Res. No. 1322
Title
Resolution urging the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and the District Attorneys of all five boroughs to work together to prosecute gun-related crimes by allowing state prosecutors to be cross-designated as federal prosecutors for these purposes.
Body
By Council Members McCaffrey, Boyland, Clarke, Dear, Malave-Dilan, Fisher, Freed, Linares, Nelson, Quinn, Wooten, Fiala and Oddo; also Council Members DiBrienza, Eisland, Foster and Michels
Whereas, Gun violence is a serious concern in all American cities, including New York City; and
Whereas, Gun violence continues to exact a heavy human toll in this City; and
Whereas, According to the Preliminary Fiscal 2000 Mayor's Management Report, there were 2,009 reports of shooting victims, 1,757 reports of shooting incidents, 2,808 arrests for gun possession and 10,389 guns confiscated in Fiscal Year 1999; and
Whereas, At a March 13, 2000 hearing of the Public Safety Committee, Police Commissioner Howard Safir testified that approximately 50 to 60 arrests per week for gun possession are made in the City; and
Whereas, The Police Commissioner further testified that more should be done on the federal level to deal with gun possession cases; and
Whereas, A shortage of manpower and inadequate resources in the offices of federal prosecutors often prevents the prosecution of gun cases; and
Whereas, Federal gun possession laws, in certain instances, bring greater sentences than their state counterparts; and
Whereas, All gun control laws should be brought to bear on those who possess, sell or traffic in illegal guns; and
Whereas, A unified approach to gun violence in the City, taken by all our prosecuting entities, both federal and state, will help reduce the problem of gun violence in New York City; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and the District Attorneys of all five boroughs to work together to prosecute gun-related crimes by allowing state prosecutors to be cross-designated as federal prosecutors for these purposes.
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