Giffords Applauds Governor Cuomo for Prioritizing Proposal to Keep Guns Out of the Hands of Domestic Abusers in Upcoming 2018 State of the State

December 14, 2017 — Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, applauded New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for offering a proposal to ensure domestic violence abusers do not have access to firearms. The domestic violence proposal is the first new policy Governor Cuomo has unveiled ahead of his 2018 State of the State address on January 3rd in Albany.

The legislation would prohibit gun possession for individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence and would require the immediate removal of firearms from that individual. It would also require the removal of firearms from an individual subject to a domestic violence protective order. The deadly nexus of domestic violence and firearms is well established: in nine of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in United States history, including the recent shootings in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas, the shooter had an existing record of committing violence against women, threatening violence against women, or harassing or disparaging women.

Nico Bocour, Giffords, State Legislative Director:

“Firearms are far too frequently used to injure, threaten, or coerce victims of domestic violence. The mere presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely the woman will die– that’s why it’s critical to have mechanisms in place to ensure that domestic abusers can no longer access them. We are grateful to Governor Cuomo for taking steps to address this lethal connection and make victims and their families safer, and look forward to working with him and legislators in the New York General Assembly to ensure the swift passages of this proposal.”