Victims of Gun Violence to Mayor Bloomberg: Condemn Wal-mart for Increasing Gun Sales

Wal-mart’s Cure For Struggling Sales? Reverse its Decision to Stop Selling Rifles, Shotguns and Ammunition at Many U.S. Stores

Communities and Families Plagued by Gun Violence Call on Mayor Bloomberg, a Strong Anti-Gun Advocate, To Tell Nation’s Largest Seller of Firearms it is Not Welcome in NYC

Victims of gun violence and leaders and families in communities plagued by gun violence, along with New York City elected officials, today denounced Wal-mart’s decision to sell more rifles, shotguns and ammunition at hundreds of stores nationwide after removing them from many stores five years ago.


Wal-mart’s decision comes after 7 consecutive quarters of same store sales declines in the U.S., which has spurred the retailer to pursue an aggressive urban expansion plan into New York City including a location in East New York, a neighborhood plagued by gun violence.


In 2008, Wal-mart enjoyed a major public relations boost when it announced it would participate in Mayor Bloomberg’s Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership- a move even the NRA derided as nothing more than a “public relations stunt.”


The families of gun violence victims urged the Mayor to be as serious as he says he is about preventing firearm deaths before they happen, by telling the nation’s largest firearms dealer that it is not welcome in New York City.


Jackie Rowe Adams from Harlem Mothers Save said, “The mayor needs to step up and renounce Wal-mart’s awful decision. We have seen what guns have done to our communities, and bringing in a Wal-mart to our communities would send the wrong message- that we condone their gun sale policies which put people’s lives in danger.


Parents United to Rally for Gun Violence Elimination (PURGE), founder Freddie Hamilton said: “I hope a strong anti gun advocate like Mayor Bloomberg will recognize a disastrous decision when he sees one and calls on Wal-mart to stop. We need fewer guns on the streets, and Wal-mart’s decision will only mean more guns on the streets.


Public Advocate Bill de Blasio said:"As the largest seller of firearms and ammunition in America, Wal-Mart does not belong in New York City. I urge Mayor Bloomberg to continue his leadership on gun control by joining the fight against Wal-Mart coming to our City.”


Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said:“The Wal-mart charm offensive ends today with news that the conglomerate plans to expand considerably the sale of weapons and ammunition. We know that the bullets that killed six people and wounded a United States Congresswoman in Arizona were purchased at Wal-mart, and now the retailer wants to make ammunition more accessible in both rural and urban markets. If the city wants to remain a leader on gun control, we need to take a hard stand against Wal-mart’s decision and make it clear that any corporation that looks for new markets to sell guns and fosters a culture of violence is not welcome in New York."


Councilmember Tish James said: “Any commercial establishment that sells guns by the truck-load does not belong in New York City. Guns are a scourge in New York City and no one sells more guns than Wal-mart, they don’t belong in our city.”


Councilmember Charles Barron: "East NY is plagued by the scourge of gun violence. And at the same time that Wal-mart is trying to buy their way into New York, they are quietly starting to sell guns and ammunition again. This is Wal-mart once again going back on a promise they’ve made because of their terrible sales, what other promises will they break?"


Councilmember Jumaane Williams said: "The gun violence in my district cannot be ignored and it cannot be accepted. Wal-mart bringing stockpiles of guns and ammo into our city would be a public safety hazard of the most heinous kind. This is the opposite of what we need to end gun violence in my district and in the City. Wal-mart is a company that will put lives in danger in order to turn a profit and I will not stand by and watch this happen without a fight."


When it comes to gun control and gun violence prevention, Wal-mart doesn’t appear to share New York’s values:

• Firearm sales: Wal-mart is the # 1 seller of fire arms in the US and takes in millions in profits from gun sales.
• Arizona: Wal-mart sold Jared Lee Laughner the ammunition he used in the Arizona shooting earlier this year, as was widely reported in the news media.
• Evading Laws: Wal-mart has a history of not complying with gun laws. In 2004, Wal-mart paid more than $14 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the California Attorney General alleging that the company committed thousands of violations of California state gun safety laws, including selling ammunition to minors and selling firearms to convicted felons, as was reported by the news media at the time.
• Wal-mart’s Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership is a sham: The partnership relies on voluntarily compliance, and there are no actual obligations for Wal-mart to comply.

