We are not very optimistic about the regulations published this week by El Diario on the new rules of the game and the places where carrying weapons is prohibited in the city of New York.
I am sure that the intentions of Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams are good, and with the laws that came into effect this September, they seek to reduce the impact of the decision to the Supreme Court, which struck down a century-old law on restrictions on guns outside the home. In this way they seek to avoid more bloodbaths in schools or shopping centers such as those in Buffalo and Texas, to mention the most recent, or the cruel massacre of children and teachers in the Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut.
It is plausible that they demand more requirements to buy weapons; It is good that courses are required on how to handle and store guns and it is useful to set sensitive areas, or free of weapons in places such as: schools, the subway, medical centers or where they perform abortions, churches, hospitals, government buildings. government, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, or the one that most impacted, in the iconic square of Times Square in the heart of Manhattan where only the police can carry weapons.
Adams himself acknowledged that they are going more than 924 shootings, 178 in July of 2022, with almost 1.21 victims, while the NYPD took about 5.178 off the streets. weapons.
And although it is good that we have raised the age to 21 years, we believe that The action of the legislature is short by allowing adults to buy semi-automatic rifles, because this type of lethal weapon should be for the exclusive use of the public force, or the army.
That is why perhaps the Commissioner of the Police Department, Keechant Sewell should lead the campaign to prevent new massacres and take the guns out of the hands of teenagers; because we believe that only with posters announcing the prohibition, criminals or potential murderers will not cease to be a danger wherever they go.
I clarify that it is not about spoiling the party and something had to be done, but it is up to the Congress of the nation to approve this change, including a constitutional reform that reduces the risks, since these weapons-free zones do not guarantee that the massacres will end; and the murderers are not scared either by the threat of spending up to four years behind bars for violating the restriction. possible damage. The floor is with the politicians in Washington DC.
Sofía Villa is the author and writes this column in her personal capacity. She works as a Producer Writer in NY and her opinions do not represent Televisa-Univision Communications Inc.
2022