Press Release: New Yorkers Against Gun Violence & GunFreeKids.org

Gun Violence Prevention Supporters Help Lead the Way to Historic Majority in the State Senate

(New York): New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and GunFreeKids.org endorsed the winners in two important Senate races this week: Joseph Addabbo beating Senator Serphin Maltese of Queens and Brian Foley, besting Senator Caesar Trunzo in Suffolk County. In the run up to Tuesday's election, gun violence prevention advocates rated candidates for the State Senate and Assembly and endorsed nearly three dozen. In these two high profile Senate races, the NRA-endorsed candidates - long-time incumbents both lost, thus opening the door for new leadership in the State Senate. In the Assembly, nineteen of our endorsed incumbents won re-election. Three of the incumbents prevailed despite challengers who had received "A" ratings and support from the NRA.

Jackie Hilly, Executive Director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, said: "The law abiding citizens of New York State have spoken. They are tired of the non-sense and inaction of the State Senators like Maltese and Trunzo who along with their many of their colleagues have stood in the way of sensible gun legislation in New York. With their departure, New Yorkers can now expect the Senate to take action on legislation that has lingered for far long. Microstamping, gun dealer regulation and employee background checks for gun dealer employees are all important bills to help law enforcement officers throughout the state We need to give our law enforcement officers all the tools they need to investigate, arrest and prosecute criminals who use illegal weapons "

The State Senate now has a majority of members who understand the need for sensible gun legislation. Andy Pelosi, Executive Director of GunFreeKids.org, said "The results from Tuesday's election send a clear signal that it won't be business as usual in the State Senate come January. In the past, advocates watched helplessly as strong gun violence prevention measures would pass in the Assembly, only to fail to see the light of day in the Senate. We are now optimistic that new leadership will take on the state's gun problem instead of cowering to the gun lobby."

Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "We now look forward to passing legislation to help keep dangerous guns out of the hands of dangerous people."

The list of endorsed candidates and the legislative scorecard can be found on each organizations' website (www.nyagv.org) and (www.gunfreekids.org).

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