Governor Andrew Cuomo addresses gun violence ...

[spin]

Governor Andrew Cuomo Proposes State Prison Spending Cuts
Posted by nhodgson on September 19, 2011 11:21 AM

Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking at a Harlem breakfast on Sunday, addressed recent gun violence and proposed cuts in state prison spending in order to invest more money in community-based programs.

***snip***

Lamenting the recent upticks in gun violence, Governor Cuomo said, “This recent rash of gun violence should concern us all, because it’s frightening and it’s only getting worse,” reported the New York Daily News.

Noting the cost of keeping an individual in a juvenile justice facility ($200,000 per year), Governor Cuomo suggested closing prisons would allow funding for more community programs.

Governor Cuomo also indicated he would like to see tighter gun control laws from the federal government. "It has been decades where we have been fighting Washington for sensible laws controlling guns and we need those laws passed and we need them passed now. We're losing too many people out in the streets," he said.
http://www.thirdage.com/news/governor-andrew-cuomo-proposes-state-prison-spending-cuts_09-19-2011

Gov. Andrew Cuomo calls for shutting state prisons, investing in community in light of gun violence
Sunday, September 18th 2011, 4:41 PM


Gov. Andrew Cuomo said instead of spending $200,000 per jailed juvenile, the state should create community programs that prevent violence.

Gov. Cuomo bemoaned the city's recent spate of gun violence Sunday and made a pitch for his plan to shutter state prisons.

***snip***

He said closing some prisons would allow more funding for local programs.

"Guess how much it costs per year to keep a person in a juvenile justice facility? Over $200,000 per year.

$200,000! You could've sent that person to Harvard University and it would be cheaper," the governor said. "We're going to take that money and provide it in community- based services so the problem doesn't happen in the first place."

Cuomo also pushed for stricter gun control laws from the federal government.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/09/18/2011-09-18_gov_andrew_cuomo_calls_for_shutting_state_prisons_investing_in_community_in_ligh.html

Andrew Cuomo on Gun Control

Enact commonsense laws lie microstamping of guns

We must keep our communities safe. Gun violence remains one our most serious problems. We must enact commonsense gun safety laws, such as requiring the microstamping of guns. Microstamping--a pro-law enforcement, low cost method of expanding the ability of police to identify guns used in illegal activities--would require all new semiautomatic handguns to be equipped with microscopic identifying markings, which are transferred to each cartridge case when the firearm is fired.
Source: Campaign website, andrewcuomo.com, "Issues & Agenda" Nov 2, 2010

Supports restrictions on the right to bear arms.
http://www.ontheissues.org/governor/Andrew_Cuomo_Gun_Control.htm

While I support improving community-based services, I suspect that closing prisons in order to save money may result in an increase in crime. Of course when and if that happens, the governor can blame the increase in violent crime on the fact that the federal government has failed to enact "reasonable" gun legislation such as requiring new semi-auto firearms to microstamp ammo.

edited for typo

[gravity556]

1. Talk about a stupid idea!

"I know how to fix the crime problem! We enact super strict gun laws and close prisons, flooding the streets with dangerous individuals who truly belong behind bars, all while disarming as many law abiding folks as we can!"

Because criminals are gonna suddenly stop and say, "Whoa! I only commit 4 felonies a day-carrying a gun is just one broken law too many! Shucks." and go get a real job?

Fucking hell.

[X_Digger]

2. Send the criminals to Harvard..

Then they can come back as Wall Street thieves. *snort*

[SteveM]

3. Maybe Andrew got his ideas from Mario...

when he described hunters (some 20% of gun-owners) thusly:

"hunters who drink beer, don't vote and lie to their wives about where they were all weekend."

Mario later sent a letter to the NRA apologizing:

"it is unintelligent and unfair" to "to disparage any large group." (May 27, 1985, Time)

Yeah. You would think.

[spin]

4. A common tactic of politicians is to cut back on police and the prison system ...

and when the violent crime rate skyrockets, blame opposition to new gun control laws.

It's effective and cost nothing. The voters often are fooled into believing that the politician is doing everything within his power to fight crime.

[Hoyt]

5. I thought most here were for getting non-violent criminals -- like drugs -- out of jail.

In any event, we need more politicians with the guts to take on the gun culture that is pushing to expand guns in public.

NY crime rate has been declining for years -- without allowing a bunch of guns on the streets. Impressive, but threatening to those who carry regularly.

[spin]

8. I attribute the drop in violent crime to better policing ...

More firearms does not increase crime as proven by the dropping violent crime rate despite the skyrocketing sale of firearms throughout the nation. Also if "shall issue" concealed carry increased violent crime rate, surely by now there would be undeniable evidence.

