Alarming is how Mayor Eric Adams describes the nation’s epidemic of mass shootings.
Along with more than 60 mayors, Adams asks the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Congressman Mike Johnson, to ban the sale of assault weapons nationally.
Let’s call gun violence what it is, terrorism, said Highland Park, Illinois Mayor Nancy Rotering. Seven people were killed and 48 injured during a shooting on July 4, 2022 in that city with the use of assault weapons.
Semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns that can accept detachable magazines and other features are assault weapons commonly used in mass shootings.
Ten states and the District of Columbia have banned these weapons. Still, the leaders present say that until the laws are enforced at the national level, the violence will not stop and more innocent people will die.
“There are states in America where it is easier to buy an assault weapon than it is to buy cough medicine. This disgrace is killing our children. @SpeakerJohnson, it’s time to stop this river of gun violence once and for all. Ban assault weapons NOW,” the mayor wrote in a message on social networks regarding the request to the president of Congress.
There are American states where it is easier to buy an assault weapon than it is to buy cough medicine. This disgrace is killing our children.@SpeakerJohnsonit’s time to dam this river of gun violence once and for all. Ban assault weapons NOW.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 9, 2023
In the city on the morning of April 14, 2022, 62-year-old Frank Robert James shot 33 times inside the N train in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The shooting left 29 people injured.
A month later, 10 people at a Buffalo supermarket were killed and three were wounded in a shooting deemed a hate crime.
“We can stop the violence, right? But it has to be a local and national investment,” said Tiffany Lamela, vice director, LIFE CAMP organization.
The non-profit organization ‘Life Camp’ in Queens has been working with youth and families on gun violence prevention for 20 years. They offer different free services to young people from 14 years old and up.
“With sports, with academic things, if they have therapeutic problems they need someone to give them therapy,” Lamela added.
They are part of the National Coalition of People of Color with whom they have obtained federal funds to create violence prevention models in different states.
“There is now an office of violence prevention in the White House that is part of our effort from here in Queens that has taken the entire nation.” said organization founder Erica Ford.
It is not yet known when there will be a response from the president of the lower house of Congress to the request for a weapons ban.
