Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday declared a gun violence a “state emergency,” and declared a series of steps to combat it. Cuomo took the unusual action after a rise in shootings across the state, from New York to Rochester and Buffalo.
213 people have been shot in Rochester so far this year, and nearly 30 have been killed. 51 people were shot and killed statewide over the July 4th weekend.
Cuomo wants police departments across the state to feed data on local shootings to the state, which will coordinate which locations need anti-gun efforts the most. The state will also greatly expand its summer jobs partnership program, putting more than $57 million into an effort to create 21,000 temporary jobs statewide.
The state will try to step up enforcement to block illegal guns coming into New York, mostly from the south. He is also signing an executive order barring anyone with an active warrant against his name from legally buying a firearm.
All told, the state will put nearly $140 million into the violence-reduction efforts.