A quarter of a mile away from the LIRR station that changed her life 18 years ago, Congresswomen Carolyn McCarthy spoke with students about reducing gun violence at Mineola High School last Friday.
“The reason I am passionate about this, is because Colin Ferguson, who was the shooter on the LIRR, had access to large magazines,” McCarthy told the students. “He had 15 bullets in a clip, and everyone of his bullets hit somebody. This is why I am fighting in congress right now, to reinstate that particular piece of the law, to ban large capacity clips.”
McCarthy’s husband and son were present when Ferguson armed with a 9-millimeter pistol opened fire on a LIRR train of passengers between the New Hyde Park and Merrillon Avenue stations on December 7, 1993.
McCarthy’s husband was killed and her son was left paralyzed on one side of his body.
McCarthy and Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice had been asked to advise students how they could help reduce gun violence in Nassau County. But the conversation quickly turned to McCarthy.
McCarthy told students that before the shooting she worked as a nurse and had little involvement with politics.
It wasn’t until local representatives in her area voted against the ban on assault weapons bill, she said, that she decided to run for Congress.
McCarthy was elected to Congress in 1994 and helped pass the 1994 federal assault weapons ban that outlawed gun magazines holding more than 10 bullets. She has fought for its reinstatement since the bill expired in 2004.
“I will do my job in Washington, but I also need young people to get involved in this issue, because it can effect you in a split second,” McCarthy told the student.
She urged students to use social media networks, including facebook and twitter, to spread the word on her bill, number 308.
“Let your voices be heard,” she added.
McCarthy stressed that her issue is not about taking away people’s guns. In the past the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled everyone has the right to own a gun. But McCarthy pointed out that guns do not need high capacity clips, and wants students to help spread the word.
Rice told the students that as the district attorney she saw the control of fire arms to be one of her top priorities.
“For the five years I’ve been the DA, one of my top issues has been guns, getting guns out of our community,” Rice said. “And its been a constant, constant battle.”
Rice said the county has gone into communities with high incidences of gun violence and partnered with churches and religious leaders to encourage citizens to turn in their illicit firearms. Illegal handguns are then turned in at local churches, and in exchange the donor receives $200 dollars. Since the program went into effect, more than 1,800 guns in Nassau County have been collected.
Rice also highlighted her office’s “Peacemakers” in which representatives of the DA’s office go into middle schools and teach students about non-violent conflict resolution.
“Its about teaching kids about how to resolve conflicts about your peers and other people without resorting to violence, without thinking it’s okay or cool to have a gun,” Rice said.
Rice also encouraged students to get involved.
“You have the power to do that, you have the ability to get involved with that movement.,” she said. “You have an opportunity to get on board, and become activists when it comes to this issue.”
Reach reporter Timothy Meyer by e-mail at meyerj.tim@gmail.com.
