New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (left) is touring the state on a school bus to gain support for a bill that would allow school staff to petition a judge to prohibit students they believe to be a threat from buying or possessing firearms. Photo courtesy Gov. Cuomo's office

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (left) is touring the state on a school bus to gain support for a bill that would allow school staff to petition a judge to prohibit students they believe to be a threat from buying or possessing firearms. Photo courtesy Gov. Cuomo's office

ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo is touring the state on school buses as part of a campaign to pass a gun safety bill.

Cuomo rode the two buses, provided by Ozone Park-based Logan Bus Co., to multiple press conferences throughout the state to bring together local elected officials, school staff, and students in support of the Red Flag Gun Protection Bill. The campaign kicked off on Monday in Long Island and the Bronx, and on Tuesday, Cuomo stopped in Westchester County, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Cuomo proposed the bill, also known as the Extreme Risk Protection Order Bill, last week. The bill would allow school staff members or parents to petition a judge to prohibit students who they believe to be a threat to themselves or others from purchasing, possessing, or attempting to purchase or possess any type of firearm, including hand guns, rifles, or shotguns.

The legislation builds on New York's gun laws and prior legislative efforts, and, if passed, would reportedly make New York the first state to help empower its teachers and school administrators to try to prevent school shootings by pursuing court intervention, according to the news release from Cuomo’s office.

"New York will not stand by and wait for Washington to take action against the gun violence and school shootings that have become all too common in this country," Cuomo said. "Parents should not have to fear sending their children to school every day and teachers should not have to wonder if they will return home from work. Together, we can and will pass this common sense gun legislation and we will continue to fight to ensure gun violence has no place in this great state."

Cuomo was accompanied on Tuesday by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul; White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach; and Westchester County Executive George Latimer to a press conference at White Plains High School.

“Safety of these students is our number-one priority,” Corey Muirhead, director at Logan Bus Co. & Affiliates, said in a press release. “It does not just stop for Logan when the kids get off the bus. We were honored to provide this transportation to Gov. Cuomo and all the other wonderful elected officials involved in this very important initiative.”

About the author
Nicole Schlosser

Nicole Schlosser

Former Executive Editor

Nicole was an editor and writer for School Bus Fleet. She previously worked as an editor and writer for Metro Magazine, School Bus Fleet's sister publication.

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