Days after two police officers were killed by a suspect using an illegal gun, President Joe Biden headed to New York City Thursday to meet with Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul and to announce new actions targeting gun violence that the White House says builds on his “comprehensive strategy” unveiled last June.
“Enough is enough because we know we can do things about this,” Biden said in afternoon remarks from NYPD headquarters. “But for the resistance, we’re getting from some sectors of the government and the Congress and the state legislatures and the organizational structures out there — you know, Mayor Adams, you and I agree, the answer is not to abandon our streets, that’s not the answer.”
He called for increased funding for community policing and for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Marshalls office, arguing that monetary support will help reduce violence.
“We’re not about defunding, we’re about funding and providing the additional services you need beyond someone with a gun strapped to their shoulder,” he said.
View live press conference & highlights from the discussions below:
Happening Now: President Biden participates in a Gun Violence Strategies Partnership meeting. https://t.co/CxE0v3IUJs
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 3, 2022
“@POTUS is here because he knows what the American people want: justice, safety and prosperity.
And they deserve every bit of it. And he wants to end the gun violence in our city and our country. A future built on equality and opportunity.”
— @NYCMayor pic.twitter.com/RFkGx2FAA7— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) February 3, 2022
“The president pulled me into the Oval Office… He grabbed me by my arm, he turned me around and looked into my eyes, and he says ‘Eric, what can we do?’ And I told him the help we needed.”
— @NYCMayor on meeting with @POTUS pic.twitter.com/ioTsTmcCGb— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) February 3, 2022
"We want to get stuff done…Mr. President, Eric Adams is reporting for duty and ready to serve."
– @NYCMayor to @POTUS at today's Gun Violence Strategies Partnership meeting. pic.twitter.com/m13zjOC3Ve
— City of New York (@nycgov) February 3, 2022
“@NYCMayor Adams, you say that gun violence is a sea fed by many rivers. Well, I put forward a plan to dam up some of those streams. You can count on me to be a partner in that efforts.”
— @POTUS pic.twitter.com/SmQqWsjdGZ— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) February 3, 2022
"I want to help every major city follow New York's lead…everyday here in New York City, Federal, State and Local enforcement meet to share intelligence about arrests and shootings from the day before and work to take those shooters off the street as soon as possible."
– @POTUS pic.twitter.com/dCo5bbTRKh
— City of New York (@nycgov) February 3, 2022
"Mayor Adams, you and I agree. The answer is not to abandon our streets, that's not the answer. The answer is to come together, police and communities, building trust and making us all safer."
– @POTUS https://t.co/A65OG0QCPN pic.twitter.com/O9ZZeDAoPj
— City of New York (@nycgov) February 3, 2022
