(NEWARK, NJ) -- Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka has issued statements on the two important Supreme Court cases from this week: the decision regarding New York's right to regulate individuals carrying guns in public and the reversal of Roe V. Wade.
ON THE SUPREME COURT HANDGUN DECISION
"The Supreme Court ruling today limiting New York's ability to regulate individuals carrying guns in public will make America a more dangerous place.
"It is disturbing that this ruling to widen the Second Amendment's right to bear arms, comes just as our legislators in Washington have finally reached bi-partisan agreement on some gun safety measures.
"It also sets back the efforts of all lawmakers and citizens working to bring gun violence in our country in line with the rest of the civilized world, which collectively have less gun deaths in a year than America has in a week, or even days.
"This ruling follows a trend that puts more Americans at risk of being victims of gun violence. In communities across the country, specifically our urban centers, we are seeing record numbers in youth gun offenses and we must do all that we can to keep our residents safe and free from harm.
"Following the national attention of the murder of 17 fourth-graders and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas and the racist, hate-killing of 10 people, mostly African-Americans, in a Buffalo supermarket that is still fresh in our memory; this Supreme Court ruling has the potential to put thousands, if not millions of guns on our streets. This not only defies logic, it defines insanity, and is a crime against humanity.
"The New York rule, which is similar to New Jersey's, asking people to apply for a proper license to 'show cause' to carry a weapon outside the home is born of common sense to keep our cities, towns and rural areas safer.
"History will show that this Supreme Court's widening of gun rights will cause more harm and risk the lives of more Americans."
ON SUPREME COURT OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE
"The repulsive Supreme Court decision today to overturn Roe v. Wade, the ruling establishing the right to an abortion, has set us back decades. This ruling attacks women's most basic right: to have control over their own bodies, regardless of politics or what state they live in. Their liberty and power to decide for themselves has been stripped away. It will also lead to the criminalization of those who are marginalized - particularly women of color.
"Thankfully, our Governor, Phil Murphy, signed the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act in January, preserving the legal right to obtain an abortion in New Jersey.
"I call on Newark residents to get involved with organizations that are fighting for choice, support progressive candidates who align with choice, and know that your vote in the upcoming mid-term election matters. Democracy succeeds only when people take action and make their voices heard."
