Assemblywoman Russell to introduce School Funding Equity Act

Assemblywoman Addie Russell (Theresa) will hold a press conference on Friday February 1^st  at 10:00am at her District Office in the Dulles State Office Building, Suite 210 in Watertown. 

She will be introducing and discussing her legislation, The School Funding Equity Act.  

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Assemblywoman Addie Russell to Chair Assembly Task Force on Women's Issues

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (Theresa) today announced that she has been appointed to Chair the Assembly Task Force on Women’s Issues by Speaker Sheldon Silver. 

“I am honored to have received this prestigious post,” Russell said.  I have been an outspoken advocate for women’s issues most of my life, and I am confident that I will be able to provide effective leadership to this Task Force.”

Today’s appointment also comes on the heels of the 40^th anniversary of the monumental Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision which guarantees that every woman can make her own personal, private health care decisions, especially when her health is endangered.  The Assembly passed a resolution to observe this anniversary today.

“It is very fitting that I was appointed to this Chairmanship on such a momentous occasion,” said Russell.  I look forward to working with the Speaker in helping advance legislation pertaining to women’s economic, health, education policies, and other social issues.”

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Assembly Passes Mark's Law

"Today the Assembly passed several key measures that were in my proposed enhancement to Mark’s Law, which increases penalties for persons who kill first responders: our firefighters and EMTs, addressing irresponsible handling of weapons, and requiring limiting access to weapons by the mentally unstable and others that are not permitted to possess guns.  The bill also limits pistol permit information available to the public." 

"I believe that today, in passing the Mark’s Law provisions, we are honoring our commitment to our first responders. By passing measures to keep guns out of the hands of those that tend to target our volunteers and children, we are honoring all our first responders and the memories of those that have died needlessly including Mark Davis"

Assemblywoman Addie Russell Proposes Enhanced Mark's Law BIll

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) has drafted new legislation aimed at curbing the deaths of first responders and law enforcement officials and providing for stiffer penalties for persons that act recklessly and allow guns to fall into the hands of those that kill first responders and law enforcement officials.  The bill also limits the amount of information available about pistol permit holders that can be obtained by the public to the name and county of residence of the permit holder. 

The focus of this legislation provides justice for first responders and law enforcement officials that are murdered, such as in the case of Mark Davis, and the firefighters killed in Webster, New York.  The legislation not only adds killing first responders to the definition of Murder in the First Degree and Aggravated Murder, but it provides a new crime for those that act recklessly in allowing these murderers access to the guns used in the crimes, and provides a stiff penalty.

“We all know that the people killing our innocent first responders, law enforcement officials, school children, teachers and even movie-goers – tend to be mentally unstable, including having homicidal tendencies,” Assemblywoman Russell said.  “It is time to not just deal with the aftermath, but to tackle the issue head on and enact policies that can actually prevent these crimes.  This legislation has been drafted to address the issue using three elements.”

1.             The bill will once and for all include our first responders in the Murder in the First Degree and Aggravated Murder law.    

2.             The bill will place a burden on the owners of firearms to keep them out of the hands of the mentally unstable and homicidal criminals or be charged with a new crime - Reckless Use of a Weapon – punishable by up to fifteen years in prison.  This new crime is targeted at the killings covered in the Murder in the First Degree and Aggravated Murder laws.

3.             The bill will limit the amount of information available regarding pistol permit holders that can be publicly obtained to the permit holders name and county of residence. 

“The goal is to prevent those that are mentally unstable or homicidal criminals from obtaining guns.  It is a fact that we can never really regulate every way to prevent someone from killing, but as gun owners we should take steps to ensure these murderers do not use our guns to commit the crime.  The threat of prosecution will make all of us rethink how we take care of our guns, and who we allow to have access to them.  Limiting the amount of information available about pistol permit holders will help law abiding gun owners keep themselves safe from would-be criminals, by not advertising or allowing easy access to directions to their homes and thus the locations of their guns,” Russell said.

“For the vast majority of gun owners, this bill will not make us have to do anything differently in terms of how we take care of our guns,” Russell said.  “This bill will send a message to reckless gun owners – if you do not keep your guns out of the hands of those that kill first responders, cops and kids, you will be facing 15 years in prison.”

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Assemblywoman Addie Russell to introduce enhanced Mark's Law Bill

Bill includes provisions to address gun responsibility and limiting of public gun owner information

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) announced today that she will introduce new legislation to address the tragic circumstances related to Mark Davis' death.  The new legislation will include elevating the murder of first responders to murder in the 1st degree, but will also provide additional provisions that will toughen penalties for individuals that allow guns to fall into the hands of perpetrators of these murders.  It will also provide for limiting the public disclosure of pistol permit holder information.  

"I feel this new legislation will provide justice for crimes such as the one that resulted in Mark's death," she said.  "The bill provides for increased responsibility for those that make guns available to the kinds of killer involved in Mark's death as well as the shootings in Connecticut and Webster, NY," Russell added.  "The bill also address concerns of recent disclosure of gun owner information on the internet," she stated. "I will be holding a press conference Friday at 11:00 a.m. at my office in the Dulles State Office State Building to further discuss the details of the bill," she concluded. 

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