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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 215-06
June 24, 2006

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BLOOMBERG OF PASSAGE OF TOUGHER SENTENCING REQUIREMENTS FOR ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION WHICH FULFILLS GOAL MAYOR SET IN STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH

“This is a major victory for all law-abiding residents of our City and State. The people who possess illegal guns are the most likely to murder and menace innocent New Yorkers – and the Police Officers who protect us. But for too long, those arrested for illegal possession of loaded handguns have gotten off with a slap on the wrist – and many avoided any jail time at all. No longer. Now, by raising the mandatory minimum sentence to 3½ years from 1 year, and by eliminating the loophole that allowed judges far too much discretion in reducing or waiving prison time, we will send a clear message to criminals: ‘carry an illegal gun and you will serve serious time.’ Increasing the mandatory minimum to 3 ½ years has been a major element of our strategy to take illegal guns off our streets and continue making the safest big city in America even safer. I want to thank Speaker Silver, Majority Leader Bruno, as well as Senator Marty Golden and all the members of both houses who supported this critical piece of legislation, and I look forward to Governor Pataki signing it into law.”





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