NEWS: Rep. Jamaal Bowman Issues Statement Following Shooting Outside Mt. Vernon High School

Statement

Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16) issued the following statement following a shooting outside of Mount Vernon High School just before dismissal.

"Unfortunately, I have to continue to share the tragic news of more incidents of gun violence in our community and in the hands of youth," said Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16). "Thankfully, this week's shooting outside of Mount Vernon High School just before dismissal didn't result in any injuries, but it could have been catastrophic. More and more, I hear the fear and stress that our entire community is experiencing over incidents of violence. I met with parents, community leaders, and organizers in our district last night to listen to their concerns and continue developing a plan of action that will support them and all of our neighbors as we battle the public health crisis of gun violence. One thing is clear: people are hurting and people are scared, but it doesn't have to be this way. For too long, our leaders have unacceptably glossed over this issue and ignored the warning signs, but I am committed to keeping our community safe and healthy because this moment requires engaged and invigorated leadership from all of us. We need the holistic solutions, wrap-around services, and critical resources that have been denied to our communities for decades, delivered to us immediately."

"Every government official in our communities and quite frankly across our country, should be intentionally collaborating at every level with their governors, mayors, state legislators, city councilmen and women, and yes -- with the President and every leader in the federal government," added Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16). "Now is not the time to try to address gun violence with practices and policies that have already proven unsuccessful in the past. It's time to think boldly and forge ahead with a vision and plan that centers people, their needs, and addresses the root causes of gun violence -- not just the symptoms. Just as I brought our community's concerns directly to Governor Hochul and worked with her to bring millions of dollars into NY-16, I'll continue working with anybody and everybody to put an end to this crisis. We must support street outreach workers, hospital-based workers, invest in youth engagement activities and community-based organizations, and allocate money for a robust program to address mental health in our communities. And that is just the first step. In Congress, I am continuing to push for the passage of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 (H.R. 8) and the Enhanced Background Checks Act (H.R. 1446) that can directly help stop the rise of gun violence. We will overcome this together."

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