Downward trend in violent crime continues in US, report shows
Sep 18, 2011

Washington - Violent crime in the US experienced a double-digit drop in 2010, far greater than the nation’s average during the last decade, with violent and property victimization rates falling to their lowest levels since the early 1990s, a new report shows.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), Criminal Victimization, 2010 (pdf), obtains information on nonfatal crimes against residents age 12 or older and reveals they experienced a 13 percent decline last year, around three times the average annual decrease seen from 2001 through 2009 (4%). However, the percentage of victims suffering an injury as the result of a violent crime increased from 24 percent in 2008 to 29 percent in 2010.

Property victimization fell by 6 percent in 2010, compared to the 3 percent average annual decrease from 2001 through 2009.

Experts are unable to pinpoint the reason, as high unemployment and a weak economy tend to see an increase in criminal activity. “We’re surprised to find how much it declines,” said Professor Alfred Blumstein of Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School, Time reports.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/311654#ixzz1YXjziySB

Gun Owners Buy 14 Million Plus Guns In 2009 – More Than 21 of the Worlds Standing Armies
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 at 11:43 AM

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- Data released by the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for the year reported 14,033,824 NICS Checks for the year of 2009, a 10 percent increase in gun purchases from the 12,709,023 reported in 2008.

So far that is roughly 14,000,000+ guns bought last year!
The total is probably more as many NICS background checks cover the purchase of more than one gun at a time by individuals.

To put it in perspective that is more guns than the combined active armies of the top 21 countries in the world.
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/01/13/gun-owners-buy-14-million-plus-guns-in-2009/

If I am right and better policing does reduce violent crime, we will probably start to see a significant increase in the next few years as budget restraints caused police departments and prisons to cut back.

September 19, 2011
Crime spikes almost 50 percent in city
Chief: Downsizing of Lawrence Police Department has taken its toll

LAWRENCE — Major crime in the city has been creeping up to dangerous levels since the Lawrence Police Department lost more than a quarter of its force to budget cuts in July of last year.

Auto theft has nearly doubled. Aggravated assaults have increased by more than half.

There have been 100 more burglaries of homes and businesses. Murders and robberies are both on the rise by more than 27 percent.

Overall, there has been a 44 percent jump in so-called Part One Felony Crimes that are reported annually to the FBI in the 13 months since the Police Department lost 41 positions, compared to a similar period before the layoffs.
http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x1700250704/Crime-spikes-almost-50-percent-in-city

NYC fire, police forces may fall to decade lows
NEW YORK | Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:44pm EDT

(Reuters) - New York City's firefighting staff would fall to the lowest number since 1980 while its police force would be cut back to its 1992 roster under Mayor Michael Bloomberg's austere budget plan, a report said Friday.

Bloomberg, who has ordered 10 rounds of budget cuts since 2007, pins the city's fiscal health and its future on ensuring its residents' safety and improving public school education.

Budget cuts risk imperiling these priorities, reducing the number of firefighting staff to 10,282, and the number of uniformed police officers to 34,413. Bloomberg's $65 billion budget plan also includes just under 5,000 teacher layoffs.

"The city's ability to deliver needed and expected services while maintaining budget balance may be severely tested if state and federal cutbacks continue to mount," the Independent Budget Office's report said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/18/us-newyorkcity-budget-idUSTRE72H75Q20110318

Gov. Andrew Cuomo calls for shutting state prisons, investing in community in light of gun violence
Sunday, September 18th 2011, 4:41 PM

Gov. Cuomo bemoaned the city's recent spate of gun violence Sunday and made a pitch for his plan to shutter state prisons.

"This recent rash of gun violence should concern us all, because it's frightening and it's only getting worse," Cuomo said at a Harlem breakfast to kick off the African-American Day Parade.

He said closing some prisons would allow more funding for local programs.

***snip***

Cuomo also pushed for stricter gun control laws from the federal government.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/09/18/2011-09-18_gov_andrew_cuomo_calls_for_shutting_state_prisons_investing_in_community_in_ligh.html

I expect that if and when the violent crime rate does increase because of the cutbacks, the politicians will push for more gun control rather then admit that decreasing the staff of law enforcement is the root cause. It's a proven tactic and often the voters buy it.


edited for HTML error

[SteveM]

11. I thought most here didn't read releasing "non-violent criminals."

I checked the links -- no mention that his plan was to release "non-violent" criminals; i.e., no distinction made.:shrug:

[PavePusher]

6. Governor Cuomo has tax-payer supplied armed guards.

He can close prisons after he gives up that service.

[ileus]

7. Wonder if he realizes he's fighting the will of the people, not Washington?

not that he'd give a flying fuck either way...grabber wants to grab.

[DWC]

9. Heavy duty tort reform and

subsidize the cost to arm and train all honest, competent citizens who are willing and able to accept the responsibility of CCW.

Then he can consider putting those criminals back on the street.

Semper Fi,

[spin]

10. Sounds like an idea to me. I would also add ...

pass a law in New York state to allow "shall issue" concealed carry.