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June 23, 2022

MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT HANDGUN DECISION

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“The Supreme Court ruling today limiting New York’s ability to regulate individuals carrying guns in public will make America a more dangerous place.

“It is disturbing that this ruling to widen the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms, comes just as our legislators in Washington have finally reached bi-partisan agreement on some gun safety measures.

“It also sets back the efforts of all lawmakers and citizens working to bring gun violence in our country in line with the rest of the civilized world, which collectively have less gun deaths in a year than America has in a week, or even days.

“This ruling follows a trend that puts more Americans at risk of being victims of gun violence. In communities across the country, specifically our urban centers, we are seeing record numbers in youth gun offenses and we must do all that we can to keep our residents safe and free from harm.

“Following the national attention of the murder of 17 fourth-graders and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas and the racist, hate-killing of 10 people, mostly African-Americans, in a Buffalo supermarket that is still fresh in our memory; this Supreme Court ruling has the potential to put thousands, if not millions of guns on our streets. This not only defies logic, it defines insanity, and is a crime against humanity.

“The New York rule, which is similar to New Jersey’s, asking people to apply for a proper license to ‘show cause’ to carry a weapon outside the home is born of common sense to keep our cities, towns and rural areas safer.

“History will show that this Supreme Court’s widening of gun rights will cause more harm and risk the lives of more Americans.”

-          NEWARK –