Albany, NY – In response to the United States Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a national ban on the sale of bump stocks, Michaelle Solages, Chair of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, released the following statement:

I am deeply concerned by today's Supreme Court ruling to reverse the national bump stock ban during Gun Violence Awareness Month. This decision overlooks the fact that bump stocks have enabled individuals to take the lives of countless innocent Americans. A bump stock was used in the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, allowing the assailant to fire over 1,000 rounds of ammunition in just 10 minutes, killing over 60 people and injuring hundreds more. The steady increase in these deadly incidents over the last decade is alarming, with over 600 mass shootings per year since 2020.

As the Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, & Asian Legislative Caucus, I am gravely concerned for communities of color that are already bearing the brunt of gun violence. Studies show that homicide is the leading cause of death for Black men between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, with 86% of those deaths involving guns. While the bump stock has been banned in New York, this decision to reverse the ban threatens to unleash deadly consequences on marginalized neighborhoods across the country. I will continue to prioritize the safety and rights of New Yorkers over the rights of firearms and fight for legislation that protects our communities from senseless violence.