SYRACUSE, NY – The New York chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statements after two on-duty law enforcement officers were shot and killed near Syracuse on Sunday evening. While details are still emerging, reports indicate that a police officer and a sheriff’s deputy were shot and killed in a shootout that took place while investigating an alleged stolen vehicle after officers attempted to stop the vehicle earlier that evening.
“Our hearts break for the loved ones and the colleagues of the officers killed in the line of duty yesterday as they grieve this horrible tragedy,” said Lauren Ruffrage, a volunteer with the New York chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Every instance of senseless gun violence in our community is devastating – and that includes instances of gun violence against members of our law enforcement community who are working to keep us safe. We know a safer future is possible for our state and we’ll continue to work towards making this a reality.”
The Post-Standard of Syracuse reported that the two officers shot were the first law enforcement officers to be killed in the line of duty in Onondaga County in more than 30 years. There have been at least 38 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty so far this year across the country. Last month, an on-duty officer with the New York Police Department was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop in Queens.
New York has some of the strongest gun violence prevention laws in the country, ranking second for the strength of its gun safety laws nationwide, and has the fourth-lowest rate of gun deaths in the United States. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul highlighted her administration’s continued efforts to combat crime across the state in a visit to the New York State Police Troop G Headquarters.
In an average year in New York, 939 people die by guns and 1,991 people are wounded. Gun violence costs New York $11.4 billion each year, of which $301.2 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in New York is available here.
