January 7, 2015
On Monday, January 4, 2016 President Obama took modest, but meaningful steps to reduce gun violence and make our communities safer. The White House introduced new requirements that will, among other things, bolster background checks for gun purchases, increase mental health treatment and help shape the future of gun safety technology.
Safe Horizon offers a number of programs which assist New Yorkers impacted by gun violence, including:
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- A dedicated 24-hour hotline for crime victims;
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- Families of Homicide Victims Program which provides counseling and services in the aftermath of a murder; and
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- Borough-based Community Programs which respond to victims of community violence and other crimes.
The intersection of gun violence and domestic violence is well documented. Safe Horizon knows that all too often guns are finding their way into the hands of abusers due to a lack of mandatory background checks for weapons sold at gun shows, online and through private sellers.
As Safe Horizon’s Vice President of Government Affairs Michael Polenberg states, “President Obama’s bold executive actions will be instrumental in helping us move towards our shared vision of a society free from family and community violence.”
We applaud President Obama for taking concrete action against gun violence and its impact on our clients, particularly domestic violence victims. Together, we can continue to move victims of crime and abuse from crisis to confidence.