ALBANY — In a decisive move, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to permanently establish a state office dedicated to combating gun violence. This action is described by Hochul as a direct response to former President Donald Trump’s decision to dismantle the federal Office of Gun Violence Prevention. “Donald Trump likes to call himself the law and order president,” Hochul stated. “He shut down — not funded with more money — but shut down the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.”
The federal office was initially created under President Joseph R. Biden in 2023 to spearhead his administration’s gun violence prevention agenda. However, it was eliminated by Trump on his first day back in office in January. In contrast, New York has chosen to reinforce its state counterpart, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which has now been codified into law with a $3 million operational budget.
“We’ll show how we are different from Washington,” Hochul declared. The state office, originally established by former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in 2021 through an executive order, was initially funded with $500,000. Its role has evolved significantly since then, reflecting a growing commitment from state lawmakers to make it a permanent fixture in New York’s legislative framework.
Historical Context and Legislative Efforts
The establishment of New York’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention as a permanent entity marks a significant shift from its inception. The office was born out of a declaration by Cuomo, who labeled gun violence a disaster emergency in 2021. This executive order was a temporary measure, vulnerable to being rescinded by future administrations. Recognizing this, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, a Democrat from Brooklyn, has been instrumental in the push to solidify the office’s status through legislative means.
“We will be responsible for this generation. I don’t want to hear about the future. We got a job right now,” Myrie emphasized. “We all have to do our part.” The office’s responsibilities include advancing the state’s violence interrupter strategies, identifying funding opportunities, increasing public awareness, and collecting data on gun crime, which will now be published annually.
Impact and Statistical Overview
This legislative move is part of a broader strategy by New York to address the rise in gun violence, a trend that became particularly pronounced during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, arrest rates for gun-related crimes began to climb after four years of decline. New York’s data on violent crimes committed with firearms, which includes incidents of murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, recorded 9,772 such cases last year. This figure represents a decrease from 2021 but remains higher than the 7,912 incidents reported in 2019.
“That trend means more people are staying alive,” Hochul noted. “We want people staying alive. We respect every single life and we’re going to fight to do that.”
Nationally, the gun homicide rate has also seen fluctuations. According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the rate was 6.66 per 100,000 people in 2021, which decreased to 5.63 by 2023. However, this is still higher than the 4.59 rate recorded in 2019.
Challenges and Future Directions
New York faces unique challenges in its fight against gun violence, partly due to its criminal justice laws. For instance, the “Raise the Age” law, which was implemented starting in 2018, altered the treatment of 16- and 17-year-olds in the criminal justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment. This law has been linked to a 136% increase in the number of children arrested with firearms in New York City between 2018 and 2024.
New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch commented on this development, stating, “It had the unintended consequence of putting them right in the line of fire.”
Despite these challenges, New York City reported a historic low in shootings during the first five months of this year, with only 264 incidents across the five boroughs. This achievement is seen as a testament to the city’s efforts to curb gun violence, even as state laws continue to evolve.
As New York moves forward with its newly codified Office of Gun Violence Prevention, the state aims to set a precedent for other states grappling with similar issues. The office’s annual reports and data-driven approach will be critical in shaping future policies and strategies to reduce gun violence across the state.
