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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 19 May 2022
After Buffalo massacre, N.Y. governor seeks action on guns

By MARINA VILLENEUVE make more kinds of guns
Associated Press subject to the state’s fire-
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New arm laws. Hochul, a Buffalo
York would require state native, said the nation has
police to seek court orders almost become desensi-
to keep guns away from tized to the devastation of
people who might pose mass shootings and gun vi-
a threat to themselves or olence, and the spread of
others under a package extremist ideology online.
of executive orders and “I hope to God this is the
gun control bills touted wake up call this country
Wednesday by Gov. Kathy has needed,” Hochul said,
Hochul in the aftermath of speaking to reporters in
a racist attack on a Buffalo New York City.
supermarket. “We believe that together
The Democrat’s announce- these steps are necessary
ment came days after a to confront the stem of ris-
white 18-year-old wearing ing hatred, widespread
military gear killed 10 Black extremism in our state,” Ho-
shoppers and workers at chul later added.
the supermarket using a ri- In this image taken from video, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul shows an executive e order she Appearing with the gover-
signed during a news conference, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in New York.
fle purchased legally a few Associated Press nor, the Rev.
months ago. Al Sharpton said racism
New York is among states der-suicide. He was taken cause to believe someone calization through their so- and violence pose an “ex-
that have a so-called “red to a hospital for a psychiat- is a threat to themselves or cial media posts. istential threat to this coun-
flag” law, which allows ric evaluation under a state others. New York will also train law try,” and said he hopes
law enforcement officials mental health law, and New York will also track and enforcement, school and Hochul’s executive orders
to petition a court to take released a day and a half try to stop violent domestic mental health professionals will address the spread of
away someone’s firearms later. extremism on social media about the uptick in domes- white supremacy and on-
if they are potentially dan- State Police did not, how- through new units in the tic and homegrown violent line radicalization.
gerous because of a men- ever, initiate the court pro- state police and the state’s extremism and radicaliza- “Because there was a time
tal health problem. cess to temporarily take Division of Homeland Se- tion. our parents had been run-
That law was in place last away Gendron’s access to curity and Emergency Ser- “We’re watching you ning from the Klan, Ku Klux
spring when state police guns following the incident. vices. now,” Hochul said. “We Klan,” he said.
questioned Gendron over Hochul said state police The new units will fund lo- know what you’re up to. “But the Klan wore hoods
comments he made as must now file for extreme cal threat assessment man- And we’ll be coming after hiding them from the world.
a senior at Susquehanna risk protection orders un- agement teams, as well as you.” We’re living in a time where
Valley High School about der New York’s red flag law track and intervene when The governor wants law- bigots livestream and show
wanting to commit a mur- when they have probable people show signs of radi- makers to pass her bill to you who they are.” q

Feds: National Guard members on state duty can join unions

By DAVE COLLINS despite a U.S. law that Attorney General Merrick “Before this case, unions Texas members said they
Associated Press makes it a felony for military Garland and the Justice were understandably de- were encouraged by a
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — personnel on active fed- Department, seeking col- terred from organizing January court filing in the
The Department of Justice eral duty to unionize.The lective bargaining rights state active duty National Connecticut case where
has given the green light agreement, finalized Tues- for Connecticut National Guard members due to the the Justice Department
to National Guard mem- day, settles a lawsuit filed in Guard members on state potential for criminal pen- acknowledged the fed-
bers on active duty for their federal court in Connecti- duty ordered by the gov- alties,” Rekha Kennedy, a eral ban did not apply to
states to join labor unions, cut by labor unions against ernor. Yale law student working National Guard members
Already, the case has for the clinic, said in state- on state duty. Some Texas
prompted some National ment. National Guard members
Guard members in Texas to “With this reassurance from have criticized their work-
unionize. the DOJ, unions nationwide ing and living conditions
A 1978 federal law makes it can begin the process of at the U.S.-Mexico border,
a criminal felony for mem- building relationships with where Gov. Greg Abbott
bers of the armed forces, Guard members without has sent them to help in
including the National fear of prosecution,” Ken- efforts to arrest migrants
Guard, to join or attempt to nedy said. crossing the border.
form a labor organization. Connecticut Guard mem- “We’ve been rapidly acti-
But the statute only applies bers were waiting for the vated with no notice, often
to service members when agreement to be finalized working long shifts on irreg-
they are on active federal before beginning unioniz- ular schedules, and living in
duty ordered by U.S. mili- ing efforts, but some Texas poor conditions far from our
tary officials, according to National Guard mem- families and homes,” Texas
the Veterans Legal Services bers already have moved National Guard member
Clinic at Yale Law School, ahead with their plans, join- Hunter Schuler said in a
Members of the National Guard patrol outside the Capitol which represented the ing the Texas State Employ- statement Wednesday in
Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Jan. 14, 2021. unions in the lawsuit, filed in ees Union starting in Febru- response to the Connecti-
Associated Press
November. ary. cut lawsuit settlement. q