Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown was among seven mayors across New York State on Tuesday taking part in the virtual kick off for Gun Violence Awareness Month, which begins on Wednesday, June 1.
The launch of Gun Violence Awareness Month was a four-year coordinated effort with the focus on deepening the commitment and accountability in New York – and nationwide – on the widespread issue of gun violence.
"[It's] continuing to raise awareness, like we have done today that this is not a Buffalo problem, it's not a Uvalde problem, It's a national problem," said Mayor Brown following Tuesday's virtual event. "K. Bain and Linda Beigel Schulman spoke very powerfully about the iron pipeline, how guns flow from other communities, other states whose gun laws are not as strong as New York State, into New York and other states in this country. ... Awareness is key, and communities and individuals linking arms all across the country and working on this issue. It is not just a urban problem. It's urban, it's suburban, it's rural, and all across the country, we must work together."
In attendance for Tuesday's virtual event included Mayor Brown as well as New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas, and Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino.
Mayor Brown says he was contacted by a number of other mayors across the country who have experienced mass shootings of similar nature to the one in Buffalo. The mayor says each one of them reached out to offer support and to offer recommendations on how to handle the long-terms effects of a heinous crime such as this.
The Mayor also says that other mayors are also concerned about gun violence, as in one way or another, they have experienced some type of gun violence.
"What really stood out is how prevalent this is all across the country," Mayor Brown said. "I mean, I literally have heard from dozens and dozens of mayors all across the country; this is a national phenomenon that we have to get our arms around. There has to be sensible gun laws in this country that stop this kind of mass shooting, this type of gun violence from occurring all too easily in our country. So that is one of the things that really stood out to me. How many communities have been affected by it, and sometimes we have a tendency to think it's just urban communities, but it's urban communities, suburban communities and rural communities, as well."
As to what actions Mayor Brown would like to see, he says he is in favor of raising the legal age to purchase a gun to 21-years-old. He also would like to see background checks tightened up, along with mental health checks needing to be done to purchase a firearm, and more red flag laws put in place.
"There are a lot of common sense things that can be done that don't take away the gun ownership rights of Americans, but just make the ownership of guns more responsible," he said.
Joining the seven mayors on Tuesday included faith leaders, business leaders, elected officials, and community members, as the coalition seeks to address the various roots of gun violence, raise awareness of the issue, amplify better practices and policies, and engage in active conversation with all impacted communities.
"I would like [for people] to not call it 'gun control'. It's 'gun safety'," said Linda Beigel Schulman, Founder of Scott J. Beigel Memorial Fund. "Words make a big difference. Defund the police, reform the police. We do not want to control, none of us want to control. Control is a word like we want to take away people's guns. We don't want to take away people's guns. We want you to be responsible gun owners. We want gun safety, not gun controlled. We don't want to control."
Linda's son, Scott, was one of the 17 victims in the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14, 2018. He was a teacher and cross country coach at the school, and was only 35-years-old when he was killed.
Beigel Schulman believes the people of this country needs to know the truth about gun violence and just how dangerous guns are when they are used irresponsibly.
In addition, Beigel Schulman believes that there need to be red flag laws implemented not just in New York, but across the nation to try and prevent the wrong people from getting a handle of dangerous weapons.
"If the Red Flag Law had been passed in Florida the day before, then those 17 people who were murdered would be alive today. I want you to know that Florida, for a change, took the initiative, and a couple of weeks later did pass a Red Flag Law. It works," she said. "I know in Buffalo, there was a problem, but you know what, there was one loophole maybe, or something that passed through the cracks. But that doesn't mean that the other 600 times that they used it in New York that it didn't work, because it did. And 3,000 times, 3,000-plus, the Red Flag Law was used in Florida. That's 3,000-plus lives that could have been saved. We don't say we don't need laws, just because it didn't work one time. ... We need to educate people, and we need to pass these laws federally. We can't have it one way in one state, and another way in another state. We're all members of the United States, we all have the right to be safe, and we all have the right to live without fear. And we all have the right for federal laws to be passed so that we can do that."
Buildings across New York State will be lit orange from June 3-5 in honor of gun violence victims. Meanwhile hundreds of faith leaders across the state will be giving sermons on gun violence prevention during the Weekend of Faith starting June 10 and running through June 12. In addition, leaders across the state will be declaring June as Gun Violence Awareness Month in their respective municipalities with more announcements to come throughout the month.
Sadly, Gun Violence Awareness Month has become even more of particular significance following the recent shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde, Laguna Woods, and New York City.
Gun Violence Awareness Month is a month-long, statewide campaign in New York to raise awareness on the severe impact of gun violence in our communities, while promoting conversation and action.
More from Mayor Brown and others are available in the player below:
