Governor directed State landmarks be illuminated to mark National Gun Violence Awareness Day

New York’s Governor, Kathy Hochul has issued a proclamation designating June as Gun Violence Awareness Month in the State.

Last Friday, the Governor directed State landmarks to be illuminated orange to mark National Gun Violence Awareness Day and to mark the start of Wear Orange Weekend, which is coordinated annually by Everytown for Gun Safety. 

The landmarks include the One World Trade Center; Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge; Kosciuszko Bridge; The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building; State Education Building; Empire State Plaza; State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center; Niagara Falls; Albany International Airport Gateway; MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station; and Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal.

Expressing pleasure in designating June as Gun Violence Awareness, Hochul gave her commitment to “continue working to provide our law enforcement partners with tools they need to get guns off the streets and keep our communities safe.”

 She added, “Every instance of gun violence ricochets beyond the intended target, inflicting pain and trauma on victims, friends, families, neighbours, bystanders, and entire communities.” 

Comprehensive funding plan to address gun violence 

As part of the FY 2024 Budget, Governor Hochul secured a comprehensive funding plan to address gun violence and create a safer state that recognizes the importance of a multifaceted approach to improving public safety. For his part, Lt. Gov. Ramon Delgado remarked, “In New York, we’re taking direct action to get guns off of our streets and build safer neighbourhoods across the state. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and members of the community to find meaningful ways to address the gun violence epidemic and move our state forward.”

New York’s Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado added her voice saying, “our first priority is to help keep New Yorkers safe, and we will use every tool and resource at our disposal in the fight to end the senseless surge of gun violence in our neighbourhoods. During Gun Violence Awareness Month, we recommit to this work, recognize our law enforcement and community partners working to get illegal guns off our streets and build safer communities, stand in solidarity with survivors.”

According to Office of Victim Services Director, Elizabeth Cronin, “When gun violence impacts a community, it penetrates deeper than what’s seen on the surface. Victims and survivors experience trauma, anxiety, and other stress that can have negative effects on their well-being. Thank you, Gov. Hochul, for recognizing the importance of Gun Violence Awareness Month and your continued commitment to ensuring that victims and survivors have access to the services, support and resources they need, wherever and whenever necessary.”