NEW York Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a disaster emergency over a gun violence surge in the state and is targeting manufacturers.
Cuomo's executive order is the first of its kind in the country and will allow the state to move money and resources to communities throughout New York so they can start tackling gun violence immediately.
In an announcement made at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, Cuomo announced the specifics of a plan to curb violence on Tuesday.
The plan will focus on seven key areas: treating gun violence like a public health emergency, targeting hot spots, positive engagement for at-risk youth, breaking the cycle of escalating violence, getting illegal guns off the streets, keeping guns away from dangerous people, and rebuilding a police-community relationship.
"If you look at the recent numbers, more people are now dying from gun violence and crime than Covid," Cuomo said.
"This is a national problem, but someone has to step up and address this problem because our future depends on it.
"Just like we did with Covid, New York is going to lead the nation once again with a comprehensive approach to combating and preventing gun violence," the governor continued.
"And our first step is acknowledging the problem with a first-in-the-nation disaster emergency on gun violence."
Since the pandemic first hit in the spring of 2020, shootings in New York City have skyrocketed.
In the first half of 2021 through July 4, 886 people have been shot in the city, according to police stats.
The number of shootings is the highest its been in nearly 20 years.
A total of 51 people were shot across New York State over 4th of July weekend alone.
Cuomo's plan involves investing about $76million in intervention and prevention programs aimed at giving at-risk young people opportunities, like summer jobs and community activities.
The plan also involves creating a new State Police Gun Trafficking Interdiction Unit, which will work to stop the flow of illegal guns into the state.
New York will also attempt to improve the relationship between police and the communities they serve through a partnership with John Jay College.
The state is launching a portal of statewide police reform plans so different departments can collaborate and learn from each other.
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