BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) A painful week of remembrances is beginning in Western New York as Sunday, May 14, marks the one year anniversary of the horrific mass shooting at Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo that claimed ten innocent lives.
"There is still sadness in my heart," said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn. "My feelings keep coming back to me when I see another mass shooting happening elsewhere, such as Allen, Texas where an individual radicalized with hate opened fire on shoppers outside an outlet mall." The carnage on Saturday left eight dead and nine injured.
In the Tops shooting, Flynn was able to bring legal closure to the families of the victims.
"Emotions are going to be tremendous this whole week for the families. They're never going to get full closure. But I can bring legal closure and justice. We did that in record time. I'm hopeful that the families and the community have that part of closure and know that justice was done here.
But there's never going to be true closure or true justice when there are other individuals in society who keep doing this."
Flynn said it's one thing to bring your hatred, or beliefs or passion to the ballot box, but it's another thing to bring an AR-15 to a Tops Market or to a shopping mall and act out your feelings in that manner.
He acknowledged that the epidemic of hate has been around for ten thousand years and is not going to go away, but said something is going to have to be done about guns.
"I'm a big believer in the second amendment and I believe in gun rights. But we're getting to the point where there are too many of these assault weapons, which are military style weapons, that are in the hands of individuals who are mentally ill. So, we have to find some way to take care of that," added Flynn.
It often times come down to enforcement of laws on the books. Flynn said he has criticism for both sides, progressive and conservative prosecutors who say they won't prosecute certain crimes or certain gun laws.
"A district attorney does not have the ability to pick and choose what laws they want to prosecute. When you become a DA, you put your hand on the bible and you take an oath to uphold the laws of the state of New York, whether you like them or not. If you don't like them, then leave. Run for state senator and change the laws. But as DA, you have to prosecute the laws the way they are."
"Too many of these assault weapons, which are military style weapons, that are in the hands of
individuals who are mentally ill" - John Flynn
individuals who are mentally ill" - John Flynn
