Malliotakis Applauds Federal Support to Reduce Gun Violence in New York City

(WASHINGTON, DC) -  Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) released the below statement regarding New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's announcement that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) will strengthen its partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to help curb the spike in gun violence in New York City. ATF agents will be directly embedded in the NYPD to find illegal guns and quickly act on information to stop the flow of illegal guns.

De Blasio's announcement comes after Malliotakis' May 7 letter to President Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland calling on the Administration to send federal law enforcement officers to New York City to assist the NYPD and prosecute individuals who obtain firearms illegally.

"I applaud the federal government for listening to our calls, stepping in to protect residents and assisting our police force and federal courts with this daily and growing threat of gun violence," said Congresswoman Malliotakis. "While ATF's assistance will be critical in getting more criminals and illegal guns off our streets, the best thing the Mayor can do is undo the damage he's done and get out of the way. In addition to this partnership, the Mayor should restore the NYPD's plainclothes unit that had great success in getting firearms off our streets, and refund the $1 billion he stripped from the department's budget. The Mayor created this problem and now the feds have to come and fix it because he won't allow the NYPD to do its job."