Protecting Mental Health Services by Shirley L. Huntley - New York State Senator

Tucson’s Lesson: Protecting Mental Health Services

The tragedy in Tucson, Arizona will go down in history as one of our nation’s darkest days. Since then, many across the political spectrum have spoken out on the need to tone down the partisan political rhetoric throughout the nation and enhance the nation’s gun control enforcement. However, as the nation searches for answers, the tragedy sheds light on a more immediate concern in our society that has been habitually ignored: the state of our mental health system.

By all accounts, Jared Loughner was the epitome of the weaknesses in our mental health system: a troubled youngster, struggling to express his emotions in a perplexing society. He was banned from his college classroom until he could prove he was not a physical threat to himself, or anyone else. Think about that – an institution of higher learning recognized the serious need for mental health services and yet those services were unused. How did our mental health care delivery system reach such a point?

Sadly, with no alternative outlet, and no professional help, Loughner spiraled into his own dark world and turned to violence.

We cannot forget: for every person like Loughner who couldn’t be – or weren’t – helped there are tens of thousands of individuals that can. However, they will only receive access to the services they need if we foster an environment that encourages the restoration and repair of the mental health system in both

New York and the nation.

Fixing a Broken System

Michael Fitzpatrick, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), recently said, “The mental-health-care ‘system’ in America is a broken system.” Mr. Fitzpatrick’s assessment could not be more precise.

Frederick Douglass once remarked how it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. Access to mental health professionals at an early age can be of tremendous help to suffering individuals, and a study done by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has reported that half of all cases of mental illness appear by the age of 14, and 75 percent by age 24.

Furthermore, less than a quarter of the mentally ill get the care they need; and presently, there is an egregious lag time of nearly 9 years between the onset of mental illness and when the individual receives treatment. And in New York only 61 percent of children 2-17 with emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems received mental health care in 2007.

In the past two years the Senate Democrats worked extremely hard at improving New York’s mental health services. We passed an extension of Kendra’s Law and also passed groundbreaking legislation that changed insurance law to protect children with autism, setting the bar for a new national standard for treatment and services. Also, we were able to provide adequate funding for mental health services in last year’s budget, something that we must do again this year.

Making the Difficult Decisions

New Yorkers understand all too well that difficult decisions and tough cuts need to be made to lower state spending and balance our budget. But we must cut with care.

The duty of a public official is to protect our most vulnerable and provide a voice to the voiceless. We must remember why we are here and who needs us to fight for them. The stakes are high, and these services are critical to the well-being of all New Yorkers. We cannot continue to overlook how essential mental health services are until an event rattles the nation and then decide they are important.

Senator Huntley currently serves as Ranking Member for the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. She represents the 10^th Senate District based in South East Queens. She was recently overwhelmingly elected to her third term in the State Senate.

US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand On The View... -

On January 17, 2010, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) went on The View.

Senator Gillibrand Travels with President Obama to Memorial Service in Tucson

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand just boarded Air Force One with President Barack Obama to travel to Tucson, Arizona, and attend tonight’s memorial service for the victims of last weekend’s shooting. Senator Gillibrand, along with other Congressional members, will first travel to the University of Arizona Medical Center to visit with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ husband, staff, and other victims and their loved ones. Senator Gillibrand released the following statement:

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that only in moments of darkness, can we see the stars. I hope in this time of sadness and loss, we can find new strength to come together as a nation and foster greater respect for one another.

“We may never make any sense of this heinous crime, but I remember how Gabby so often urged people to stand up to the violent language that divides us, and focus on solutions. That is exactly what we need to do right now.

“I want to thank President Obama for his compassionate leadership at this time of great national tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims of this horrible tragedy, their loved ones, and with all Americans as we struggle to move forward together.”

Queens Representatives On Fight For Gun Legislation - NY1 Online: Inside City Hall - NY1.com

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NY1 VIDEO: Queens Congressmen Gregory Meeks and Joseph Crowley appeared on Monday's edition of "Inside City Hall" to discuss whether the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords should lead to a renewed discussion of federal gun laws.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Speaks on Capital Tonight About Arizona Shooting Incident of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and Security - www.capitaltonight.com