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<\/p>\n3-minute read<\/p>\n
Beth Davidson
\n\u00a0|\u00a0 Special to the USA TODAY Network<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
New York officials urge gun reform at skyscraper shooting vigil<\/p>\n
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams called for gun reform after a deadly shooting.<\/p>\n
Just a few weeks ago, four people \u2014 including an NYPD officer \u2014 were senselessly killed in New York City by a gunman armed with an AR-15-style rifle. It was the deadliest shooting New York City has seen in 25 years<\/a>. Like so many of you, I was heartbroken \u2014 and angry. Because no matter how strong New York\u2019s gun safety laws are, they can\u2019t stop weapons of war from flooding across our borders from states with weaker laws. Gun violence, and the proliferation of assault weapons, is a national crisis that demands a national solution.<\/p>\n But instead of protecting our communities, federal leaders like U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler and Donald Trump are doing the opposite. In July, Lawler passed and Trump signed a reconciliation bill eliminating the $200 tax on purchasing or manufacturing silencers, short-barreled rifles and shotguns and other dangerous weapons.<\/p>\n This is not a minor change. It’s a full-scale rollback of nearly a century of bipartisan safeguards. And it could not come at a worse time.<\/p>\n Gun violence is an American scourge<\/p>\n Gun violence in this country continues to rise. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for American children and teens, surpassing car accidents and cancer. In 2023 alone, nearly 47,000 Americans died from gun violence<\/a>. This is a national emergency. Yet, instead of responding with urgency and common-sense solutions, Lawler and Trump handed a $1.7 billion giveaway<\/a> to the gun lobby.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s be clear: this wasn\u2019t about saving taxpayers money, nor was it about protecting our communities. Silencers, such as those used in mass shootings in Virginia Beach<\/a> and Monterey Park, California<\/a>, reduce the sound of gunfire, making it more difficult for officers and bystanders to recognize and react to an active shooter. Silencers make it harder for police to respond swiftly and safely in emergencies. Stripping away these basic safeguards does not make us safer. It makes our neighborhoods more vulnerable.<\/p>\n This is not just about one bill. Since entering office, Trump has gutted violence prevention programs<\/a>, removed a memorial to gun violence victims from a federal building<\/a>, rolled back mental health funding for schools<\/a> and even proposed restoring gun rights to people convicted of domestic abuse<\/a>. He\u2019s done everything the gun lobby could dream of, and absolutely nothing for families terrified of the next tragedy. And Lawler has supported his agenda at every step.<\/p>\n We deserve better. We deserve leaders who actually prioritize public safety.<\/p>\n