On average, each year in New York, about 939 people die from firearms and almost 2,000 are injured, despite the fact that the State has strict laws on the use and trafficking of these types of devices, which also leaves an economic cost. more than $11,400 million.
And in their desire to further curb gun violence in all corners of the Big Apple and the rest of the state, political leaders announced this Tuesday that they are promoting a package of laws in Albany to prevent the spread of modified Glock machine guns, causing of many of the attacks.
This was stated by State Senator Zellnor Myrie, promoter of the initiative, during a press conference at the legislative headquarters, in which organizations such as “Moms Demand Action” and “Students Demand Action”, whose members have been direct victims of violence armed, showed their support for the piece of law that would stop the firearms manufacturer Glock, which they said has refused to modify its devices.
“Any company operating in New York State must take basic responsibility for its behavior in the marketplace. “When an industry knows the harm its products are causing, but refuses to take meaningful steps to prevent it, the government must take action to protect New Yorkers,” said Senator Myrie, warning that public safety comes first in New York. of the profits of the arms industry. “This legislation will build on our landmark law, the first in the country, that holds reckless and irresponsible gun companies accountable for their inaction. For years, Glock and other manufacturers have known that their pistols can, and often do, easily become dangerous and illegal machine guns, and they have looked the other way.”
The bill introduced in the Legislature, which is also sponsored by Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, would prohibit the sale of semi-automatic handguns that can be easily modified, while requiring manufacturers to take steps to ensure that their handguns cannot be tampered with and converted into machine guns with Glock Switches.
“The Legislature must act decisively to address the vulnerabilities of Glock pistols, safeguarding our communities from the threat posed by illegally modified firearms. “These bills will force Glock to redesign his pistols to avoid such dangerous alterations if Glock wants to continue selling its pistols in New York,” the assemblywoman commented. “Fully automatic weapons are banned in New York and there should be no room to get around it. It is the responsibility of manufacturers to refrain from selling firearms that are prone to being easily modified. The call for accountability is urgent and undeniable.”
Ángela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of the organization “Moms Demand Action”, assured that it is urgent for the State to bring gun manufacturers to task to prevent more deaths, injuries and trauma in communities affected by violence, many of them Latino. and black.
“This groundbreaking legislation is exactly what our movement has been fighting for: accountability for an industry that ignores public safety to increase profits and refuses to make changes to keep deadly automatic weapons off the streets of our communities. ”said the activist, who called Glock’s current practices dangerous. “We must keep illegal machine guns off our streets. If Glock wants to continue selling firearms in New York, he needs to start protecting human lives instead of corporate profits.”
Firearms cause more than 900 deaths and 2,000 injuries in NY every year. /Photo: Edwin Martinez
Alexis Gevanter, a volunteer with the New York chapter of “Moms Demand Action,” joined the call and mentioned that gun manufacturers must assume their responsibility in the fight against gun violence and stop what she called “the perpetuation of the crisis.” ” in affected communities.
“For too long, Glock has marketed and sold these pistols in our communities despite knowing that they can too easily be converted into machine guns, weapons that have long been banned in New York,” Gevanter said.
Nick Suplina, senior vice president of Law and Policy for the “Everytown for Gun Safety” campaign, said the introduction of the package of laws to stop gun manufacturers is another step in ensuring that gun violence is not facilitated. .
“A semi-automatic pistol that can easily be converted into an illegal machine gun is a deadly design. Glock knows this, but he has refused to take action to solve the problem he created and has chosen to protect his bottom line over lives,” Suplina asserted. “Now Glock is officially on notice: after decades of turning a blind eye, allowing his pistols to be converted into illegal machine guns, it is time to act or pay the price.”
Data presented by legislators indicates that between 2017 and 2021, the ATF, the alcohol, tobacco, weapons and explosives control agency, recovered 5,454 machine gun conversion devices, including Glock switches, with an increase of 570%.
Data
- 939 people die every year in NY from firearms
- 2,000 more injured by gun violence
- Seizures of weapon conversion devices have increased by 570%