New York Lawmakers Delcare June as Gun Violence Awareness Month

Brooklyn Assemblyman Karim Camara and Mount Vernon Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson were joined by Queens Assemblywoman Nily Rozic to announce the reintroduction of a resolution declaring June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. The resolution passed in both houses last year, according to Camara, and is part of a five year plan to reduce gun violence in New York. "Last year, New York was the first state in the country to introduce a resolution declaring June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. This initiative galvanized a movement in communities that brought citizens and community leaders together to adopt ways to end gun violence. Now we are building upon our efforts by inviting other cities and states across the nation to join with us in our fight to eradicate these senseless crimes," Hassell-Thompson said. 

 Violent gun crimes typically increase in New York during the month of June. Last June in New York City, there were 23 shootings in the span of 48 hours—5 percent of the year’s total shootings, according to information from the Department of Criminal Justice Services ( DCJS). In 2012, homicides by firearm accounted for 57 percent of all murders in New York. Hassell-Thompson said African Americans represent 23 percent of New York’s population, yet made up 60 percent of murder victims and 70 percent of shooting victims based on the 2012 statics from DCJS. "African American men between the ages of 17 and 37 comprised of 40 percent of those murdered in 2012, and 86 percent of these young men were killed with a firearm," Hassell-Thompson said. The resolution will be introduced in June, according to Camara, who chairs the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus.