Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-Newburgh) is praising Governor Hochul’s announcement that she is convening a new Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns to stop the flow of illegal guns into New York and other states in the northeast.

Jacobson said, “I called for a multi-state anti-gun trafficking task force even before I was elected to the Assembly, so I am excited that Governor Hochul is taking this action to protect our residents from gun violence.

“These illegal guns are not manufactured in Newburgh or Poughkeepsie or elsewhere in New York State. It is common knowledge that most of the illegal guns in New York originate in the southern part of the country, travelling north by way of I-95 and other highways. That is why no one state can successfully combat gun trafficking,” said Jacobson. “But by banding together, we can have a real impact.”

Jacobson took immediate action to combat the uptick in gun violence in the cities of Newburgh and Poughkeepsie by securing funding for gun buyback events. This past December in Newburgh, a very successful event was held where 59 weapons were turned in including 38 working handguns. Another gun buy-back is scheduled in Poughkeepsie on April 16, 2022.

Last year, Jacobson also secured $145,000 in funding for ten organizations providing youth services and programming as an alternative to criminal activities. These included: the Newburgh Ministry, Newburgh Urban Food and Farm, Newburgh Armory Unity Center, the Zion Lions, Newburgh Elite Track, the Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, Real Skills, Rebuilding Our Children and community, and Nubian Directions II.