Noam Bramson with Chris Foye and Lois Schaffer.
At a press conference today outside the Westchester County Center, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson and the parents of gun violence victims sharply criticized Rob Astorino for his extreme positions on gun violence. Bramson pledged to reinstate a ban on gun shows at the County Center that Astorino overturned in his first year in office, and pledged to work with the County legislature to pass a permanent ban on gun shows on County property.
“One of Rob Astorino’s first acts in office was to end a decade-long ban on gun shows at the Westchester County Center,” said Bramson. “Gun shows are notorious for lax background checks and for facilitating gun sales to criminals, and a landmark legal settlement negotiated by New York’s Attorney General this year included the very company running the gun shows Astorino brought to Westchester. The choices we make in government have real consequences, which is why we deserve leadership that reflects our value.”
In addition to bringing gun shows back to the County Center, Mr. Astorino has also opposed Gov. Cuomo’s NY SAFE Act, opposed a ban on assault weapons, and opposed limits on high capacity magazines. Bramson was joined at the press by the family members of gun violence victims featured in his latest ad. The family members in Bramson’s ad are:
Gisela Martin. Her daughter Jessica Santos was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Yonkers right before starting her sophomore year of college. Ms. Martin started the Jessica N. Santos foundation to honor her daughter’s memory and help other young people achieve their dreams.
Wilma Frank. Her son Andre was shot and killed in Mt. Vernon in 1992. Ms. Frank has been a frequent speaker against gun violence across Westchester County since her son’s tragic death.
Lois Schaffer. Her daughter Susan Edith Schaffer was killed during a burglary in 2008. Susan was a single mother of three.
Christopher Foye. His son Christopher Owens was only 13 when he was struck by a stray bullet in Harlem in 2009. He died a week later. Mr. Foye started the Chris S. Owens Foundation in honor of son. The Foundation is committed to changing gun culture to prevent more gun violence.
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