CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New laws signed this week in New York aim to curb gun violence. NEWS10 spoke to the office for prevention of domestic violence and a local community group to see how the legislation can help the vulnerable populations they serve.
In new gun legislation signed on Wednesday by Governor Hochul, guns are now required to have tobacco-like warning labels informing owners of the dangers of owning a firearm. Including unintentional death to children and increasing the risk of death during domestic disputes. “We know that when an abuser has access to a gun, that victim is five times more likely to be killed by that gun,” said the Director of Law Enforcement Training with the State Office for Prevention of Domestic Violence, Michael Whitley. He says 70 women a month in the U.S. are killed in domestic violence related incidents.
In another effort to prevent domestic violence, Coordinated Community Response teams that are made up of local law enforcement, district attorneys and advocate services throughout Capital Region Counties will be funded with additional state money. “We’re trying to get all the key players in domestic violence response together in the same room to discuss the issues as they arise. Because as we know, law enforcement is domestic violence calls,” said Whitley.
In Troy, project RISE is aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of kids on the streets. They hosted a first-of-its-kind meeting to get the community involved. “We’re here to have a community conversation to find out what the community wants, who the community wants working with them and then figuring out how we can disburse some funds for the community,” said Deputy Commissioner for New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Damon Bacote.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Sativa Bigelow says some survivors of domestic violence never fully recover. “PTSD, especially chronic PTSD is so incredibly real, and it takes years and years of recovery. Especially, only if you’re putting work into it. But some people don’t have the resources to be able to put that work into it,” said Bigelow.
The governor’s office reports law enforcement has seized over 7,700 illegal guns this year, thus far.
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