Efforts to reduce the rising cases of gun violence and improve public safety continues in the Albany County Legislature with several measures aimed at violence prevention and gun safety.
On Monday, Legislators approved a resolution to establish the Detailed Instruction Supporting Community Violence Education and Reduction (DISCOVER) program. In partnership with the Sheriff’s Office, the program would focus on supporting firearm education and training for legal gun owners and reducing the number of illegal guns in local communities.
“The DISCOVER Program will make a direct impact in taking deadly illegal guns off of our streets as it helps promote responsible gun culture through county-wide gun buybacks and pistol safety training courses,” said Legislator Dustin Reidy, who sponsored the resolution. “Albany County continues to lead and take action to end the public health emergency of gun violence. I'm proud to have introduced the DISCOVER program and to have worked with Sheriff Craig Apple and earned bipartisan support on these important measures.”
The DISCOVER program would offer pistol training courses for County residents run by the Sheriff’s Office; an anonymous illegal firearm tip line for individuals to report information about illegally possessed guns and a potential $500 reward if the tip results in seizure of a firearm; gun buyback events that incentivize individuals to surrender firearms in exchange for cash; and free gun locking mechanisms and instructions regarding best practices in keeping and storing guns at various events throughout the county.
“Without significant interventions, gun violence will continue to be a serious threat to our communities It’s comprehensive and preventative measures like the DISCOVER program that will reduce impetus for violence while promoting gun safety. I want to thank Legislator Reidy and the rest of the Legislature for continuing to make public safety a priority for our residents,” said Chairman Andrew Joyce.
“I am very happy to co-sponsor this resolution which I hope will have a positive effect on the gun violence that is currently plaguing parts of Albany County,” said Majority Leader Dennis Feeney.
In addition to the DISCOVER program, the Legislature also adopted a local law to ban the possession of deadly weapons and dangerous instruments in Albany County facilities by individuals other than those on official business authorized to carry a such weapons.
Signs will be posted at County building warning individuals that possession of a firearm, rifle shotgun or other deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, explosive device and/or poisonous gas is prohibited. Individuals caught carrying such weapons could be charged with an unclassified misdemeanor and subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment up to 90 days.
