Senate Republicans Vote Down Gun Safety Legislation

(Brooklyn, NY) In response to the repeated tragedies caused by gun violence, Senator Roxanne J. Persaud and the New York State Senate Democrats forced votes on four firearm safety bills on 2/28/17. The Senate Republican Majority unanimously opposed each of these basic, common sense measures.

“Thoughts and prayers are not enough to keep our communities safe. We need government to take action,” Senator Persaud said. “It is very disappointing that every single member of the Senate Republican Majority voted against bills to combat gun violence.It is the responsibility of every member of the New York State Senate to take action to protect our families. Gun violence is non-partisan. We must all fight to end the senseless violence from firearms that puts New Yorkers at risk”.

The Senate Democrats forced four bills onto the Senate floor for a vote, and the Senate Republicans voted against each measure. The bills would have implemented effective background checks, established extreme risk protection orders, and banned bump stocks in New York State. The Senate Democrats also advanced legislation to create a Firearm Violence Research Institute: Senate Bill S.4363, sponsored by Senator Roxanne Persaud, which will create a center for research into firearm-related violence.

"Gun violence is preventable, and should not be considered as a "fact" of life in the community I serve.  Just days ago, an eight-year-old girl in Brooklyn was struck by a stray bullet, rushed to the hospital and thankfully survived- the latest victim of this preventable epidemic. As elected officials, it is our duty to ensure the people we serve are safe. I am saddened that today my Republican colleagues played politics with children's lives. The time to find a lasting solution is now, and I appeal across the aisle to my GOP colleagues to step up and do the right thing, so we can make New York safer, together." Senator Roxanne J. Persaud said.