Senator Ritchie: Volunteer Firefighters Backing ‘Mark's Law’

Bill to Help Protect Responders Drawing Statewide Interest—and Support

The Firemen’s Association of New York State, representing tens of thousands of volunteer firefighters from Montauk to Morristown, and Cape Vincent to Cattaraugus County, has joined in urging state legislators to support Senator Patty Ritchie’s proposed “Mark’s Law.”

The measure (S.4717) is named to honor Jefferson County EMT Mark Davis, who was shot to death while responding to an emergency call. It provides that the killing of an emergency first responder, volunteer and paid firefighter, ambulance driver, paramedic, physician or nurse involved in an emergency team would be classified as First Degree murder, and punishable by the stiffest penalty allowed under New York law—life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

“The Firemen’s Association of New York State is the state’s premier organization representing our volunteer fire service,” Senator Ritchie said. “I am very pleased that they are joining me to do everything we can to protect our bravest who go out to respond to calls for help from their neighbors and friends.”

“With FASNY making ‘Mark’s Law’ a legislative priority, I am confident we will see more statewide organizations representing the emergency services community standing up and throwing their support behind this legislation.”

Senator Ritchie said that, in addition to support from the firefighters organization, nearly 1,000 firefighters, emergency responders and friends have signed her online petition to build support for the measure.

The petition can be found at Senator Ritchie’s website, www.ritchie.nysenate.gov.

The bill is sponsored in the Assembly by Assembly Member Addie Russell.