ALBANY -- Democratic governors of Northeastern states Thursday announced they have formed a coalition to work collectively to fight gun violence.
The governors of New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Connecticut said they will sign a memorandum of understanding to develop ways the states can jointly address the scourge of illegal guns and develop shared law-enforcement efforts.
"What we are doing today is very different," Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy said on a conference call with reporters. "We are saying we can’t wait for the federal government to act."
The governors said that each state's efforts to fight gun violence would be bolstered by a broad approach among the states, saying they can share data on suspects and on gun purchases.
The announcement comes after the deadly shooting this month at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 students.
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said she watched the CNN town hall on Wednesday night with her 13-year-old daughter, who implored her to act.
"My daughter kept asking me, as she has over the last week: 'Mom, what are you going to do about it?'" Raimondo said.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the states can help address gun violence in the Northeast without having to rely on Washington act. But he added, "We must continue to hold Congress’ feet to the fire" to address gun violence.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said states can be limited by their borders when it comes to gun violence, saying they should be able to share databases and intelligence to keep their states more safe.
"We’re not waiting for federal action. All of states are already ahead of the federal government," Cuomo, a potential presidential candidate in 2020, said.
Cuomo pointed to New York's SAFE Act passed in 2013 after the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, saying it has led to a database of 77,000 mentally ill people who should not have guns and toughenen gun laws.
Cuomo blasted President Donald Trump's consideration of having teachers armed in schools, saying that is exactly what the NRA wants.
"President Trump has pledged allegiance to the NRA," Cuomo charged, adding, "The goal is to not make schools armed camps."
