New York governor declares 'disaster emergency' on gun crime - AA

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a gun violence "disaster emergency" Tuesday, characterizing the rise in gun violence in his state as a racist scourge that drags on the economy, beyond the death and injuries it inflicts on its victims.  

Cuomo touted that he was the first governor in the US to so broadly label gun violence an "emergency" and treat it with the same seriousness as the COVID crisis, including using science and data to come up with gun violence solutions.

The COVID crisis, he said, was like a low tide that "exposed the ugliness on the bottom" of society, leaving people desperate -- and more willing to take up guns.

He mentioned some sobering statistics: shootings have increased 38% in New York City in the last year, and 77% of those shooting victims are people of color. He said that last weekend, while 13 people in New York state died of COVID, 51 people were shot.

He outlined his plans to a cheering audience.