Hudson Valley Gripped By Gun Violence
Many communities throughout the Hudson Valley suffer tragic losses due to violence every year. Specifically, incidents concerning firearms and gun violence. In the state of New York, it is not illegal to possess a weapon as long as one has a proper license and is over the age of 21. However, many individuals manage to obtain firearms illegally. According to Gangs Next Door, by Asher Stockler, “70% of guns connected to a crime in the Hudson Valley region originated from an out-of-state source.” Unlike where weapons of violence can be obtained, these incidents are known to take place anywhere, throughout private homes, restaurants, vehicles, public buildings, schools, and the list can go on.
In turn, because shootings are such a high-risk type of violence, police departments in the Hudson Valley started an initiative called GIVE, which stands for “Gun Involved Violence Elimination.” The Division of Criminal Justice Services says that “New York State provides funding, training, and technical support to 20 police agencies and their law enforcement partners in 17 counties through [GIVE], which aims to reduce shootings and save lives in communities with high rates of violent and firearm-related crime.” Participating police departments who are actively involved in the cause include Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Mt. Vernon, and Kingston, to name a few. In 2022 alone, 22 people were involved in shooting incidents experiencing an injury, 27 were shooting victims, and four were killed by gun violence. These numbers have also continued to increase since the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is no denying that gun violence is a worldwide issue. People lose family, friends, and loved ones due to these tragedies every day, and the Hudson Valley is no exception. The City of Poughkeepsie, compared to the town, differs in the amount and frequency that incidents like this occur. Administrative Sergeant Joseph Herring from the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, who has been with the police department for 21 years, said, “But you know, a lot of [the violence] does happen here whereas you go just ten minutes outside of here, it’s you know — it’s middle class, nice homes, you know acre, acre half property, but our population is more dense here, and we tend to have more of the problems.” Sergeant Herring also mentioned that the closer to the city, the more calls they receive are connected to gun violence among gangs and gang members in the community. “Most gun violence is targeted amongst different gang members, so a lot of it is within their own, you know, a battle amongst themselves,” Herring says. However, many can become victims of these crimes, not even being affiliated with those groups.
One tragedy that still has an ongoing case occurred at the Poughkeepsie Marriott Hotel, where a beloved Marist College father was killed with a firearm during the college’s family weekend. One of the hotel employees is suing for emotional distress and other psychological injuries, causing the employee to be unable to return to work. The hotel shooting is just one of many tragic stories in the Hudson Valley. Unfortunately, many bystanders and people in the area are caught in danger or become victims of others’ mayhem. The heartache and emotional distress this imposes are vast, leaving communities grieving, creating more of a yearning and outcry for more justice and peace. Police and law enforcement are continuing to make strides to end this type of violence for the sake of the Hudson Valley and their communities all over. For information, visit the Division of Criminal Justice Services website or your local town police department.
