Today, November 7, YOU CAN VOTE to help ban the gun shows. Please remember to VOTE and encourage your friends to VOTE for candidates who will ban any future Gun Shows on county property.
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence has endorsed George Latimer for County Executive, because of his strong opposition to gun violence and leadership in passing the New York State SAFE Act.
"I don't want that in Westchester County. How many Columbines, Sandy Hooks, how many things have to happen until people realize that the glorification of the gun culture is wrong. So I think we are making a terrible mistake by having that gun show in Westchester County," George Latimer said (Oct 3.)
"I don't want that in Westchester County. How many Columbines, Sandy Hooks, how many things have to happen until people realize that the glorification of the gun culture is wrong. So I think we are making a terrible mistake by having that gun show in Westchester County," George Latimer said (Oct 3.)
In addition to the County Executive race, please VOTE for candidates for the County Board of Legislators who oppose Gun Shows. These include:
- Kitley Covill, Westchester County Legislative Democratic candidate for District 2
- Daren Tolz, Westchester County Legislative Democratic candidate for District 3
- Nancy Barr, Westchester County Legislative Democratic candidate for District 6
- Damon Maher, Westchester County Legislative Democratic candidate for District 10
Here's the legislative candidates joint 10/16 letter to the editor of the Journal News:
"...As we continue to process the awful events that took place in Las Vegas, and as our hearts hurt with the grief of others, we cannot lose sight of how something like this happened, and diligently work to prevent it from ever reoccurring.
Private gun shows continue to sell legal deadly modification kits for rifles, now known as the "bump stock." The modification kit allows the weapon to "bump" back and forth between the shooter's shoulder and trigger finger, effectively enabling a semi-automatic rifle to act like a fully automatic assault weapon. Assault weapons are currently outlawed in the United States.
These modification kits should never be sold in Westchester County. We call on our legislators and our County Executive to rethink allowing private gun shows carte-blanche privilege to sell these items — which effectively enable the propagation of weapons of mass carnage — right here in our County Center.
County legislators must put a moratorium on private gun shows in any county facility until the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, regulating firearms in the U.S., can re-evaluate the legality of such devices and get them recalled from distributors and off the streets.
This is a call to action with an initiative to keep our first responders, law enforcement and the people of this great county, and country, safe. We should not wait for the ATF to act, we must act now."
Sincerely,
Kitley Covill, Westchester County Legislative Democratic candidate for District 2
Daren Tolz, Westchester County Legislative Democratic candidate for District 3
Nancy Barr, Westchester County Legislative Democratic candidate for District 6
Damon Maher, Westchester County Legislative Democratic candidate for District 10Daren Tolz, Westchester County Legislative Democratic candidate for District 3
Nancy Barr, Westchester County Legislative Democratic candidate for District 6
Also vote to reelect Democratic candidates that voted YES for the Gun Show ban, and SUPPORTED the motion for veto override on October 31. These include:
- Benjamin Boykin (District 5)
- Catherine Borgia (District 9)
- Catherine Parker (District 7)
- Alfreda Williams (District 8)
- MaryJane Shimsky (District 12)
- Lyndon Williams (District 13)
- Ken Jenkins (District 16)*
*Not running for reelection
For more information on Candidates in your area, see the League of Women Voters Voter Guide.
In January, 2017 Westchester County legislators voted by a narrow majority of 9-8 to ban gun shows at the Westchester County Center. But the bill was swiftly vetoed by County Executive Rob Astorino.
Almost 6,000 people have signed our MoveOn Petition. The people of Westchester County don't want gun shows in our county-owned buildings.
Westchester County has a mission to promote public safety and public health, and should not be in the business of hosting and advertising for-profit gun shows. As many as 1,000 weapons -- and thousands of rounds of ammunition -- can be sold at a single gun show.
On October 1, 59 people were killed and over 500 people were wounded in a horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas, NV. The Las Vegas attacker used 12 legally-acquired semi-automatic assault weapons, modified with “bump stocks” to allow them to be fired as fully-automatic weapons. “Bump stocks” can currently be legally sold at gun shows in New York, and could be sold in White Plains if the County permits another gun show. Also, in the past, Nazi books and paraphernalia were offered for sale at the 2016 Gun and Knife Show at the County Center.
Westchester communities have experienced several tragic gun violence incidents over the last year, including:
Almost 6,000 people have signed our MoveOn Petition. The people of Westchester County don't want gun shows in our county-owned buildings.
Westchester County has a mission to promote public safety and public health, and should not be in the business of hosting and advertising for-profit gun shows. As many as 1,000 weapons -- and thousands of rounds of ammunition -- can be sold at a single gun show.
On October 1, 59 people were killed and over 500 people were wounded in a horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas, NV. The Las Vegas attacker used 12 legally-acquired semi-automatic assault weapons, modified with “bump stocks” to allow them to be fired as fully-automatic weapons. “Bump stocks” can currently be legally sold at gun shows in New York, and could be sold in White Plains if the County permits another gun show. Also, in the past, Nazi books and paraphernalia were offered for sale at the 2016 Gun and Knife Show at the County Center.
Westchester communities have experienced several tragic gun violence incidents over the last year, including:
- On December 24, 2016, O’Neil Bandoo, a nightclub owner in Mt. Vernon, was shot and killed by a disgruntled customer. Five other people were wounded.
- On New Year’s Eve, 13-year old basketball star Shamoya McKenzie was killed by a stray bullet in Mt. Vernon, while she was riding in a car with her mom.
- On August 25, a 56 year-old father named Stephen Dym killed his wife and daughter at their home in Pound Ridge, before taking his own life.
- On September 24, 16-year old Joseph Kuaffo was fatally shot in the chest at his home in Yonkers, by a 17-year old boy from the Bronx.
Veto Override Flyers Targeting Individual Legislators: Here's the 8 legislators who VOTED AGAINST the Gun Show Ban. We have created individual flyers for each district, where the legislator voted against the Gun Show Ban. The flyer tells you which legislator to call and email, and how to contact them.
- District 11 - Jim Maisano
- District 3 - Margaret Cunzio
- District 6 - David Gelfarb
- District 14 - David Tubiolo
- District 1 - John Testa
- District 2 - Francis Corcoran
- District 10 - Sheila Marcotte
- District 15 - Gordon Burrows
Please distribute our flyers whenever and whereever you can. Post them in libraries, grocery stores and laundromats. Go leafleting at your local Metro-North station or grocery store. Distribute them in PTAs, religious and community organizations. Volunteer to staff a literature table on Gun Violence Prevention at village or town events. Hold a screening of Gun Violence Prevention video at your community organization. The goal is to get the word out widely, and and to get our neighbors and friends to take action now, by contacting the legislators to urge them to change their vote.
Photo credit: Andrew Courtney
