NYS Assembly: Silver talks SAFE approval

Statement from Speaker Sheldon Silver on Passage of NY SAFE Act:

"The Assembly Majority has long fought for sensible gun laws to protect New Yorkers against unnecessary violence. There are too many victims of senseless gun violence in communities everywhere. I am saddened that it took the devastating events of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and Webster, N.Y., to move people to action.

"No civilian needs or should be able to purchase an assault weapon intended to kill as many human beings as swiftly as possible. Let us be perfectly clear - this bill is about protecting people. Protecting our children. Protecting our families. Protecting first responders, police officers and firefighters.

"The solution to gun violence is not more guns. The solution is sensible new laws like this to finally address the problems we face. Make no mistake, we still have serious questions to answer when it comes to our culture of violence. But we have taken a critical step forward today - a step we owe to the victims of Newtown, Webster and in communities everywhere.

"I applaud Gov. Cuomo's quick and aggressive push for the passage and enactment of gun control measures. This agreement is an impressive start to the 2013 legislative session."