Brooklyn Borough President

BOROUGH PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT CONCERNING AN OUTBREAK OF DEADLY SHOOTINGS IN BROOKLYN

“Even though murder was down nearly 15% in Brooklyn last year, the recent random shootings and homicides in Brooklyn over the holiday season are a sobering reminder that just one shooting is one too many,” Borough President Markowitz said. “We all know the NYPD has done a tremendous job making Brooklyn and the rest of New York safer, but we still must focus on preventing these senseless acts of violence as we begin this New Year. I know I speak for all of Brooklyn in expressing our hopes that this pattern of violence will not escalate any further, and I trust that Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Brooklyn North Chief Joseph Cunneen and Brooklyn South Chief Joseph Fox will make sure that the necessary resources are allocated to the precincts involved. There are no legal gun dealers or manufacturers in Brooklyn, so stemming the tide of illegal guns into New York still needs to be a top priority. Preventing guns from reaching the streets is one sure way to help stop these horrific crimes. Brooklynites know that we can do anything when we put our minds to it, and we all must devote ourselves to ridding our borough of illegal guns in 2003. One of the most effective ways to reduce crime is when local residents report on a confidential basis those who may possess illegal guns to the police. I am working closely with Commissioner Kelly, Chief Cunneen and Chief Fox to make sure that Brooklyn continues to be among the safest places to live and work.”

A recent report, released by Senator Charles Schumer, analyzed data compiled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms showing that nearly 70% of guns used in 2001 in crimes in New York came from other states – with most coming from Virginia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Borough President Markowitz urges Congress to pass legislation co-sponsored by Senator Schumer that would implement a national system to record the ballistic “fingerprint” of every new firearm. The Ballistics, Law Assistance, and Safety Technology Act would require gun manufacturers to test-fire a bullet from every gun they produce and keep a record of the gun’s ballistic fingerprint. New York recently established state-level databases for newly sold firearms, but a national system is needed to increase tracking efficiency. The Borough President calls on all Brooklynites to write their federal elected officials to demand that they pass this type of federal legislation to ensure the safety of Brooklyn and beyond.

"The time has come to have zero-tolerance for the illegal possession and ownership of handguns,” Borough President Markowitz said. “I implore the State Legislature to review the minimum sentencing provisions of the penal code with respect to those convicted of illegal possession of a weapon. It may be that regardless of whether the defendant is a 'first time offender' or has a 'clean record’ that hard time must be served. We must send the message, as clearly as possible, that there never is a good reason for any individual to illegally possess a gun.”