Representative Adriano Espaillat Votes for Active Shooter Alert Act
Press Release
Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) voted for legislation to quickly warn New York communities of a nearby active shooter. The Active Shooter Alert Act will establish a program similar to the AMBER Alert system, allowing law enforcement to effectively and efficiently alert the public during a shooting. Secured by the Democratic House Majority, today's passage follows House Republicans' inexplicable attempt to obstruct this life-saving legislation last month.
"New Yorkers, including thousands of survivors, are demanding action to combat gun violence and increase safety across our communities," said Rep. Espaillat. "Building on the enactment of the landmark Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, I proudly voted to help law enforcement keep New Yorkers safe and informed during active shooter incidents. This commonsense, straightforward measure will equip communities in the state with the resources, training and strategies they need to save lives. As we work to enact this urgently needed legislation, House Democrats will continue fighting to overcome Republican obstruction and bring our nation's gun violence epidemic to an end."
Since 2009, communities across the nation have been torn apart by nearly 300 mass shootings -- attacks that have killed more than 1,500 people and wounded 1,000 more. Among the most urgent challenges during an active shooter incident is the need to prevent additional victims from unknowingly walking into the line of fire.
The Active Shooter Alert Act will support these life-saving efforts by establishing an Active Shooter Alert Coordinator at the U.S. Department of Justice. The Coordinator will offer state and local law enforcement officials voluntary access to training, technical support and advice for improving or implementing active shooter alert systems. These resources include guidance on the most effective alert content, delivery strategies and recommendations such as silencing alerts in the immediate vicinity of a shooter.
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