More than 50 people were victims of gun violence in New York State last weekend, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported on Tuesday.
In the same period, only 13 people died of or with Covid-19.
As the state, which was hit particularly hard at the beginning of the pandemic, is slowly recovering, Cuomo's words are being hit by a new pandemic: the gun violence pandemic.
Oliver Kühn
Editor in politics.
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On the weekend in question, Independence Day was celebrated in the United States, a day that is marked by people celebrating, picnicking together and in many places witnessing fireworks.
Especially after almost all corona restrictions had been lifted in the state, July 4th should be something special.
But the weekend was fatal for more than 50 people, said Cuomo.
Therefore, gun violence is now treated as a disaster emergency.
"Time is not on our side," said Cuomo, "but we can begin to recognize the problem." The problem affects the entire state.
"I want the people of this state to finally understand that, and I want them to react accordingly."
The police should curb the trade in firearms
The classification of firearms as a disaster emergency makes it easier for the government in Albany to invest money to take action against the evil. The state will invest just under $ 139 million. $ 76 million of this is to be used to create around 21,000 jobs and other opportunities for meaningful employment for young people who are particularly at risk of being affected by gun violence - as perpetrators or victims. In addition, Cuomo has announced further measures. From now on, a unit of the criminal justice system is to receive weekly instead of monthly reports from the local police stations, where gun violence has occurred.
To evaluate these reports, the governor wants to set up an office to combat firearms violence within the Ministry of Health so that it can delegate resources to particularly affected communities. In addition, according to Cuomo, a project is to be expanded in which mediators in hospitals try to dissuade those affected by gun violence from revenge.
A particularly important point for the democratic governor was the crackdown on the trade in firearms. He envisions a "border war" because a large part of the weapons in the state of New York are illegally imported from other states. A special police unit is now to act against it. "We wasted so much time and money in this country fighting illegal immigration," said Cuomo. “Illegal immigration doesn't kill Americans! Illegal weapons kill Americans. ”The state and other public authorities should now be able to sue weapons manufacturers if they have not done enough to counter the illegal distribution of their products. Cuomo signed a corresponding law on Tuesday.
The announcements are the result of an increased number of firearm incidents.
According to police statistics, there were 765 such incidents with 886 victims in the city of New York alone this year.
In the past year, the security authorities counted more than 1,500 incidents, more than twice as many as in the previous year.
Biden wants stricter checks on gun buyers
The surge in numbers affects not just New York, but other cities in the state and across the nation as well.
More than 8100 people were killed by firearms in the first five months of this year, 54 people every day, reports the Washington Post newspaper.
The average over the past six years has been 40 people.
About two weeks ago, President Joe Biden announced that states could divert funds from the $ 350 billion corona aid package to fight gun violence. Among other things, this could be used to strengthen police work. His government also wants to fight for a ban on certain semi-automatic weapons and stricter checks on gun buyers, Biden said.
There are many reasons for the number of firearm incidents, which has increased since last year.
On the one hand, poor sections of the population were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, which has led to increased unemployment.
Many people lost their perspective and became desperate.
In addition, Corona may have ensured that the police were no longer so present in the public image.
Law enforcement officers were also infected and could not go about their work or interact with people to the usual extent because of the distance requirements in order to prevent violence from the outset.
The climb was particularly steep after the killing of George Floyd
On the other hand, the Black Lives Matter protest movement after the killing of George Floyd in May 2020 could also have led to an increase in the numbers. At least that is what a study by the National Commission on Covid-19 and Criminal Justice suggests. It said the increase was particularly steep in the months following Floyd's killing.
In addition, 2020 was a hugely successful year for arms sellers. 23 million firearms were sold that year, reports the Washington Post. And the trend continues. In January and February 2021, Americans bought more firearms than in all corresponding months since the sales were documented. In January there were 2.5 million firearms. This puts him in third place in the months with the most arms sales. The first two places are June and July 2020, the two months after the killing of George Floyd.