New York’s grimmest July 4th tradition — increased gun violence — continued unabated this year, with a troubling twist: younger victims and equally young shooters.
Over the holiday weekend, gunfire continued to erupt in Big Apple neighborhoods:
In the runup to the holiday, a brazen daylight shootout saw a 17-year-old struck in the back near the ironically named Pearly Gates playground in the Bronx.
Cops are looking for four teen suspects.
In January, The Post’s review of NYPD gun data revealed a spike in gun violence involving under-18 victims — with other youngsters pulling the trigger in most cases.
Now that summer has arrived, this troubling trend continues.
NYPD stats show most major crimes are down, including gun violence, but crimes involving teens, such as car thefts and shootings, are rising.
“Youth crime spiked while accountability disappeared,” says Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon of the Raise the Age law. Albany DA David Soares warns such reforms’ “most devastating impact on black and brown communities.”
Prior to RTA, it seems guns didn’t get into the hands of 15- and 16-year-olds because they faced real prison time if they shot people.
Since RTA passed, New York’s gone from young teens holding guns for older gangbangers to kids blasting away on their own.
“We need our legislators and policymakers to deal with reality and get tough on these young people by restoring consequences for their actions to show them that a crime-free life is not only possible but desirable,” wrote McMahon in The Post last month.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie adamantly defends Raise the Age, arguing that youths must be held to a different standard because their brains are still developing.
Surely “growing up to be gangbangers” isn’t the development he wants?
Not to mention the young brains that will never develop more because they died at the hands of other kids.
You don’t have to repeal Raise the Age, Mr. Speaker, but you’ve got to face the results and fix it somehow.
The fate of the next generation is at stake.
