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Moms Demand Action

Gun Violence Victims: “Too Many to Count, Too Many to Discuss, Too Many to Name”

June 8, 2019 by Grace Bennett

Wearing Orange in New Castle and Lamenting America’s Continuing Epidemic of Gun-Related Violence

Story and Photos By Grace Bennett

June 7, 2019–A group of public and school officials representing New Castle, gun violence prevention activists, clergy and dozens of residents gathered wearing orange for National Gun Violence Awareness Day inside the Chappaqua gazebo with a shared purpose: to report that America’s epidemic of gun violence persists and the toll on American lives has worsened since the horrific 2012 Sandy Hook murders, to lament the lack of action by federal government, and to remind everyone that gun violence can happen anywhere, and to urge everyone to keep rallying, that change is still possible. Public officials also took the occasion to remind that in New York State, while there has been significant progress at the state level here, it is not enough. The ease of access to guns across state lines remains a massive problem.

(L-R) State Assemblyman David Buchwald, Town of New Castle Board Members Lisa Katz and Ivy Pool, Leah Barth, New Castle United for Youth, New Castle Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein and New Castle Town Board member Jeremy Saland. 
Sheryl Manasse speaking on behalf of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester. Manasse also belongs to Moms Demand Action.

The conversation inside the brightly lit gazebo often veered back to Sandy Hook, when 26 people, including 20 children between six and seven years old, and six adult staff members, were murdered, and the spike of gun-related violence in virtually every life arena since: “Too many to count, to many to discuss, too many to name,” said Chappaqua Sheryl Manasse, speaking on behalf of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester and of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, after she read an excruciating list of specific sites and the murder count at each-about 100 Americans a day.  “What do they all have in common? Access to guns. Access makes a difference. We need to be clear, consistent and active.”

During the early evening event, officials also warmly acknowledged attendee Erin Fuller Brian, a survivor of the Las Vegas shooting, and Kelly Marx of Pleasantville, who was commended for having organized last year’s 9,000 person strong rally against gun violence which took place in White Plains.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer opened the forum pointing out that despite naysayers, an individual “who doesn’t have access to a gun in the first place can’t create as much havoc and mayhem. Rational people understand that,” he said, adding that town and regional governments do have some authority to make a difference. “I banned the gun show on the second day of my job,” Latimer stated to applause. But yet, the danger remains. “It’s a short hop to another state. You can hop to another state like Virginia, and in a few hours, have a trunk full of weaponry legally purchased. Anybody warped can get their hands on something that does carnage to someone else… In the meantime, we meet to remind ourselves that we are not alone.”

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said that the ease of gun access across state lines is a continuing challenge.

State Assemblyman David Buchwald reminded that yesterday’s gathering was taking place the day after the 75th anniversary of D-Day. He said he hoped to see a day in which “commemorations like these are to think about it as something that happened in the past, and to get to a point when gun violence is few and far between.”  He said “we can take some pride that in New York State has not been a source of many of these tragedies.” Buchwald pointed out that his first legislative vote as a State Assemblyman was for a measure he co-sponsored, the SAFE Act, passed in the wake of the Newtown school shooting. The SAFE Act has been described as the strongest gun safety legislation in the country. “Even with that law,” he said last night, “we have to do more.”*

New Castle Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein recalled Sandy Hook too and “the 20 helpless beautiful children gunned down.”  He asked that everyone gathered  “close their eyes and take ten seconds to think about Sandy Hook,”… and pointed out that for the parents of Sandy Hook, the pain never ends. “We need our eyes wide open to see the travesty happening all around us in churches, colleges, high schools, newsrooms, synagogues, music festivals, restaurants, and banks.  Since Sandy Hook, nothing has changed at the federal level… Americans, he noted, are 25 times more likely to be killed by by guns than in other high income countries.”

(L-R, speaking): Brandon and Sasha Litwin. Back row (L-R): Naomi Marrow of Moms Demand Action, Jeremy Saland, Lisa Katz and Reverend Martha Jacobson. Sasha spoke in memory of Alex Schachter who was murdered in the Parkland massacre.
Right, Mike Weinberg together with his son Joshua representing state Senator Peter Harckham.
Rand Manasse, Ivy Pool, Lisa Katz, and Sheryl Manasse

Two Greeley students and siblings, Sasha Litwin and Brandon Litwin, also spoke, Sasha in memory of Alex Schachter, who at age 14 was a Parkland victim, “an innocent young boy tragically killed at the expense of our soft gun laws,” she said. “I’m enraged that 100 Americans are killed with guns every day. I fear as a 16-year-old that my school will be affected by gun violence. We must push our legislators to make concrete changes in our gun laws… this  constant cycle of pain, fear and suffering has to end… I wear Alex’s name on my wrist to keep Alex’s name alive.” Brandon followed, stating that we must “not be afraid o make change, shy away or run.  Our current gun laws should be run over and trampled… 40,000 people deceased in 2018; that’s the highest number in the last five decades… this is info that can not be put aside. Wear your orange with pride.”

Chappaqua Central School District Superintendent Christine Ackerman (third from right), here with Chappaqua friends including Victoria Alzapiedi, first on the left. Chappaqua school board members Jane Shepardson and Warren Mesner were also thanked for attending during the evening as was Francesca Hogadus of the Mount Pleasant Town Board.

