FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 24, 2022

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jeanette.lenoir@mail.house.gov

c: 202.480.5737

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on The United States Supreme Court 6 to 3 ruling that struck down the State of New York law that makes it a crime to possess a firearm without a license.

“It is truly unconscionable, and quite frankly, disrespectful, that The Supreme Court would strike down a common sense gun law that protects the residents in a state confronting a serious crisis and uptick in gun violence. Sadly, we live in a society governed by individuals tasked to uphold our principles and security, and yet, cast a vote that blatantly disregards the tragic reality of a nation still reeling from back-to-back mass shootings that took the lives of innocent children, teachers, and seniors,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.

“We’ve reached an impasse with gun violence in New York and all across our nation. We must widen our aperture on a number of different practices that will help mitigate the damage of gun violence, and striking down New York’s common sense gun law is a direct challenge to every New Yorker’s safety and sense of security. We live under the constant threat of gun violence. It is an epidemic that does not discriminate. It has tragically reached our NYPD officers, our young people, and even our children. The gun violence in America is a public health issue. It’s a moral issue. We’ve passed legislation in the House to stem the flow of guns throughout our nation. Unfortunately, every attempt Democrats have made to curb gun violence has been obstructed with inaction in the Senate, and today, from The Supreme Court. At the end of the day, the laws of our land and our State must be respected, and enforced. New Yorkers need and demand common sense gun laws, not continued obstruction that does nothing but keep us in limbo and unprotected.”

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Yvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York’s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is a Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security, where she serves as Chair of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee.