New York state lawmakers in Albany have adopted a new state budget which includes $2.5 million for the creation of a state Office of Gun Violene Prevention (OGVP), an offshoot of the now-defunct Biden administration program which was scrapped almost immediately after President Donald Trump was sworn into office in January.
The Biden White House had created an OGVP more than a year ago, and one of its goals was to get states to create their own such offices, which critics asserted were actually government-funded gun control lobbying efforts.
According to a report at WTEN, the Empire State OGVP is just part of a bigger gun control effort. The report noted these other budget items:
- $7.2 million for community-based gun- and domestic-violence prevention programs
- $40 million for police and legal costs to better enforce Extreme Risk Protection Orders, or “red flag” laws
- $10 million in competitive grants to local community groups like the Greater Direction mentorship programs in Buffalo
It all comes to just under $60 million in new spending, while “the total for gun violence programs is $325 million for the fiscal year.”
The WTEN report noted how anti-gunners are delighted with the expenditures.
“The establishment of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention is a monumental step forward in protecting our communities from the devastating impacts of gun violence,” according to Rebecca Fischer, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, a gun control advocacy group. “With the Trump Administration pulling back essential funding and dismantling vital programs, New York’s leadership is now more critical than ever.”
On the other hand, critics say the Democrat-adopted budget ignores effective solutions to violent crime, and seems to favor criminals, the report indicated.
Supporters said the OGVP is “essential to leading a comprehensive government response to the gun violence crisis.”
The new OGVP will reportedly be part of the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services, and will “consolidate” various gun control efforts.
