversary of which, is just two days away.

And I wonder, as I know all of you do, what is it going to take to put an end to the killing?

Yes, there are those who say, "Get rid of every gun!"

Let me be clear, I am not advocating that the state take firearms away from licensed and law-abiding citizens.

All we are asking for is a sensible gun policy; one that prevents accidents, one that saves lives.

Year after year, I and my Assembly Majority colleagues put forth a fair and comprehensive agenda of sensible gun-control legislation for that very reason.

In fact, today, we will take up and we intend to pass a ten-bill package of anti-gun-violence legislation. Included in that package is a bill entitled, "The Children's Weapon Accident Prevention Act," which is sponsored by Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg of Long Island.

The intent of this legislation is to prevent children from getting their hands on a weapon and firing it. Sounds like a good idea, right? Guess what?

The Assembly Majority has been passing this legislation since 1993. Fifteen years, and it's still not a New York State law!

So, I ask again, what is it going to take?

In addition to the Children's Weapon Accident Prevention Act, we will pass legislation:

• To keep guns out of the hands of children and out of the hands of convicted felons;

• To protect New Yorkers from 50-caliber weapons, assault weapons, and armor-piercing ammunition;

• And to establish a ballistic identification database and to support "microstamping."

We are proposing legislation to ban those who have been involuntarily committed to a hospital or an institution for reasons outlined in the mental hygiene law, from owning or possessing a firearm.

We are proposing to make it a "Class D" felony to make a real firearm look like a child's toy.

These are just common-sense ideas.

The Assembly Majority and the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence have spent years working together to turn these ideas into law.

In fact, many of these bills have been around for years.

So when I ask the question, "What will it take?" my fear is that it will take a Virginia-Tech-style massacre at one of our high schools or colleges before there is a unified, bipartisan commitment to ending gun violence.

That is my fear, and it is a fear shared by many New Yorkers.

You may not realize it, but you have an important job to do today.

If and when you meet with those legislators who do not support these bills (and you know who they are) ask them:

What will it take to make these bills law this year?

What will it take to reduce the likelihood that another child will accidentally shoot himself?

What will it take to deter a gunman from attacking one of our college campuses?

If they are willing to meet with you, if they give you a real answer, pass it along to us, because we are willing to do everything in our power to prevent gun violence throughout the State of New York.

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, again, thank you for being here. Thank you for being the leaders that you are and for being the strong partners that we need.

The bills that we pass today, we pass in your honor and in the memory of the countless New Yorkers whose lives were cut short by gun violence.

I know you won't give up. I assure you, neither will we.

Enjoy your day in Albany and keep up the good work. We will succeed.