Gov. Hochul says the state’s Red Flag petitions to remove guns have doubled since May
[anvplayer video=”5143782″ station=”998131″]
ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday spoke at a conference about the increase in Red Flag law petitions.
At the conference, Hochul touted the work she’s done to curb gun violence over the past year including, after the Buffalo shooting in May. Albany passed a law that says police, teachers, and mental health care workers must file a Red Flag petition if they suspect someone is a danger to themselves or others and have access to a gun.
At the time of the mass shooting at the Tops in Buffalo, police in Monroe County had filed zero Red Flag petitions. Now they’ve done 56.
Governor signs 10 new gun laws as Monroe County see first-ever ‘red-flag’ petitions (June 6)
Just like the numbers in Monroe County, Red Flag petitions have increased across the state.
“What’s most fascinating to me, in each case, in each one of these cases, that’s perhaps a crime or act of violence that didn’t occur. Something that was prevented,” she said.
The state police say 86% of the Red Flag petitions filed were approved by a judge. In an effort to get that number higher, lawyers from the state attorney general’s office will now file and argue the petition in court.
Right now, it’s the police officers who do that.
On the heels of that announcement, the governor also announced the availability of $28 million to help seven cities in New York, Rochester among them, stem gun violence.
Each city should get about $4 million. That money will go to community-based organizations to implement and expand programs for young people and families.