New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo marked the six month anniversary of the Newtown, Conn. school shooting on Friday by sending an email to supporters calling on members of Congress “to renew their commitment to passing common sense gun control legislation.”
A bipartisan bill that would have expanded background checks on gun sales failed in the Senate in April. Since then, gun control advocates have pushed to revive attempts to pass background check legislation.
“Since Sandy Hook, another 4,000 people have died from gun violence, while Washington remains paralyzed. Today, I call on members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to renew their commitment to passing common sense gun control legislation because parents in this country shouldn’t have to wait for the next tragedy for Washington to act,” Cuomo wrote.
In his email, Cuomo, who has at times sought to emphasize his desire to establish New York as a leader on “progressive” policies, also highlighted the gun control legislation he passed in January in New York.
Read Cuomo’s full email below:
Dear Fellow New Yorker,
Six months ago today, twenty children and six teachers went to school and never came home. In the aftermath, our nation stood together, heartbroken to learn of the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Today, New Yorkers stand with our neighbors in Connecticut and send our prayers and condolences to the families who lost loved ones. We will never grasp the pain and anguish that these families endured and continue to experience as they grieve.
As our nation collectively mourned the unthinkable act that occurred on December 14th, the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School signified a long-overdue wake-up call for our country to finally address the reality of gun violence in our society. Across the nation, several states including New York overcame the outsized voices of the guardians of the status quo and passed common sense gun safety reform that bans lethal assault weapons and helps keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill.
Yet since Sandy Hook, another 4,000 people have died from gun violence, while Washington remains paralyzed. Today, I call on members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to renew their commitment to passing common sense gun control legislation because parents in this country shouldn’t have to wait for the next tragedy for Washington to act.
Sincerely,
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
