Staten Island –Legislation introduced by State Senator Martin Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) to rid our streets of the presence of “community guns”, today received the endorsement of Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan, State Senator Andrew Lanza (R-C, Staten Island) and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-C, Brooklyn/Staten Island) at a news conference held at the Staten Island District Attorney’s Office. The elected officials called for the New York State Legislature to pass S. 7839.
The legislation would enhance the public safety of all New Yorkers by increasing penalties for the sharing, availability, sale, exchange, giving or disposal of a “community gun” so to be used to commit crimes and intimidate others.
The bill would provide prosecutors greater ability to attach criminal liability to all those responsible for sharing or making available a community gun and prosecute acts as a Class D Felony. The legislation would make the unlawful sale or transfer of a firearm, that intentionally causes the death of another person, within a three-year period, a Class B Felony.
Senator Marty Golden stated, “Law enforcement experts report that the use of community guns is becoming more prevalent within our society, yet those making these illegal guns available are not being held accountable. As such, we must advance our laws in New York to halt this pattern so to keep our streets safer for all citizens.”
“I thank my colleagues in government including District Attorney Donovan, Senator Lanza and Assemblywoman Malliotakis, for their support of this bill and I look forward to working with them to see it become law here in New York State,” continued Senator Golden.
“It’s ironic that these stashed-away weapons are referred to as ‘community guns,’ because they are destroying our communities. In neighborhoods plagued by violence, community guns are as easily accessible as ATM’s, to be used to commit any crime, any time,” District Attorney Donovan said. “Senator Golden’s bill would help us crack down on those who make illegal firearms available to criminals who wreak havoc on our city.”
“This legislation which targets “community guns” will provide law enforcement agents and prosecutors with greater tools to combat gun violence and keep dangerous criminals off our streets,” said Senator Andrew Lanza. “I’d like to thank Senator Marty Golden and District Attorney Dan Donovan for their leadership on this legislation which will strengthen our ability to prosecute those despicable members of society who perform indiscriminate acts of violence with illegal guns.”
“Illegally-transferred weapons allow criminals to perpetrate violence without a paper trail,” said Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis. “Law enforcement is put at a severe disadvantage without the necessary tools to address the exchange of lethal weaponry. This common sense legislation will hold people responsible for sharing and illegally transferring guns used in violent
