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NY Gov. Cuomo among four governors joining forces on gun safety, pledging to share intel


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(SBG file photo)

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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- The governors of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island are forming a coalition of like-minded states on gun control, hoping to make progress where they see the federal government has faltered.

The four Democrats announced the formation of "States for Gun Safety" on Thursday, about a week after the mass shooting at a Florida high school. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says that shooting accelerated their idea to form the coalition, which has been in the works for about a year.

They say the cross-state task force will trace and intercept illegal guns, step up intelligence and information sharing among the states and create a regional gun violence research consortium.

In a statement responding to comments by Wayne LaPierre at the Conservative Political Action Conference Thursday, in which the NRA leader said gun control advocates are exploiting a school shooting in Florida to push their agenda, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the coalition is aiming to pass gun control measures in more areas of the country:

"As a father and a gun owner, I think it would be nice if the NRA listened to the millions of children across this country who are asking the President and the GOP Congress to stop this senseless gun violence. Too many lives have already been lost because the NRA and people like Wayne LaPierre want to sell more guns.

While the NRA is busy peddling lies to the American people, New York and a coalition of states are saying enough is enough. The American people won't be played for fools. There is a way to pass common sense gun safety legislation—we know because we did it in New York. It isn't either/or—it can and must be both.

If Wayne LaPierre is attacking you, you know you're doing something right. I am proud of my F rating from the NRA, and I will continue to do everything I can to keep New Yorkers and our children safe." - Gov. Andrew Cuomo


The four governors said they will be urging others to join the coalition at this weekend's National Governors Association meeting.

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