The final speaker was Reverend Martha Jacobson of Chappaqua’s First Congregational Church who said she bristled at the suggestion by someone who told her that gun violence was God’s fault. “We ourselves make that choice; we are not puppets. Thoughts and prayers are not enough; God does not do prayers, we do prayers.  God does not stand up against injustice. God requires that we stand up to injustice. No matter what you call God, or who you call God or even if you don’t believe in God, we as human beings are required to stand up… to exercise our responsibility to love our neighbors as ourselves. It is incumbent upon us to stand with those who are actively working to make a difference.” Rev. Jacobson also led those attending in singing Amazing Grace, after which she pointedly added:  “And may our lawmakers in Washington finally come to see.”

*Both Latimer and Buchwald said a wide variety of legislation pertaining to gun violence prevention has been either passed or is being heard in Albany. Buchwald has helped pass common sense gun measures that would ban bump stocks (A.9958), keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and clearly identified dangerous individuals (A.5025, (A.8976-B and (A.9978) and establish longer waiting periods to ensure thorough background checks (A.2406). Buchwald is also a co-sponsor of legislation (A.563-A) to expand statewide Westchester County’s successful safe firearm storage law.
“The Assembly has taken meaningful action to address many of the causes of gun violence in our communities,” Buchwald stated in an earlier release. “We must keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals and those convicted of domestic violence crimes.”

From Congresswoman Nita Lowey’s Office:

“Barely 150 days into 2019, there have already been 150 mass shootings, most recently in Virginia Beach. Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and while we’ve made some progress, we have a long way to go. In any given year, more than 120,000 Americans are shot and 17,000 children are injured or killed. Thirty-four people in America are murdered in acts of gun violence every single day. We are in the middle of a public health crisis, and Congress has a responsibility to act. That is why House Democrats passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. This bill would expand background checks universally to make our communities stronger and safer. Now the Senate must pass this important, commonsense gun safety legislation. I will continue fighting for sensible gun violence prevention legislation, on National Gun Violence Awareness Day and every day, to keep our children and families safe.”

Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo directed that iconic buildings and structures across New York State be illuminated orange this evening to mark National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

Filed Under: New Castle News Tagged With: Commemoration, Gun Access, Gun Epidemic, gun violence, Moms Demand Action, National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Parkland, Preventing Gun Violence, Sandy Hook, Town of New Castle, Wear Orange

Gun Violence Prevention Groups Promote Coalition Building

February 5, 2017 by Inside Press

Congresswoman Nita Lowey:  Act Now Despite ‘Tumultous’ Political Climate

By Stacey Pfeffer

Chappaqua, NY— Several Westchester-based gun violence prevention (GVP) groups yesterday presented key action items that community members can take to reduce gun violence in light of the recent Presidential election.

Speaking at a forum held inside New Castle Town Hall, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, a long-time gun safety advocate, noted that despite a “tumultuous” political climate, it is our responsibility to act now – regardless of the politics – to spare families the pain that gun violence brings. I will continue working with local legislators and activists to stand up for what is right when it matters the most and keep guns out of the wrong hands.”

Inside New Castle Town Hall: Congresswoman Nita Lowey together with members of several Westchester-based gun violence prevention groups during a forum held on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Representatives and members from Million Mom March/Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Moms Demand Action, The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and Prevent Gun Violence Westchester were all in attendance. The event was sponsored by Up2US (an outgrowth of Chappaqua Friends of Hillary) and the New Castle Democratic Committee. Concerned citizenry from the UP2US group were in attendance as were Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein and Town Councilman Adam Brodsky. 

Jessica Meller, one of the leaders of Northern Westchester’s Million Mom March, noted that many of these groups collaborate on efforts and events together but this was the first time that the groups held a forum so that members could get “a clear picture of each group’s unique profile, goals and actions, and how we function both individually and as a coalition.”

Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Mount Kisco) who attended commented that “it’s events like this that help galvanize people to action and to advocate for gun safety legislation.” Buchwald has been a strong advocate for gun safety and noted that Westchester has a gun safety storage law and he is one of the co-sponsors to support that bill so that it is adopted state-wide.

With 91 Americans killed everyday with guns (7 are children), Barry Graubart, the head of Westchester’s Moms Demand Action group noted how important it is to keep this issue front and center even when so many other progressive issues such as immigration and abortion are in peril. 

He explained that women are five times as likely to be shot when there is a gun present at home and that LGBT teens are four times as likely to commit suicide if a gun is available. He urged all in attendance to join Gun Sense Action Network, a group of over 200 gun sense activists from states across the country who spend a daytime hour each week reaching out to voters in battleground states and fighting for stronger gun laws in America. http://everytown.org/act/

While New Castle may seem immune to gun violence, there are areas of gun violence throughout the county. Mount Vernon had several shootings over the holiday period this year. Another particular area of concern for GVP groups locally is the Gun Show that was held two weeks ago at the Westchester County Center (WCC) in White Plains. The gun show was banned from the center for four years by County Executive Rob Astorino following the shootings in Newtown, CT but the ban was lifted this year. 

Prevent Gun Violence Westchester’s Chuck Bell stated community members can work to prevent the show returning next year to a county-owned building like the WCC. He urged those in attendance to call their legislators to override Astorino’s veto. “We also have no way of tracking how the firearms purchased at the show are used,” Bell noted.

Stacey Pfeffer is a frequent contributor to Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk. Her articles have also appeared in NY Family Magazine, Westchester Family Magazine, Westchester Parent and Kveller.com.

 

Filed Under: New Castle News Tagged With: Adam Brodsky, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Chappaqua, Coalition Building, David Buchwald, everytown.org, Gun Sense Action Network, Gun Violence Prevention, Moms Demand Action, New Castle, New Castle Democratic Committee, New Castle Town Hall, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Nita Lowey, Robert Greenstein, Up2US

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